Burien, WA: Seahurst Park and Where to Stay

Burien sits right on Puget Sound, and its best park makes the most of it — a genuine local secret with far fewer crowds than the bigger-name waterfront parks closer to Seattle.

Seahurst Park Over 300 acres of forest and saltwater beach, with views across to the Olympic Mountains. There's a rocky beach for kayaking and paddleboarding, trails through forest and wetlands, an environmental education center, reservable picnic shelters, and a playground. It's also a solid birdwatching spot along the shoreline.

Burien Town Square The center of town — a public plaza next to the library and city hall, with a splash park water feature running May through October and regular farmers markets and festivals. Burien also has a genuinely active public art scene, with murals scattered around the downtown core.