Five great places to view the city

Belvedere Viewpoint. A pullout on the east side of AdmiralWay delivers a panorama of Seattle’s sparkling skyline andindustrial viscera along the Duwamish Waterway. The city park onAdmiral’s west side offers shade and slices of the view. On S.W.Admiral Way at S.W. Olga St., West Seattle.

Kerry Park. This Queen Anne Hill park is barely a block longand 40 feet wide, but it draws crowds for picnics, sketching, andwedding photos. It’s the one viewpoint that lines up the SpaceNeedle, downtown skyline, and Mt. Rainier. Bring a telephoto lensand stay for sundown. Second Ave. W. at Highland Dr.

Magnolia Boulevard West. Between madrona trees on the bluffare views to the southwest of Seattle, Mt. Rainier, BainbridgeIsland, and Puget Sound boat traffic. Bonus vista: Some of thecity’s best gardens are on the street’s northeast side. Between1500 and 2000 Magnolia Blvd. W.

Washington Memorial Bridge. The raised sidewalk on the eastside of this bridge (known as the Aurora Bridge), 167 feet over theWashington Ship Canal, offers dizzying views of Lake Union marinas,houseboats, and the downtown skyline. Park on Bridge Way N. atAurora Ave. and walk to the bridge.

Water tower, Volunteer Park. Climb 106 indoor steps to theobservation room of this historic 1906 Capitol Hill water bucket atthe south end of the park, and see the entire city and itssurrounding waters and mountains ― through wire screens inthe windows, unfortunately. 15th Ave. E. at Prospect St. ― Lawrence Cheek

Keep Reading: