Gas Works Park

If you haven’t taken out-of-town guests here yet, fix that. Sitting right on the north shore of Lake Union, Gas Works gives you that full-on Seattle skyline shot that locals never actually get tired of — seaplanes landing, sailboats crossing, the whole thing. The old gasification plant structures are still standing, which sounds weird but makes the place genuinely unlike anywhere else in the city. Bring a blanket and stake out a spot on the hill on a sunny day, because the grass fills up fast and for good reason. Parking, restrooms, picnic tables — it’s all there, so you can actually make an afternoon of it.