Great Outdoors
Great Outdoors he Seattle area enjoys a national reputation for its outdoor lifestyle. Residents are ble ssed with beautiful waters to sail, mountains to climb, trails to ride and parks to explore—all in a climate that allows year-round enjoyment.
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An afternoon trail ride
Bicycling Pedal the Burke-Gilman trail, ride the Redmond Velodrome, race the annual Seattle-to-Portland, or hit the trails on Tiger Mountain. Named the 13th Most Bike-Friendly City in the U.S. by Forbes in 2015, Seattle is perfect for all biking personalities. There are dozens of local and statewide clubs. The Bicycle Alliance of Washington offers links to some of them at www.wabikes.org. Click on the “Resources” tab. For trail maps and other biking resources, visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/bike.
British Columbia Travel out of the country to nearby Canada. Visit the charming cities of Victoria and Vancouver (named the Top Destination in Canada in TripAdvisor’s 2015 Travelers’ Choice awards), or the beautiful Canadian Gulf Islands. Contact Tourism BC Travel for information www.hellobc.com.
Camping From tents to yurts to RV’s, whatever your camping style, you’ll find it here. • Washington State Parks: Information at (360) 902-8844, www.parks.wa.gov. Reservations at (888) 226-7688, www.washington.goingtocamp.com. • National Forests in the Pacific Northwest: www.fs.usda.gov/r6.
Photo: Courtesy of Suncadia Resort
Fishing and Hunting Washington’s lakes, reservoirs, streams and the nearby waters of Puget Sound create a year-round fishing passion. Contact the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) at (360) 902-2700, www.wdfw.wa.gov/fishing for regulations or licenses. For openings call the Fishing Hotline, (360) 902-2500. Before harvesting shellfish, call the Red Tide Hotline at (800) 562-5632 and the Shellfish Rule Change Hotline at (866) 880-5431. For hunting regulations, contact (360) 902-2515, www.wdfw.wa.gov/hunting.
Hiking With the Cascade Range and the Olympic Mountains so near, hiking is a popular weekend activity. Buy a hiking guide at a local bookstore or visit the Washington Trails Association at www.wta. org for trail suggestions. Contact area hiking organizations like The Mountaineers Club, (206) 521-6000, www.mountaineers.org or The Pacific Northwest Trail Association, (360) 854-9415, www.pnt.org. For trail maps and information, visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/Walk/Hike.
Mount Rainier National Park Ninety miles south of Seattle, Mount Rainier at 14,410 feet, is the tallest volcano and one of the highest mountains in the country. Located in Mount Rainier National Park, over 1.7 million people come here each year to hike, bike, camp, climb, fish, snowshoe, cross country ski or just to enjoy the beauty. For information about Visitor Centers, food, lodging, road conditions, fees & permits contact (360) 569-2211, www.nps.gov/mora or www.visitrainier.com.
Mount St. Helens After the eruption of Mount St. Helens on May 18, 1980 over 110,000 acres of devastated land were set aside as a national monument. Today, plants and animals are returning and seismic activity is still being recorded. Several visitor centers allow travelers within a few miles of the crater. Contact: Mount St. Helens National Monument Headquarters, (360) 449-7800, www.fs.usda.gov/mountsthelens.
Golfing in the Greater Seattle Area The Puget Sound area is home to more than 100 public golf courses. Mild winters allow most to remain open throughout the year. Numerous covered driving ranges offer rainy day alternatives. Visit www.golflink.com to find a course near you.
North Central Washington The sun shines on outdoor activities year-round at Lake Chelan, about 180 miles from Seattle. Swimming, waterskiing, fishing, parasailing, and golfing are popular pastimes. Each winter, urban 2016-17 • GREATER SEAT TLE INFOGUIDE
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