Discovery Park - June 12, 2017

​This week’s exploration takes us to Discovery Park.
What a gem and it's so awesome to be so close to the hustle and bustle of the city.  
Discovery Park is a 534-acre natural area park operated by the Seattle Parks and Recreation. It is situated on Magnolia Bluff overlooking Puget Sound with views of both the Cascade and the Olympic Mountain ranges. The secluded site includes two miles of protected tidal beaches as well as open meadowlands, dramatic sea cliffs, forest groves, active sand dunes, thickets and streams. 
The city claims the role of Discovery Park is to provide an open space of quiet and tranquility away from the stress and activity of the city, a sanctuary for wildlife, as well as an outdoor classroom for people to learn about the natural world. After visiting, I’d definitely second that statement!
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We started our hike on “The Loop” trail through thick foliage without another soul in site.  After about one mile, we were crossing a road and cut across to another trail and headed directly to the beach.  There we discovered remnants of the old Fort Lawton and the lighthouse along with a fresh cool ocean breeze.  We wished we had brought a blanket and a picnic lunch!
In addition to the beach area, there is a visitor’s center, a cultural center, open spaces, and a maze of trails to keep you entertained.  We’ve also discovered there is a shuttle system to the beach area although we really enjoyed the hike. 
Check out http://www.seattle.gov/parks/find/parks/discovery-park for more information.

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