Commodore Park is a great park to visit for water views on a peaceful afternoon in Seattle's Magnolia neighborhood!

Though it is a tiny park, it is packed with fun little things to see along the water, including boats, water surging at the dam, and a fish ladder. Set up camp with a picnic blanket along the grassy hill to catch sights of it all as well as the extraordinary Ballard view across the water. Even though we visited on a chilly and even muddy day, there were plenty of Seattle residents enjoying the peaceful break from the city. Kids especially love watching large ships pass by! 

If you are looking for a more adventurous activity, be sure to walk along the paved path right beside the water onto the canal promenade walkway. The views here are unique to this dam, and even the sound of the water surging makes you feel closer to nature. A must see whether you are with kids or not is the fish ladder, which transports certain species of fish from one side of the dam to the other in order to replenish their natural supply in the ecosystem. It is such an excellent way for kids to learn about the environment and ecosystems and just an incredible sight to see! Walking along the path gives you access to the Ballard Locks, the super popular park on the other side of the water. We were actually looking for the Locks when we discovered Commodore Park, which has the same great views and is just a little bit less crowded and free. The one downside to Commodore Park is the parking situation, since it is such a small park. There is a small lot if you drive past the Commodore Park sign, as well as very limited street parking, so on warm sunny days it can definitely be a challenge to park. 

This park is just a few minutes away from Discovery Park, a giant park with nature trails and a great playground if you want to pair the trips together.