Create Your Own Adventure - Free National Park Days

Mount Rainier National Park, Olympic National Park, Fort Vancouver National Historical Site, and Lewis & Clark National Historical park are all have free entry (along with all other National Parks) on Monday for MLK Day.
So go outside!

If you can't make it on Monday, National Parks will have free entry on the following dates in 2017:
February 20: President’s Day

April 15-16 and 22-23: Weekends of National Park Week
August 25: National Park Service Birthday
September 30: National Public Lands Day
November 11-12: Veterans Day Weekend

Beneath Us Something Stirs - Fremont Troll

Beneath Highway 99, at the end of the Aurora Bridge, something lurks in the dark.  The creature has called the north abutment of the bridge home since 1990.  The Fremont Troll was created by a group of 4 artists who won a contest to revitalize the area beneath the bridge.  

Approaching the Troll from Troll Ave. 

The Fremont Troll stands 18 feet tall and holds an actual VW Beetle under it's left hand. The shoulders are by far the most popular area to pose for a quick photo.  The area around the Troll can be full of of people, so if you're looking for a more private audience head there before lunch or after dinner. 

Under The Needle - Seattle Center

 If you are going to venture to see the view at the top of the Space Needle, don't neglect the bounty of experiences available to you throughout the Seattle Center.  

 Beyond being home to the Space Needle, Pacific Science Center and EMP, the Seattle Center has a personality all it's own. 

Originally built for the 1962 World's Fair, the Seattle Center serves locals and visitors alike as a major green space downtown as well as hosting annual events such as Bumbershoot, the Folklife Festival, Bite of Seattle and Pridefest. 

The best place to begin is the Armory.  The Armory building was built in 1939 for the 146th Field Artillery unit. It was reconfigured for the World's Fair and became the Food Circus, the first vertical mall.  It's name has changed to the Center House and currently The Armory.  Inside the armory you will find over a dozen restaurants providing a wide variety of food and snacks.  

Located near the restaurants a piece of the Berlin Wall is on display.  

The Armory is also home to the Seattle Children's Museum. Covering 22,000 square feet in the lower level of the Armory, the Children's Museum provides wide assortment of hands-on activities ideal for kids ages 10 months to 10 years old. 

Outside of the Armory, the Next 50 Plaza is home to an incredible play structure that is suitable for kids of all ages.  The structure rises two stories above the ground with a rope webbing surrounding the lower section and two giants slides.  

Check out the interactive art as well!

Down the way from the Next 50 Plaza is the International Fountain. With over 20 spouts, the fountain puts on an amazing show, synchronizing water and music, that makes it a great place to visit year-round, but it is an ideal oasis in the hot summer months. Built for the World's Fair, the International Fountain is a true landmark within the Seattle Center.  When you visit, run the gauntlet by running down and touching the fountain in the pause between displays.  The possibility of the fountain starting up again makes it more fun than it should be. 

The Key Arena sits to the West of the International Fountain.  Also built for World's Fair, the Key Arena is the current host to the Seattle Storm, the Rat City Roller Girls and the Seattle University men's basketball team as well as hosting a variety of concerts and events throughout the year. 

To the northeast of Key Arena lies the Vera Project. The Vera Project is an all-ages music and arts venue.  Established in 2001, the Vera Project moved to the Seattle Center in 2007.  The space includes an incredible music venue, art gallery and screen printing studio along with offering various classes. 

Circling back to the Space Needle, Sonic Bloom reaches to the sky. Installed in 2013, Sonic Bloom is a solar-powered art installation that incorporates sight and sound to provide an interactive experience.

Just remember,  if you're heading to the Space Needle take some time to explore the Seattle Center too...It's just as spectacular. 

A Bit Of The Mountains In The City - Waterfall Garden Park

Hidden in the heart of the city is a park that allows you to take a break in the mountains...if only for a brief moment.  The Waterfall Garden Park was created at the location where UPS had it's first headquarters.  Now the park (technically a pocket park) is lined with tables and chairs for those who use it as an escape on their lunch breaks.  One of the best parts about the park is that, even with it's proximity to the busy streets around it, it still has an aura of tranquility around it.  

Come Sail Away - Model Boat Sailing @ South Lake Union Park

Have you wanted to feel the wind in your hair and the sun in your face while commanding your own ship?  Every Saturday and Sunday from May to November, The Center for Wooden Boats rents out model boats for at the model boat pond.  Sailing the boats is as easy as pointing it into the wind and giving it a little push. The hard part is running around to other side after each voyage to sail it back. Pairing sailing with a visit to the MOHAI and a picnic makes for an amazing day out! Boat rentals are a $5 per hour suggested donation and the rentals are open from 11a.m. - 2p.m.

Fly On By - Martha Lake Airfield Park

Many of the parks in Puget Sound have unique origins and many of them are on land with unique histories.  Few of them, however, have the combination that the Martha Lake Airfield Park can boast.  Originally a private airfield until 1990, the land was purchased by Snohomish County in 2000 and developed into a park with the grand opening in 2010.   The park itself consists of a combination of playground, skate park, and sports and open fields.   After spending several hours exploring the ins and outs of the park we still haven’t seen all there is and plan on jetting back soon…(sorry couldn’t resist)

Sleep Under The Stars – Olympic National Park, Kalaloch Beach and Ruby Beach

One of the best things about the Pacific Northwest is the wide spectrum of outdoor locales that will take your breath away.   While some of these places are in and around urban areas, some of them require a bit more effort to enjoy them…But the travel is well worth it.  The Olympic National Park falls squarely in this category.   The Park encompasses a major part of the Olympic Peninsula and consists of a variety of locales from old-growth forest to driftwood strewn beaches.   Nestled along the coast amidst the massive trees is Kalaloch Campground.  The campground is reflective of the National Park itself with the deepest campsites surrounded by massive, majestic trees which slowly transitions to sites on beachside cliffs with spectacular views of the ocean.  A short walk from any of the sites takes you down to the long, smooth, sands of Kalaloch Beach.   For a more rugged beach experience we drove a few miles north to explore the ever changing expanse of Ruby Beach.   A visit to Ruby beach requires a check of the tide charts to get the full experience; luckily we found it posted at the beginning of the trail to the beach.   Ruby Beach is beautiful regardless of when you visit, but low tide gives you a chance to explore areas that are normally unreachable.   As the tide goes out, the rocks that were previously jutting out of the surf are slowly transformed into an exploratory playground of tide pools and secluded coves.   After devoting a few hours to exploring, the rest of the afternoon is best spent watching the tide roll in as the sun goes down.  http://www.nps.gov/olym/planyourvisit/exploring-the-coast.htm 

 

Enjoy the Variety – Carkeek Park

Generally a city park consists of a single defining feature.  There are forested hiking parks, beachfront parks and even parks primarily consisting of large open fields ideal for frolicking.  Carkeek Park has it all in its 220 acre expanse: large open fields, endless trails through the forest canopy, a beautiful Pacific Northwest beach and an ocean themed play structure that includes a large salmon with a slide running its length.  At the entrance to the park is the Carkeek Park Environmental Learning Center.  The Center was designed and built with the environment in mind and is the first building in Seattle to achieve the Gold level of the US Green Building Council's LEEDs rating system.  Piper’s Creek, which runs through the park, provides a fantastic natural backdrop to the lower fields but is most alive during the late fall – early winter with chum salmon returning to spawn. Overall, Carkeek Park is a perfect respite from the hustle and bustle of the city. http://www.seattle.gov/parks/environment/Carkeek.htm

Take Your Breath Away - Kerry Park

Every city has that one spot that you have to see the cityscape from.  Seattle is lucky enough to have several, although Queen Anne’s Kerry Park is probably the most recognizable and the one you are most likely to be directed to when visiting.  The spectacular, panoramic views of downtown Seattle, West Seattle, the Olympic peninsula and majestic Mt. Rainer were given to the populace in 1927 when Mr. and Mrs. Albert Sperry Kerry, Sr. donated the land “so that all who stop here may enjoy this view."   The low stone wall sits on the edge of a steep hill that leads down to the lesser known Lower Kerry Park which has areas for picnics, a playground and a basketball court, but the real draw here is the view.  No matter what day you visit, the incredible view will not disappoint, but on the right day, at the right time the view is magical and the city burns itself into your mind. http://www.seattle.gov/parks/

Historic Green Space - Kubota Garden

Few green spaces in Seattle have as interesting of a backstory as the Kubota Garden.  Initially created by Fujitaro Kubota in 1927, the gardens were a place where he could craft, design, grow and display the greenery for the Japanese-style gardens he installed in the Puget Sound area.  Since that time, the Gardens have grown to nearly 20 acres, been abandoned during WWII when the family was placed in an internment camp, restored by Fujitaro and his sons and declared a Historical Landmark of the City Of Seattle in 1981.  We arrived at the Gardens on a chilly February afternoon and as soon as we entered the gorgeous gates we realized we virtually had the entire Gardens to ourselves. The construction of the ponds and waterfalls along the walkways is somehow massive and delicate simultaneously and the winding paths constantly led us to new corners to be explored.   Of particular note were the multiple footbridges ranging from the small, hand-cut stone paths up to the large moon bridge that symbolizes the difficulty of living a good life: "Hard to walk up and hard to walk down."  Even in the slightly drifting snow, Kubota Garden kept us entranced and exploring its many pathways.   We can’t wait to return in the spring when the flowers are in bloom…and the weather is more hospitable. http://www.kubotagarden.org/visit/about-the-garden/

Explore Nature - Discovery Park

To fully experience the grandeur of Seattle’s commitment to green spaces, a visit to Discovery Park is in order.  The park’s 534 acres transition through a broad spectrum of habitats and environments ranging from heavily forested areas and large grassy fields to paths that wind through the beachfront woods to the expansive beach itself.  We began our hiking and exploring from the south parking lot, first heading to the amazing overlook with its magnificent views of Mt. Anderson and the rest of the Olympic and Cascade Ranges.   Once you arrive at the park, it’s easy to spend the entire day meandering through the area’s nearly 12 miles of trails. The large sandy patch at the head of several of the trails is the perfect meeting place, allowing you to head off in several directions each leading to its own unique locale.  We headed down the Loop Trail, taking time to explore the hollows in trees and keep an eye out for the Bald Eagles that are sometimes sighted along the tree line. One of the things that always strikes me about the park is the lack of intruding city sounds. Shortly after you leave the parking areas, the sound of traffic fades away leaving you with your thoughts.  Discovery Park has yet to fail us as an excellent place to visit amid the bustling city. http://www.cityofseattle.net/parks/Environment/discovparkindex.htm