61. Seattle Central Community College
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (206) 587-6315
Address: 1718 Broadway (Central)
Description: Seattle’s community college offers drop-in, noncredit Total Body Conditioning classes on Mon, Wed, and Fri at noon. The unique class incorporates various exercise equipment to give you a great full-body workout. Hand weights, large exercise balls, and floor-based exercises are combined to challenge strength, flexibility, and balance. The fundamental aspects of self-defense are also taught. The classes are held at the Charles H. Mitchell Activity Center and anyone is welcome to join any class.
62. Seattle Parks & Recreation Gymnasiums
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (206) 684-4075
Description: The city operates more than two dozen community centers in neighborhoods around Seattle, and many of these have full-service gymnasiums and/or fitness centers. The facilities often include weight equipment and machines, and sports courts. Some of the centrally located community centers with gyms or fitness facilities include Yesler, Queen Anne, and Northgate. Entrance fees are just a few dollars for adults and generally free for children 17 and under. Check the Web site for exact locations and facilities.
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Parks & Recreation
Address: 909 4th Ave. (Central)
64. Alaskan Way Trail
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (206) 684-4075
Address: 3130 Alaskan Way West (Central)
Description: The 3-mile Alaskan Way Trail runs along Seattle’s waterfront from Myrtle Edwards Park at Pier 70 to Safeco Field and points south. The surface is fairly good, but there are numerous obstacles such as intersections, train tracks, and pedestrians that require good stopping skills. This trail is flat and very scenic, adjacent to the Olympic Sculpture Park.
65. Fast Girl Skates
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (206) 274-8250
Address: 252 NE 45th St. (North)
Description: This cool roller-skate shop is where the Seattle roller derby chicks get their gear. The flagship store is the first of its kind in the world, carrying a large stock of traditional four-wheel roller skates and the gear to go with them, as well as skate fashions and jewelry. And these fashions aren’t like the flouncy, sequined skating skirts. Fast Girl is more the thigh-high-stocking type.
66. Green Lake Park
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (206) 684-4075
Address: 7201 E. Green Lake Dr. North (North)
Description: This huge public park that goes all around Green Lake is one of Seattle’s most beloved. The newly reconstructed 2.8-mile path around the lake provides a perfect recreational spot for skaters. The crushed-granite path for walkers and joggers runs closest to the lake, and alongside it is the 13.5-foot-wide asphalt path for wheeled users.
67. Inner Space Indoor Skatepark
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (206) 634-9090
Address: 3506 Stone Way North (North)
Description: This indoor skatepark is also for in-line skaters.
68. Mountaineers Club Climbing Wall
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (206) 521-6000
Description: The Mountaineers Club Seattle is headquartered at Magnuson Park, and here they have built an excellent bouldering and top-roping wall that was donated to the city. Climb without a rope for 12 feet or under, and with a rope for over 12 feet. Features include crags, chimneys, and small holds. The view overlooking Lake Washington is magnificent.
69. Rei
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (206) 223-1944
Address: 222 Yale Ave. North (Central)
Description: The downtown Seattle REI is the flagship store, and its focal point is the 65-foot climbing wall right in the center, called the Pinnacle. This is the world’s third tallest indoor climbing structure, with routes ranging from 5.4 to 5.11, with gear and belay provided by store staff. The Pinnacle is open Sat and Sun, and advance reservations are strongly recommended. All climbers must complete and turn in an REI release of liability form prior to climbing. Minors (18 and under) must have this form signed by their legal guardian. For REI members and their immediate family members, each Pinnacle climb is $7. Nonmembers can climb for $20 per person, per climb, or join REI at the store and receive a coupon for a free climb. The Pinnacle is closed during sales and certain special events.
70. Stone Gardens
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (206) 781-9828
Address: 2839 NW Market St. (North)
Description: Known as the climber’s gym, this Ballard facility offers over 16,000 square feet of climbing surface, with textured walls and natural features. There is a 40-foot outdoor wall and a 65-foot indoor lead roof, with a selection of quality routes from 5.4 to 5.13 and boulder problems from V-0 to V-12. On-site amenities include weight and exercise equipment, a pro shop, showers, and loft space that can be rented for parties. Open daily.
71. Vertical World
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (206) 283-4497
Address: 2123 W. Elmore St. (Central)
Description: Seattle is home to the first U.S. climbing gym, Vertical World. They opened the very first rock climbing gym in America in 1987 on Elliott Avenue in Seattle. The gym was no more than rocks glued to painted plywood panels. Today, with more advanced facilities, Vertical World offers memberships and daily rates for non-members, as well as handling corporate functions, private parties, kids’ camps, and a variety of custom group climbing programs. Learn to climb classes are also available. Contact for hours and rates.
72. Alki Beach Park
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (206) 684-4075
Address: 1702 Alki Ave. SW (South)
Description: Just off the laid-back shore of Alki Beach lies a great diving opportunity. The sandy bottom, wharf pilings, and eelgrass habitats are home to a large variety of animals. Depth ranges from 22 to 78 feet, and you’re likely to see sea stars, sun stars, nudibranchs, crabs, sea pens, plumose anemones, cabezon, lingcod, copper rockfish, kelp greenling, and perch. Access hours are 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. The park also has restrooms and picnic tables.
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Parks & Recreation
74. Scuba Schools Group
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (206) 284-2350
Address: 2000 Westlake Ave. North, Suite 210 (Cen
Description: In addition to diving and CPR/first aid classes, one of the best things about the Scuba Schools Group is that they don’t require any membership, fees, or meetings in order to go on their dives. They host a wide variety of local dives, and they are open to anyone at no cost (unless the dive site has its own entry fee). Divers need to be certified and have experience in cold-water dives, and need to bring all necessary gear. Rental equipment and gear are available. Divers can also meet at the shop to pick up tanks and weights, and carpool to the dive site. Some of the spots the club dives include Blake Island Reef, West Seattle Reef, and Edmonds Underwater Park, with both day and night dives.
75. Underwater Sports
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (206) 362-3310
Address: 10545 Aurora Ave. North (North)
Description: The Seattle location is only one of Underwater Sport’s eight locations around Puget Sound. They have one of the largest instructional teams anywhere and offer classes, an equipment store, rental and repair, and local dive trips for certified divers.