Discovery Park
For almost half a century, Seattle residents have been enjoying Discovery Park, a certified gem that occupies the better part of a peninsula jutting into the Puget Sound. Just northwest of Seattle’s downtown, this outdoor space is the city’s largest and most popular public park, featuring 534 acres of breathtaking landscape in one of the world’s most beautiful cities.
Discovery Park was set aside for the enjoyment of residents and as a wildlife sanctuary to provide environmental education. The park is best- known for its stunning views of the water and the Cascade and Olympic mountains in the distance. The signature landmark is the West Point Light, also known as the Discovery Park Lighthouse, which is an active navigation aid.
The outdoor spaces are maintained in semi-natural condition and feature a variety of landscapes including vast open meadows, forest groves, two miles of protected tidal beaches with soaring sea cliffs, and more. Visitors often see local wildlife of seals, eagles, herons, and owls, and the sheer size of Discovery Park means it’s never overcrowded. The healthy, active city of Seattle embraces this incredible outdoor park, and residents of Magnolia condos are among those who favor the 2.8-mile loop trail for running and jogging.
Discovery Park is filled with many highlights worth mentioning.
Activities for kids
Residents of Magnolia houses love bringing their kids here to enjoy the nature-themed Discovery Park Playground. Conveniently located near the Visitor Center and East Parking Lot, young children don’t have to walk far to enjoy slides, towers, climbing structures, and a zipline. Another fun activity for kids is a tide pool exploration program in the summer. A shuttle is available to transport children and their parents to these fascinating natural formations at the West Point Lighthouse.
Loop Trail
One of the major attractions for residents of Magnolia homes is the 2.8-mile Discovery Park Loop Trail which winds around and through the park, providing hikers and runners with gorgeous scenery which includes meadows, forests, and the bluffs with the sweeping views of Puget Sound and the mountains. Conveniently, the East, North, and South parking lots all provide direct access to the Loop Trail. A map is available at the Visitor Center.
West Point Lighthouse
It’s worth the mile and a half hike to the iconic West Point Lighthouse which has been operating since 1881. The bucolic small white tower and cottage sit on a sandy spit overlooking Puget Sound, surrounded by native coastal grasses swaying in the breeze. There is a lantern room atop the 21-foot building, and modern-day mariners use a radio frequency to activate fog horns to help navigate ships safely near the lighthouse. During summer weekends, a shuttle operates between the Visitor Center and West Point Lighthouse.
Beach access
The Loop Trail doesn’t go down to the beach, but there is a half-mile spur trail called the South Beach Trail which leads to the water. On the park map, the start of the South Beach Trail is noted as “Sandy Area'' just north of the sandhill near South Meadows.
Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center
Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center is a community center for Native Americans set on twenty acres on the park’s northwest side. People who live in Magnolia real estate can experience the music, dance, and art of all tribes who call the area home. The center is the result of a non-violent takeover and occupation in 1970 led by Native American activists including United Indians’ founder Bernie Whitebear after the U.S. government declared most of Fort Lawton to be surplus.
History of Discovery Park
Discovery Park was dedicated in 1973 by U.S. Senator Henry Jackson. It was named in honor of the British sloop HMS Discovery, which was commanded by Captain George Vancouver during the first European exploration of Puget Sound in 1792.
Owners of Magnolia real estate also have easy access to Magnolia Park and Magnolia Viewpoint, both of which have spectacular views of Puget Sound, the mountains, and take advantage of the neighborhood’s location on the peninsula.
Magnolia Park
Magnolia Park, located on the Magnolia Bluff, is a 2.1-acre park on the north shore of Elliott Bay and is known for its sweeping vistas of the Seattle skyline and Puget Sound. Owners of Magnolia luxury property love it for its picnic area, playground, walking paths, tennis courts, and boat launch.
Magnolia Boulevard viewpoints
The Magnolia Boulevard Viewpoints stretch along the historic street over three hundred feet over Elliott Bay. Sight highlights include downtown Seattle punctuated by the space needle and the surrounding Puget Sound, Mount Rainier, and the Olympic Mountains.
Living in Magnolia
Magnolia homeowners enjoy living in one of Seattle’s most picturesque and dynamic neighborhoods. Besides the magnificent parks, residents enjoy an excellent dining and shopping scene, year-round exciting events, and high quality of life.
If you’re interested in learning more about Magnolia real estate, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Mr. Magnolia. The Mr. Magnolia Team would love to show you Magnolia homes for sale.