The Olympic Sculpture Park is a nine-acre outdoor sculpture museum and beach located in Belltown on Seattle's downtown waterfront. The park, operated by the Seattle Art Museum, has a number of large sculptures by artists such as Alexander Calder and Richard Serra, plus great views of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains.

Parking and public transportation at the Olympic Sculpture Park
At the southeast corner of the park, at Broad Street and Western Avenue, the PACCAR Pavilion garage offers paid parking, starting at $6. Paid street parking is also available but often hard to find. If you don't want to pay for parking or brave the sometimes congested traffic around the area, a number of King County Metro buses stop within about a quarter of a mile of the park.

Best and worst time go to the Olympic Sculpture Park
The park is most popular during the summer, especially on weekends, when the kids can play at the beach. For a quiet viewing of the sculptures, go on a weekday during the school year.

Admission to the Olympic Sculpture Park
The park is open 365 days a year from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. Admission is free. The park also offers free public tours with times and topics that vary throughout the year. Food is available for purchase in the PACCAR Pavilion on weekends between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

Must see/do at the Olympic Sculpture Park
Take your camera for pictures of not only the sculptures but also the great views.

Other places to visit near the Olympic Sculpture Park
The park is adjacent to the Seattle Waterfront, which offers a lot to do. You can visit the Seattle Aquarium, Myrtle Edwards Park, arcades, restaurants, fishing piers, boat launches, and more. Pike Place Market is just up the hill from the waterfront.

Insider tip for visitors to the Olympic Sculpture Park
If you want to watch the sun set over the water in Seattle, this park gives you a great view. The park also has a reputation among locals as being a great place to walk, run, or just relax and read a book.

Author's bio: Carol Wiley is a Seattle freelance writer. She writes about health, business, and travel, among other topics. She also writes case studies and web content for businesses.