City: Seattle, WA

Category: Parks & Recreation

Telephone: (206) 684-4946

Address: 7400 Sand Point Way NE (North)

Description: Warren G. Magnuson Park sits on a splendid mile-long stretch of Lake Washington’s shoreline in northeastern Seattle. At 350 acres, it is Seattle’s second-largest park. This former navy facility is rapidly becoming home to a unique combination of features and activities for you to enjoy: recreation and leisure—boating, swimming, walks, kite flying, to name a few; sports fields; natural areas; and a community campus. In addition, you can take part in shaping the new and expanded park features now in the planning process.

City: Seattle, WA

Category: Parks & Recreation

Telephone: (206) 684-4075

Description: Seattle Parks & Recreation has a wide range of facilities available for runners and joggers, ranging from rough trails to Cintrex-surfaced tracks. The best of these include Discovery Park, which offers a 2.8-mile loop trail through the forest, and Green Lake, a 2.8-mile paved path around the lake. The Burke-Gilman Trail is also very popular, with its 12.5 miles of asphalt path that leads from Gas Works Park all the way north to Kirkland. Several 400-meter synthetic running tracks are also available at three area high schools, and the West Seattle Stadium. The Web site gives a complete listing, along with maps of trails, for every public park and jogging track in the city.

City: Seattle, WA

Category: Parks & Recreation

Telephone: (206) 684-4396

Address: 5895 Lake Washington Blvd. South (South)

Description: Within the Seattle city limits, Seward park boasts 300 acres of beautiful forestland—home to eagles’ nests, old-growth forest, a 2.4-mile bike and walking path, an amphitheater, a native plant garden, an art studio, miles of hiking trails, and more.

City: Seattle, WA

Category: Parks & Recreation

Telephone: (206) 224-9252

Address: 311 3rd Ave. South (Central)

Description: This nonprofit organization is modeled after European and Japanese examples, and was the first of its kind to open in the United States. Bikestation plans, designs, and operates bike-transit centers, enabling bicycling and other alternatives to be an integral part of the transportation system. Its facilities offer secure bicycle parking and related services to make cyclists’ lives easier. Park your bike at a Bikestation and you can be assured that your vehicle is secure and covered. Many Bikestations offer free parking during their hours of operation, and paid memberships for 24-hour access to secure parking. Rentals are also available inside Bikestation Seattle; for more information on rentals, call (206) 307-1179.

City: Seattle, WA

Category: Parks & Recreation

City: Seattle, WA

Category: Parks & Recreation

Address: 7400 Sand Point Way NE (North)

Description: Cycling is serious business in Seattle, and this community club with more than 12,000 members proves it. As a visitor, you can take advantage of the wealth of information and resources provided by its Web site; also, the club offers free rides every day of the year, more than 1,300 annually, ranging from leisurely 10-mile jaunts to strenuous endurance events to multiday rides. Cascade Bicycle Club also partners with the city for Bicycle Sunday, a weekly community ride between June and Sept that goes along Lake Washington to the Seward Park entrance. Members and nonmembers are welcome to attend rides.

City: Seattle, WA

Category: Parks & Recreation

Telephone: (206) 789-1678

Address: 4421 Shilshole Ave. NW (North)

Description: Although this bike shop rents your typical three-speed classic city bike, the reason it is worth a mention is because of its crazy Conference Bike available for rent. This contraption seats seven people, and believe me, if you rent it you will not go unnoticed on the streets of Seattle. On the Web site, you can even watch a video of the Conference Bike in action.

City: Seattle, WA

Category: Parks & Recreation

Telephone: (206) 205-3661

Address: 6046 W. Lake Sammamish Pkwy. NE (Redmond

Description: Marymoor Park, in nearby Redmond, is home to the state’s only velodrome, a 400-meter track dedicated to bicycle racing. Operated by the Marymoor Velodrome Association, this top-notch facility hosts programs for riders of all levels, including youth classes, the popular Friday Night Racing series, and even national racing championships. Marymoor is King County’s most popular park, and more than three million people visit annually to explore its 640 acres of recreational activities.

City: Seattle, WA

Category: Parks & Recreation

Telephone: (206) 329-7333

Address: 2223 24th Ave. East (Central)

Description: This shop, in addition to repairing bikes, sells and rents a full range of mountain bikes, hybrids, touring bikes, racing bikes, tandems, recumbents—plus Burley trailers and trail-a-bikes, and travel cases. Rent by the hour, day, week, or month, and you can walk in or make advance reservations. All rentals require a credit card (not debit card) for security deposit.

City: Seattle, WA

Category: Parks & Recreation

Telephone: (877) 298-4683

Address: 1007 NE Boat St. (North)

Description: Recycled Cycles is an alternative to the “typical” bike shop, offering lower prices through the sale of pre-owned bicycles, parts, and accessories. They also rent hybrids, road bikes, Burley trailers, and trail-a-bikes. Helmets are free, if you don’t have your own. Located conveniently near the Burke-Gilman Trail in the University District.

City: Seattle, WA

Category: Parks & Recreation

Telephone: (206) 213-0019

Address: 1405 Elliott Ave. West (Central)

Description: A happening place for dogs that offers the standard boarding and grooming services, as well as phenomenal doggy day care facilities. Your dog can roam around the puppy palace, upper deck, and south or north playground, with or without you.

City: Seattle, WA

Category: Parks & Recreation

Telephone: (206) 782-4321

Address: 10907 Aurora Ave. North (North)

Description: A playground and day care for dogs catering to small pooches, with a 6,000-square-foot facility with rubber floors, kiddie pools, and worn couches for naps when the playing just gets to be too much. There’s even aromatherapy for nervous dogs! Weekly small dog meet-ups and monthly parties are nice, and your dog’s first visit is free.

City: Seattle, WA

Category: Parks & Recreation

Telephone: (206) 297-7387

Address: 307 N. 103rd St. (North)

Description: A full-service playground for dogs, complete with a play house, rubber flooring, outside play yard, wading pools, and comprehensive fencing system. There is a separate area for smaller dogs, as well. Shuttle service is provided.

City: Seattle, WA

Category: Parks & Recreation

Telephone: (206) 684-4075

Description: For a city that has 45 percent more dogs than children, dog parks are a must. This section of the Seattle government Web site gives information about the city’s 11 designated off-leash areas for dogs, from downtown to surrounding neighborhoods throughout the city. For visitors not familiar with Seattle, it’s worth noting that some dog parks are very busy and popular, while others are downright desolate. The best are Magnuson (Disneyland for dogs, even with a doggy beach), Genesee, and Golden Garden. The I-5 Colonnade is rarely used and, quite frankly, a little scary; the off-leash area at Jose Rizal Park is nearly impossible to find.

City: Seattle, WA

Category: Parks & Recreation

Telephone: (206) 295-7031

Description: A Spot Tail Salmon Guide is the only charter guide in Seattle that offers light tackle saltwater fishing, called mooching or fly fishing. Light tackle mooching is a fun, active, hands-on fishing technique as opposed to trolling, which is passive. This is a good charter if you’re interested in learning this technique and doing a different kind of fishing. They also offer saltwater fly fishing with casting and stripping for the more experienced fisherman. Captain Keith Robbins maintains extremely high fishing standards and has more than 19 years of experience.