Matthews Beach Park, Seattle

Matthews Beach Park is something of an oasis. Well-laid-out with fruit trees, picnic benches and playgrounds, this is the kind of urban Eden that kids love. On summer weekends, the beach is full of families swimming and playing in the waters of Lake Washington. The Burke-Gilman bike trail zooms right by here, and the rolling lawns of this 22-acre park make a good stopping point for a waterfront lunch. There's also a wildlife refuge at the southern end of the park.