6 Hotels Near Seattle’s Most Beautiful Gardens and Parks
The Puget Sound's temperate climate lends itself to beautiful landscapes. Seattle has plenty, from carefully cultivated rose gardens to forested trails that wind down from a scenic bluff to the beach below. Even urban pocket parks are packed with greenery. We've rounded up hotels that are easy walking or driving distance to some of the Seattle area's prettiest spots (for example: Golden Gardens Park).
Chelsea Station Inn Bed & Breakfast
Why it made the list
This romantic B&B is right across the street from the 90-acre Woodland Park, part of Seattle's Phinney Ridge and Green Lake neighborhoods that originated as the estate of a Seattle real estate tycoon. The scenic park includes the Woodland Park Zoo, a century-old zoological garden with many regional animals, including a loveable pair of grizzlies. The park also contains the picturesque Woodland Park Rose Garden. Designed in 1922 and beloved by locals, the garden features flower beds, a fountain, a gazebo, and benches. For the best blooms, including brand-new hybrid roses, visit between May and August.
Watertown Hotel
Why it made the list
The nearby University of Washington is home to several gardens and landscaped spaces. The most photographed by far is the quad by Gerberding Hall, which is lined with cherry blossom trees that are absolutely stunning in full bloom. It's nearly impossible to plan, but if you happen to hit the spring season at the right time, don't miss it. There's also a substantial rose garden next to the Drumheller Fountain, which lines up perfectly with iconic Mt. Rainier in the distance. A 10-minute drive from the campus is UW's Washington State Arboretum, which features a world-class collection of woody plants and trails that wind past gardens, wetlands, and other natural areas. Tucked in the park is the Japanese Garden (ticket required). Explore on your own or sign up for a group tour. The 3.5-acre formal garden was designed and constructed in 1960 under the supervision of world-renowned Japanese garden designer Juki Iida.
Hotel Ballard
Why it made the list
From the historic part of the Ballard neighborhood, you can stroll to the Ballard Locks (20-minute walk), though it's much quicker to drive or hop on one of the city's rideshare bikes. A popular tourist destination, the complex of locks sits in the middle of Salmon Bay and are part of Seattle's Lake Washington Ship Canal. The grounds include the Carl S. English Jr. Botanical Garden, originally designed in 1917. Inspired by the romantic English landscape style, the flower-dotted garden features more than 570 species and 1,500 varieties from around the world. Further down, Golden Gardens is a public park that includes wetlands, beaches, hiking trails, and picnic and playground areas. Or take a short drive to Discovery Park. The 534-acre park on the shores of Puget Sound features 11 miles of walking trails that wind through dense forest on a blufftop down to a driftwood-covered beach with a historic lighthouse and panoramic views--on a nice day, anyway--of both Mt. Rainier and the Olympic Mountains.
Willows Lodge
Why it made the list
At Willows Lodge, the Gazebo Gardens, filled with aromatic herbs grown by the hotel's restaurant, are a lovely gathering place for an afternoon glass of wine. In the Fireside Courtyard, a stone building framed by a weeping willow and Japanese maples is home to the bronze face of the Killer Whale Spirit, which is set in a granite pool. Much of the indoor and outdoor art at the hotel celebrates the area's native Haida people. The hotel also features five landscaped acres along the Sammamish River. A short walk down the road, the Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery is surrounded by 105 wooded acres. Stroll through the elegantly landscaped grounds and you might even see the resident peacocks.
The Arctic Club Seattle
Why it made the list
Two urban parks in Pioneer Square are just minutes from The Arctic Club. Blink and you'll miss the UPS Waterfall Garden, a tiny and blissfully serene pocket park that features lovely plantings and an artificial 22-foot waterfall. The park's dual-level patio makes a perfect spot for an afternoon coffee. Fun fact: The park marks the original 1907 location of the United Parcel Service. Also in Pioneer Square, Occidental Square Park features a tree-lined promenade surrounded by shops, bars, and cafes in old buildings--one ivy-covered facade is especially Instagram-worthy. The park also has patio seating and outdoor ping-pong tables. The neighborhood can be a little rough around the edges but Occidental Square is packed with visitors during the summer when bands play and food trucks feed the crowds.
Shafer Baillie Mansion Bed & Breakfast
Why it made the list
Shafer Baillie is a couple of blocks from 48-acre Volunteer Park, part of the National Register of Historic Places. In 1903, the Olmsted Brothers, the famous landscape architects behind New York's Central Park, issued a plan for outdoor spaces throughout Seattle. Volunteer Park is the crown jewel, with winding paths that showcase plantings and views, a conservatory with exotic flora specimens, an art museum, a water tower with an observation deck, and a reflecting pool near a striking outdoor sculpture by Isamu Noguchi.
Check Rates for Hotels
on the List
BACK TO TOP
