Sweat is trickling down your brow now, your thighs and calves are warm and working as they're intended, your mind wandering with your eye; a green and white ferry leaves Coleman Dock, a red and white Coast Guard cutter steams into Elliott Bay, seagulls squawk. A friendly female jogger smiles as she passes coming the other way, you wipe your forehead with your wrist and begin to round Duwamish Head, breathing rhythmically, feeling the sun's glow, smelling salt air. Into full view strides the Olympics, the twin peaks of The Brothers most prominent, their shoulders cloaked in fading snow.
By Greg Johnston | June 23, 2005
To many, Lake Washington is just a large body of water to drive around or across as we hurry to and fro in our busy lives.
On clear winter days, perhaps we take a glance at the stunning view of snow-covered Mount Rainier, some 50 miles distant but at times seemingly at its southern shore.
By Greg Johnston | February 10, 2005
Take a Walk
Location: South Seattle.
Length: Several miles of trails.
Level of difficulty: Flat to moderately sloping terrain. Level 2.4-mile, paved pedestrian road encircles the peninsula; upper pedestrian road and dirt/gravel trails lace the forested interior.
By Cathy McDonald | April 29, 2004
Hike of the Week
Seward Park is always delightful, but I especially enjoy the park in winter. It's situated at the end of Lake Washington Boulevard South and is easy to get to on those all-too-short days in January. However, you might not get that far as there are several other regional parks and historical points of interest along the way.
By Karen Sykes | January 1, 2004
It can be difficult to envision wildlife of any great diversity in this busy big city other than Pioneer Square on a rockin' Saturday night.
There's so much asphalt, steel, brick and glass.
But look on the edges of the concrete jungle in green spots tucked away below busy freeways and in quiet waters surrounded by sprawling suburbia and you'll find real wildlife all right, in abundance, seemingly thriving.
By Greg Johnston | September 25, 2003
Bird-watchers drive all over the country to pursue their passion, heading up to the Skagit to see eagles and raptors, ferrying to Whidbey to watch ducks and grebes or journeying to the forested foothills to find woodpeckers and songbirds.
Stop and look around Seattle proper, however, and you might be surprised. Within five minutes of the Space Needle -- as an eagle glides -- a dedicated birder might see 100 species in a day.
By Greg Johnston | November 21, 2002
Position your car (or bicycle) at the northern entrance to Seattle's Washington Park Arboretum and prepare for a lovely, in-city ride. Use Lake Washington Boulevard as your route south to Seward Park, about 15 miles.
The Arboretum ought to provide enough color of its own to keep you busy all day to say nothing of the Japanese Garden near its southern border, a must see. You can take the upper or lower roads (or both) for good fall viewing.
By Terry Tazioli | October 10, 2002
· Norwegian and red maples early color
· Liquid amber mid-October
· Black walnut early color
· Larch late color
· Dogwood midseason
· Golden rain tree early to midseason
· Sumac late in season
· Kwansan cherry midseason
· Flame ash midseason
University of Washington
· Wide variety of deciduous trees turning throughout the season; pick up a tree guide at campus kiosk.
Seattle Pacific University
October 11, 2001
