All the way on the west side of Seattle, tucked discretely between downtown Seattle, Queen Anne and Ballard, you’ll find the Magnolia neighborhood. Magnolia is filled with beautiful parks, super kid-friendly places to grab a meal and a quiet easy feeling that will make you question if you’re really only five-minutes outside of downtown!
Check out Magnolia
The Magnolia neighborhood is almost an island — there are only three ways to get into Magnolia, and people who live here joke that nobody comes to Magnolia unless they have a good reason to, because it’s certainly not a drive-through Seattle neighborhood!
From Ballard in the north, get to Magnolia by taking the first right just after crossing the Ballard Bridge — you can follow the sign to Fisherman’s Terminal.
From Queen Anne, head down the arterial routes to West Dravus, which will allow you to cross over 15th Avenue West on bridge. Continue up the huge Dravus hill into Magnolia!
From downtown to the south, follow Denny Avenue west past the Seattle Center to where it becomes Elliott Avenue. Just as Elliott is turning into 15th Avenue West, take a right onto the Magnolia Bridge. Stay right at the split in the road to continue up the bridge and straight into the Magnolia Village.
Play time
For being just one neighborhood, there is so much to explore in Magnolia!
Magnolia is home to some of Seattle’s most beautiful and family-friendly parks — it’s going to take more than one trip to Magnolia to check them all out.
Ella Bailey Park: 2601 West Smith Street
What’s dubbed at the Mayor’s Park because it happened to get funding when the mayor at the time lived right next door, Ella Bailey is a hidden gem of a park in this hidden gem of a neighborhood. Ella Bailey overlooks downtown and the Sound, offering one of the best views around. The playground here is a kid-favorite, as is the paved path that circles around the park — perfect for riding bikes or scooters!
Magnolia Playfield Playground: 2518 34th Avenue West
If you’re in the Magnolia Village explore the shops and restaurants, walk next door to the playground at the Magnolia Playfield! This is certainly a family hotspot in the neighborhood — even in the rain, it will be filled with families hanging out and chatting. Bonus points to the Magnolia Playfield Playground for having lots of swings, the access to the Community Center bathrooms and the toy trucks that are always left around for sharing.
Discovery Park: 3801 Discovery Park Boulevard
The biggest park in the City of Seattle at over 530-acres, Discovery Park is not only a neighborhood favorite, but a Seattle favorite! Wear sturdy shoes for hiking the family-friendly trails, spend some time playing in the huge sandpit and chase after the wild bunnies that make Discovery their home. You can also hike down to the beach, but it’s a long trip — best for families with older children or if you can put smaller children in a pack.
Bay View Playground: 2614 24th Avenue West
Bay View seems to be a true neighborhood playground — tucked in the heart of residential streets of Magnolia, Bay View recently went under a complete overhaul. The result is a fantastic, clean playground and park where families go to play and escape the Seattle heat in the shade of the surrounding trees. Bay View is also the perfect place to bring a soccer ball to kick around or a bat and ball for a little pickup game of baseball!
Other activities not to be missed in Magnolia
- Driving around the bluff (along Magnolia Boulevard West) to catch amazing views of the city, sound and West Seattle
- Playing a round of mini-golf at Interbay Golf Center
- Walking around on the fishing docks at Fishermen’s Terminal
Eat out
Magnolia is also home to some family-friendly dining spots that both kids and parents will enjoy!
For waterfront dining, try Maggie Bluffs. For a yummy brunch, visit Chinook’s, or go next door to their walk-up counter, Little Chinook’s, for fish n’ chips.For a delcious cafe with a toddler play area, check out Serendipity Cafe — kids eat free on Saturday evenings. For the quickest service you’ll ever see, try El Ranchon.
Leave a Comment