Dunn Gardens

Seattle’s Dunn Gardens is a true hidden gem. Far from the tourist attractions of downtown and downright hidden in a residential neighborhood, it doesn’t get much foot traffic. You really have to know it’s there! And if you’re reading this, now you do.

Dunn Gardens

Dunn Gardens started as the private residence and garden of Arthur & Jeanette Dunn back in 1916. What makes it really special is that it was designed by the Olmsted firm. The same guys, more or less, who did Central Park in New York City, plus Prospect Park in Brooklyn, The Biltmore Estate in North Carolina, Bok Tower Gardens in Florida, and even some of the grounds around the United States Capitol Building in DC, plus many more.

Dunn Gardens is on a much smaller scale than those other examples, but you can still see the structure of the Olmsted landscape design in the Great Lawn, the Heather Bank, the North Woods, and the curving drive through the property. And if nothing else, it’s a beautiful way to spend an hour or so and $10.

Visiting Dunn Gardens

To visit Dunn Gardens yourself, follow the regular GPS instructions, which take you to an upscale neighborhood. Look for the open gates – it almost looks like someone’s driveway! I passed it by completely the first time. The only sign is a small brass plaque on one of the gate posts.

Once you turn in at the gate, there is a very small parking area that fits maybe 8 cars. At a small stand, there is a QR code to pay online with a card. There’s a very small plant shop there – for which you pay in a similar manner – plus some bathrooms. If the parking lot is full, you can park in the neighborhood, just be sure not to block anyone’s driveway or mailbox.

There’s a small house there – a replacement for the Dunn’s original summer home – which can be rented for events. Surrounding and beyond, there are open lawns, small trails through woodlands, trellises and tunnels of bushes and flowers. When I was there in late April, there were a lot of camellias and azaleas, plus some magnolias and lots of other plants I associate primarily with my home in the south.

Keep in mind there are some private houses in here! After Arthur Dunn passed away, the family built two more houses on the land, which are still lived in. (Though I imagine not by any Dunns.) The whole place feels like a cross between a local botanical garden and someone’s backyard.

Tours

While visitors are free to wander the gardens anytime between 9 am and 4 pm Monday-Saturday (closed Sundays), most people seem to take the docent-led tour. It costs the same $10 and you get probably significantly more history and information than I’m able to impart here. (I personally wasn’t sure of my schedule that day and didn’t feel like committing either to a specific start time or the two hours for the tour itself.)

There are also picnic events – like “Books & Beer” on Aug 3! – that you can visit the gardens for. But also keep in mind that it might be rented out for an event, like a Saturday wedding. Like any attraction, make sure you check the website before you visit.