For RV campers and outdoor enthusiasts, metropolitan Seattle is a playground with bike lanes, walking paths, lakes, parks and fresh, local food. The city's 3.4 million people enjoy a "metronatural" setting, with a walkable downtown surrounded by waterways, two mountain ranges and three national parks.
RV Camping
Seattle features several RV parks, including the Seattle-Tacoma KOA. The campground embodies Seattle's green spirit by using biodegradable paper and plastics for food service, efficiency lighting throughout the camp and providing recycling bins. The park operates under the gaze of Mt. Rainier and serves specialty coffee. The pull-through and back-in sites offer water and 30- and 50-amp electrical hook-ups.
There are residential trailer parks within Seattle city limits, but most recreational parks are a few minutes outside the city. Lake Pleasant RV Park is a 20-minute drive north of downtown Seattle but is a quiet, friendly park beside a small pond, according to reviews.
Outdoor Seattle
Seattle and its neighboring cities are working on a 27-mile multiuse trail system that makes use of an abandoned rail corridor. Seattle's section, the Burke-Gilman Trail, starts at 11th Avenue NW in Ballard and rolls along the Lake Washington Ship Canal. From there, it changes names and cities several times. It's a paved path for walking, running or biking.
City Biking
Seattle is a biking city. An estimated 36 percent of Seattle's 520,000 residents ride bikes recreationally, with 4,000 to 8,000 commuting into the city daily depending on the weather and season. Seattle is creating an Urban Trails system to encourage even more biking and to link major parks with neighborhoods. There are almost a dozen city routes enhanced for cycling. This includes bike lanes, special multiuse paths, bike routes marked with signs, wider shoulders and pedestrian paths. The city features 45 miles of shared-use paths, 120 miles of signed routes and 120 miles of striped bike lanes.
Pike's Place Market
The 9-acre public street market was founded in 1907 to connect farmers directly with customers. Seattle natives and visitors---10 million a year---still flock to the market for fresh, local produce and other food. Pike Place Market is home to 200 year-round businesses, 100 farmers who rent space by the day and 190 craftspeople. The market is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. as of summer 2010.
Parks
Seattle has more than 400 parks and 6,200 acres of park land. For example, visitors can rent canoes, paddle boats and row boats on Green Lake. Green Lake Park, at 7201 East Green Lake Drive, also features a full basketball court, fishing, play area, restrooms, outdoor tennis courts and walking paths as well as boat launches.
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