Seward Park Audubon Center — Attraction in Seattle

Love this place! "Morning Tweet and Treats" is a delight for those curious about birding. Ed Dominguez is enthusiastic and engaging. He's like a mellow Steve Irwin without the accent : D They have feeders out front that attracts tons of Anna's hummingbirds, and other bird feeders on the back porch where you can eat a sack lunch and watch all the birds that come to visit. There's a nice little gift shop as well. I don't think I've ever been to this park without seeing at least one of their resident bald eagles. We even saw one catch a squirrel and eat it in...

I visited for a migratory bird walk. Don't sleep on Seward Park! It's legitimately an old-growth forest, right inside Seattle city limits. The Audubon Center lent the group binoculars. Nick made us focus them and you know what? I don't think I've actually ever focused binoculars correctly! His enthusiasm for the subject was contagious. We were hit-or-miss for spotting small birds in the forest (like they're evolved not to be found) but we saw some, found an owl pellet, and saw a bunch of cool waterfowl.

My 10-year-old...

When I was doing research about places to hike in the Seattle metro area, I originally passed on this location because the trails were shorter than I was looking for. But I had some time, so checked it out. Wow! While the trail around the waters edge is wide and paved, the interior trails are stunning! It is old growth forest that were unlike any I had seen in a long time. Also, the Audubon center guide was kind and helpful and loaned me a pair of binoculars. I didn't have a whole lot of success birding, but the forest itself...