Summertime is when Seattle, with its miles of coastline and plethora of city parks, really shines. You’ll need a slathering of sunscreen to block as many as 16 hours of daylight in June and July. The city hugs Puget Sound, is surrounded by mountains, and offers everything from rock climbing to windsurfing within its sprawling limits. The biggest perk: Even if it rains, buying a shell at REI’s climbing wall–equipped flagship store is an adventure in itself.
Stretching 18.8 miles from the northside Ballard neighborhood to suburban Kenmore, the Burke-Gilman Trail’s easy access and proximity to the University of Washington make it a popular multi-use path. The paved trail—born as part of the Seattle, Lake Shore, and Eastern Railway—winds through some of Seattle’s coolest neighborhoods. Jump on the trail at Matthews Beach Park, the largest swimming beach in the city, and ride about seven miles south and west for a break at Gas Works Park, where you’ll also catch great views of downtown across Lake Union. Ride six miles farther west to Golden Gardens Park where the trail ends. It’s the perfect spot for a summer bonfire. www.cityofseattle.net
The best way to see the city is by water. The Lakes to Locks Water Trail has over 100 boat launches in the metro area. Rent a boat in Portage Bay, then head west through the Montlake Cut to the Washington Park Arboretum. Paddle two miles through the arboretum, which is habitat for Chinook salmon and nesting bald eagles. It’s free and open to the public from dawn to dusk. On windy days look out for big waves off of the northern point. www.wwta.org
Seattle’s biodiversity stems from a wide range of ecosystems: tide pool–covered beaches, flower-filled meadows, and towering evergreen forests. See them all at the city’s largest public open space, Discovery Park, which takes up 543 acres of the Magnolia neighborhood. The park has nearly 12 miles of trails winding up and down Magnolia Bluffs between the marine-reserve beach and remnants of Fort Lawton. Check out the Kiwanis Ravine, where the largest colony of blue herons in Seattle nests from February to August.
–Heather Hansman
