Friends Of The Volunteer Park

The Volunteer Park Conservatory is a great little flower conservatory. They currently have 3 sections that each feature different types of plants (1 additional section is currently being rennovated and will house ferns). It is a great place to see several exotic species and beautiful flowers. Some of their orchids appear absolutely perfect. I thought the cactus section was particularly well done, and was impressed with the giant prickly pear cactus tree. Admission is free, but don't expect to spend more than 20 minutes there. more

The Volunteer Park Conservatory is one of Seattle's hidden gems. Concealed in plain view on the northern edge of Volunteer Park, the conservatory is a miniature botanical wonderland, packing native plants from around the world into five connected greenhouse rooms. The intimate scale of the exhibits - the entire structure covers less than 4,000 square feet, and huge plants overhang the narrow walkways at every turn - creates an in-your-face nature exhibit for children of all ages. Best of all, on a cold winter day the steam-heated greenhouse is like a free tropical vacation in your own backyard. My wife and I took our 9-month-old for a quick visit to the conservatory this last weekend, and he was fascinated by the huge leaves, bright colors and touch-and-feel intimacy of the experience. Best of all, apart from a few neighborhood families with their young children, the structure was almost empty, a nice contrast to the crowds and noise of other public indoor spaces in wintertime. If you have kids, or just love new and out-of-the-ordinary experiences, the Volunteer Park Conservatory is a free community resource you should have on your list. more