Discovery Park Revisited | A Whole New Level of Magic 🌲✨
I'm obsessed with Discovery Park—and this time, we explored a completely different route that blew my mind even more than before！ 🚗 New Starting Point: We began at the Middle Fork Snoqualmie Trailhead (another hidden gem！The drive alone was stunning—creeks, waterfalls, and mountain views galore). Then we parked at Discovery Park's South Parking Lot 🅿️ 🌿 Loop Trail to South Beach Trail: Our journey took us past the dramatic Magnolia Bluff cliffs, where wildflowers painted the hillsides. The viewpoint here offers breathtaking vistas of Elliott Bay—and if you're lucky, you might spot orcas breaching in the distance！Snow-capped mountains completed the postcard-perfect scene 🏔️ 🏖️ South Beach Adventures: Of course, we couldn't resist the sandy shores！This time, we ventured deeper into the tide pools and discovered: 🔹 Sea anemones (or maybe clams?) that curled up when poked 🔹 Tiny hermit crabs scuttling under rocks 🔹 Rainbow-colored anemones and even a live snail 🐚 🌲 Hidden Valley Trail Surprise: This enchanting path transformed from coastal shrubs into a lush forest corridor. Highlights included: 🌸 Wild roses and berry bushes (summer must be incredible here！) 🦩 A mysterious large waterbird standing in a secluded pond 🌼 A handmade wildflower bouquet left on a bridge 🍄 A vibrant mushroom cluster on pine needles ⏳ Time Check: Since we arrived late, we skipped the North Trail Outlook and instead strolled along Discovery Park Blvd toward Fort Lawton Historic District before returning to our car. 🏛️ Fort Lawton History Snippet: Established in 1900 as a military base, this site became the second-largest West Coast troop assembly point during WWII—processing hundreds of thousands of soldiers bound for Alaska, Asia, and the Pacific. By the 1970s, it transitioned into a city park, officially closing in 2011. Many locals advocated for naming it Lawton Park in tribute. Today, the preserved late 19th-century buildings stand amidst vast lawns that once hosted military drills. Now? It's a peaceful oasis where people: 🐶 Walk dogs 🥏 Play frisbee 🪁 Fly kites 🪂 Pack parachutes It's hard to imagine this was once a war zone—and honestly, let's hope it never becomes one again. #WeekendNatureEscape #HiddenGemSeattle #NatureTherapy #SeattleAdventures #DiscoveryParkMagic #PacificNorthwest #OutdoorLovers #HistoryMeetsNature #BeachAndBeyond
