Lake Washington

More than just the second largest lake in all of Washington State, Lake Washington defines Seattle as a town intimately tied to the water, and it’s here that residents come to connect with their natural surroundings. Plenty of shoreline let visitors swim, picnic, hunt for clams and crawfish, and just generally relax and play. Floating platforms allow swimmers to rest and sunbathe, and the Madrona Park is a nice wooded area that slopes down to the beach and offers a changing station. Other attractions include the Kurt Cobain bench – a nice de facto cultural memorial also serving as homage to Seattle’s large music scene.

Practical Info:

Lake Washington is the eastern body of water defining the boundaries of Seattle proper. The most popular beaches on Lake Washington are Madison Park Beach (E Madison St. and E Howe St.) and Denny Blaine Park (200 Lake Washington Blvd. E).