It’s not always fun crying in public, but we’ve all been there. Luckily Seattle is full of quiet, scenic parks and semi-private public spaces that lend themselves well to a good cry session. We asked our followers for their favorite crying spots in the city. If you’re looking for the best place to cry in Seattle, check out this list of recommendations from locals. After all, like we said: we’ve all been there.
Here are the 20 best places to cry in Seattle, according to locals:
1. Seattle city parks
These are the top Seattle city parks that locals recommended for a a good cry sesh:
- Volunteer Park
- “Gas Works always.” Another local said, “The hill on Gas works. Saw a stranger get proposed to there ❤️”
- Carkeek Park
- “There’s a little park at the North end of Boing field you can scream your heart out and cry every time a plane takes off.”
- Washington Park Arboretum
- Viretta Park because “it’s quiet and peaceful there ❤️”
- Cal Anderson Park “because the strangers around you remind you it isn’t that serious.”
- Lynn Street Park. “It’s a secret little pocket park on lake Union. There’s a perfect crying bench and no one is ever there.”
- Olympic Sculpture Park by the waterfront. “And on the little beach,” one local added.
- Don Armeni Park
- Bhy Kracke Park
- Discovery Park, especially while “watching the sunset.”
- The Ballard Locks: you can cry while you “watch people in yachts sail by.”
- Kerry Park. “My cry spot is ALWAYS Kerry Park,” someone said. One local specified Kerry Park at night: “cried there a few too many times.” Another Seattleite chimed in: “If you cry early enough you can get Molly Moons too which helps.”
2. The Seattle waterfront
More than one local recommend doing your crying at the Seattle waterfront. “Bonus points if it’s on that floating dock looking towards the Ferris wheel and it’s a bitterly cold winter night.” One Seattleite suggested crying on the Great Wheel: you’ll get some privacy and a great view.
3. The beach
Seattle has a handful of beaches if you like to cry by open water. A few locals recommended Alki Beach in particular for a good crying place, especially if you can find a spot “looking at the city lights.”
Other Seattleites suggested “Golden Gardens at sunset” and the “NE 130th St. public shore…and/or the staircase leading down to it.”
4. The market
There’s something about grocery shopping and crying that just goes together. One local does their crying at “Pike Place Market in the flower market.” Another does theirs “into a bowl of chowder at Market Grill.”
One local said: “I personally like trying to hold back tears at the Ballard farmers market every Sunday. It usually starts near the beefsteak tomatoes and peaks when my favorite pastry stand tells me they’re out of chocolate croissants.” Another person chimed in: “yeah $20/lb for tomatoes will do that.”
If you’re on a budget, one Seattleite said that the grocery outlet in Crown Hill works too!
5. The library
The Seattle Central Library is a great place to get some crying done. One local specifically recommended “the stairwell in the public library on 5th Ave. 11th floor. 😅”
Another Seattleite suggested the Seattle Pacific University library, if you’d like a back-up option.
6. Streissguth Gardens
Here’s why one Seattleite prefers to do their public crying at Streissguth Gardens in Capitol Hill: “great view, secluded areas, and a love story you’ll never be able to afford.”
7. Paramount Theatre
If you find yourself crying in front of people at Seattle’s Paramount Theatre, you can just pass it off as being emotionally affected the theater’s stunning beauty and/or the production you just saw.
8. A boat on Lake Union
This is a great idea because you can really get away from other people while still being out in the open air. If you’re on a budget and can’t afford to buy a boat or rent one of those hot tub boats, you can get a free rowboat rental from The Center for Wooden Boats!
9. The Burke Gilman trail
One Seattle recommended going to the Burke Gilman Trail to cry. Another local recommended the Sri Chinmoy Statue along the trail in particular: “Underneath Fremont bridge, there is a pathway towards East along the lake that takes you to a peace activist statute. That’s my spot for crying.”
10. Magnolia Bluff
One local recommended this viewpoint on a bluff in Magnolia Park: “It’s pretty and I can also cry about the houses I’ll never be able to buy. 😂”
11. Small businesses in Seattle
If you cry in one of the many Starbucks in Seattle people will most likely just ignore you, but if you want a friendly face try one of these local small businesses:
- “I cried inside the Hillside Bar on Cap Hill last week and got a free double shot cuz the bartender felt bad for me. 10/10 would recommend 💯”
- “A tanning bed at Tropical Tan in Capitol Hill.. had a good cry there today definitely recommend. The manager even gave me a hug.”
- “I’m going to Seattle Chocolate because they’ll give me chocolate to cry with 🙌👏😂”
12. The Howe Street stairs
One local suggested these public stairs because after you’re done crying you can make yourself feel better with “a workout and a view 👏.”
13. The Spheres
A Seattleite suggested crying inside the Amazon Spheres because “you can blame the mist that goes off when they water plants.”
14. Seattle’s waterfall garden
If you find yourself about to cry in Pioneer Square, head to the semi-secret waterfall garden. The sound of the rushing water will be soothing and help cover the sound of sobs.
15. Kurt Cobain’s bench
Located in Viretta Park in Seattle, this bench is often covered in tributes and gifts left behind in honor of Kurt Cobain. So you may not be able to sit on it to cry, but it’s still a great place to listen to Nirvana and get emotional.
16. Public bathrooms
Not every public bathroom in Seattle is conducive to a good crying session but the ones that are, really are:
- “The La Dive bathroom! See yourself cry from every angle, said with all love.”
- “The bathrooms at El Corazón.”
17. Chihuly Garden and Glass
One Seattleite suggested crying at the Chihuly Garden “so it looks like you’re just so blown away and inspired by all the glass.” Been there, done that!
18. West Seattle viewpoints
One Seattleite suggested “that overlook on your way to West Seattle when you’re driving up the hill; great scenic sob spot!” If you can’t find it, Hamilton Viewpoint Park is another good crying spot with a view in West Seattle.
19. In your car
Many Seattleites said they prefer to cry in their car, but not just while driving around:
- “In my apartment parking space cause I pay $250 a month.”
- “The car wash.”
- “The 520 bridge while stuck in traffic.”
- “In your car at the ferry terminal when you miss the ferry.”
- “In my car at Dick’s Drive in. I may or may not have done this…”
- “There are a lot of nice places to sit in your car and cry if you can find parking. Maybe get a nice cup of your favorite hot beverage and some snacks prior. 1. Alki beach. 2. Green Lake by the stadium 3. Discovery Park lighthouse 4. Golden Gardens parking lot (the one before you go into it).”
20. In the rain
And finally, many Seattleites recommended just letting the tears flow wherever you are in the city, especially if it’s raining:
- “In the rain.”
- “Everywhere… the rain has your back 👊🏼”
- “Anywhere. If you’re outside, you can’t tell if it’s from the rain or tears.”
- “Anywhere really. We avoid human interaction at all costs.”