Posted by Tim Lewis

Magnolia Park | Barbecues, Views & Bald Eagles

I’ve driven past Magnolia Park more than 50 times, and every time I think to myself, “I should really check that place out sometime.” Instead of just thinking about it, Tove and I finally visited the park for the first time the other day. It was everything we hoped it would be and much more. Our only regret was not stopping by Magnolia Park earlier.

Magnolia Park (1461 Magnolia Blvd. W.) sits on the bluff and it has great views of the Puget Sound. The views are probably better in the fall and winter when the trees are bare, but that’s not when the park is at its best. With several barbecue grills and picnic tables, Magnolia Park shines in the spring and summer.

Tove and I originally planned on barbecuing at Golden Gardens Park in Ballard, but the beachfront park was packed with people. With no room to grill, we hopped on Google and searched for other parks with public barbecues. Magnolia Park was on the short list, so we decided to check it out. Unlike the ridiculously packed Golden Gardens, Magnolia Park was practically empty. For a few minutes (several different times), we were the only folks in the park.

On top of grills and picnic tables, the 12-acre Magnolia Park also features a play area and tennis courts. We saw several people walking their dogs through the park, and a couple of kids throwing around a Frisbee. Otherwise, the park was full of peace and quite when we were there. You could even hear the waves rolling up to the beach below.

People and dogs weren’t the only visitors we saw at Magnolia Park that night. We also spotted two bald eagles hanging out in one of the park’s beautiful trees. It sounds like the bald eagles are common visitors to Magnolia Park. They have a nest sitting high in the tree, and one of the local residents told us it’s been there for about three years. We saw several people at the park with cameras in hand, hoping to get shots of the majestic birds.

It still blows my mind that you can have a fun barbecue, with a great view of the Puget Sound and two bald eagles looking over your shoulder at a city park in Seattle. I don’t think you can say that about too many other places, but that’s what makes Seattle and a spot like Magnolia Park so special.

Have you ever been to Magnolia Park? Did you see the bald eagles while you were there? We would love to hear from you! Please leave a comment below or connect with us on Twitter, Facebook and Google+. Don’t forget to also check out Seattle Bloggers for more fun places to adventure around the Emerald City!

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