Visitors with a discerning eye for nature and a proclivity for the outdoors will enjoy their visit to "The Emerald City," as Seattle is nicknamed. It is so called because of the abundance of green parks and forests.
There is something for everyone to do in Seattle. Try extreme mountain biking far from civilization or play a round of golf at one of the many courses that dot the town. Children and the young-at-heart can frolic on the Puget Sound beaches, make a sandcastle or two, swim and even just gawk at the harbor seals. There is fishing, boating and hiking among the many outdoor activities just waiting to be pursued by intrepid visitors.
Arboretum
Situated on the banks of Lake Washington, The Arboretum's 230 acres feature interesting plants for other parts of the world. Walk through the Pacific Connections Garden and savor the flora of countries such as Australia, China, Chile and New Zealand.
Or, follow the Arboretum's Waterfront Trail through willows, Douglas firs and cottonwoods while looking out for blue herons, American coots and cormorants, among many others. The marshes teem with life so keep an eye on the water too.
Hiking
Enjoy the magnificent natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest by hiking through the cedar and hemlock forests of Seattle's Mount Rainier National Park or climb up its alpine slopes to view glaciers and the tundra in its summer beauty.
A little closer to home is Discovery Park situated near Puget Sound. It is Seattle's largest park with 10 miles of trails covering 534 acres of forests, beaches and bluffs. Olympic National Park has summer and winter activities like tubing, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing as well as camping and backpacking.
Local Delights
As any health-conscious person knows, salmon is high on the list of nutritious foods. And what better place to check out the local salmon than at Seattle's famous Pike Place Market. While there, enjoy shopping for other local goods and treasures.
Children and nature lovers alike should take time to explore the Seattle Aquarium. Listen to the call of orca whales, marvel at jellyfish with their psychedelic glows or laugh at the frolicking sea otters. Later, when enjoying a refreshing swim at one of Seattle's many beaches keep an eye out for naturalists from the Aquarium who often patrol the beaches and are happy to enlighten young and old about the native beach fauna.
Golfing
Tee off at Kayak Point Golf Course, listed by Golf Digest as one of “America’s Top 50 Public Courses to Play” while reveling in the beautiful view of the Olympic Mountains. Other golf courses to try are the West Seattle Golf club or Bellevue Municipal Golf Course among a plethora of others.
Mountain Biking
Check out The Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance website (see Resources) if back country or epic rides are your style. This site features trails and everything needed for this extreme sport. Note that this means that bikers will be far from civilization and from medical help so appropriate care must be taken before attempting such a ride.
Less extreme trails include The Middle Fork Snoqualmie River trail, which is a huge loop through forest; Skookum Flats; White River; and a combination of the Plains of Abraham, Ape Canyon and Lewis River trails, among others.
Member Comments