The Seattle Art Museum has recently transformed a waterfront railway yard into a spacious art park. Set on nine acres, the park holds a collection of installation art set against a dazzling backdrop of city, water and mountain views. Here is a guide to its vibrant new addition, Sculpture Park.

Step 1 Enter through the Visitor Center on the corner of Western Avenue and Broad Street. There you will find some background information about the park, a gourmet cafeteria and the gift shop. It is also located at the top of the slope that Sculpture Park is situated on, so expect to enjoy some sweeping views of the area.

Step 2 Walk through the giant exit doors to the right of the cafeteria. This will start you down the Z-shaped path that weaves through the park and ends up at the water. It will first take you past Richard Serra's "Wake" sculpture, which is made of weatherproof steel and evokes the image of water waves caught in a standstill.

Step 3 Notice how the plants and flowers change as you continue down the path. Designers of the park set aside "precincts" of land to house greenery that is native to various areas of the Northwest such as valleys, meadows and shore. Read the informational tablets posted along the way to get a feel for which plants belong to which region.

Step 4 Walk over the footbridge that goes over the railroad tracks. Notice how the artful overlay on the transparent glass ("Seattle Cloud Cover," by Teresita Fernandez), changes the way you experience the skyline that lies beyond it. Take a moment to appreciate the relationship between nature, city, and industry.

Step 5 Remain on the path until you reach the park's signature piece, "Eagle" by Alexander Calder. See if you can make out the silhouette of an actual eagle from the painted steel structure. If not, peek through its curves to catch glimpses of the Space Needle and the Olympic Mountains.

Step 6 Take a break on "Eye Benches" by Louise Bourgeois when you get to the bottom of the hill. As their name suggests, the benches are shaped like eyes and placed in various arrangements facing each other. Their smooth granite finish provides an inviting place to rest as well as spectacular views of the art and water.

Step 7 Keep going along the waterfront even after you have come to the end of the Z-shaped trail. Designers have carved out a magnificent shoreline where locals come to walk their dogs or read a book. As you are walking, notice how the boundaries between fine art and city living have been seamlessly integrated as a result of Sculpture Park.