Location: Vashon Island Address: 9500 S.W. Dock St., Vashon Acreage: 193 This is the 500th park I’ve written about on this blog. 500! Now on with the show… I spent a sunny day last year with my family touring a handful of really great parks on Vashon Island, and Dockton may be my favorite. We… Continue reading Dockton Park, Forest & Natural Area
Category: biking
Paradise Valley Conservation Area
Location: WoodinvilleAddress: 23210 Paradise Lake Rd, WoodinvilleAcreage: 793 This enormous Eastside park was a completely new find for me recently, a tip from a hiking-loving friend. If you are out of ideas for winter hikes in the lowlands, Paradise Valley is a worthy outing. Mostly flat trails–some a bit muddy–are easy on the knees and… Continue reading Paradise Valley Conservation Area
Snohomish River Front Trail
Location: Snohomish Address: Access at 1st Street and Avenue D, Snohomish Length: One-third mile If you’re in the Snohomish area for antiquing or fall farm visits, take time to stroll the Snohomish River Front Trail. This short trail is the best way to get close to the scenic Snohomish River. The trail connects two parks… Continue reading Snohomish River Front Trail
White Center Bike Playground/Dick Thurnau Park
Location: White Center/West Seattle Address: 11050 10th Ave. S.W. Acreage: 33.42 All it takes is some paint on a flat surface to create a fun new activity for kids on wheels. Opened in late 2016, this “bike playground” is modeled after popular ones in Europe that help teach kids how to ride their bikes in… Continue reading White Center Bike Playground/Dick Thurnau Park
Google Playground and Cross Kirkland Corridor
Location: Kirkland/Eastside Address: 7th Ave. S. and 5th Pl. S., Kirkland (between Google Buildings B and D) Acreage: ~ 3.0 I’ve been on a new mission to find cool examples of public-private partnerships that result in public spaces. Did you know that Google’s Kirkland campus has a park at its heart? Opened in 2015, the… Continue reading Google Playground and Cross Kirkland Corridor
Lake Sammamish State Park
Location: Issaquah/Sammamish Address: 2000 N.W. Sammamish Rd., Issaquah Acreage: 512 It doesn’t matter if you live on the Eastside or in Seattle, if you haven’t been to Lake Sammamish State Park you should schedule a trip. This huge recreation area manages to strike a careful balance between people and nature. Ballfields and popular swimming beaches… Continue reading Lake Sammamish State Park
East Lake Sammamish Trail
Location: Issaquah/Sammamish/Redmond Address: Lake Sammamish State Park to Marymoor State Park Length: 11 miles Follow an old railroad route along the eastern shore of Lake Sammamish for a pleasant–and blissfully flat–bike ride on the Eastside. Recent improvements have resulted in new paved sections making this popular route better than ever for bikers and runners. An… Continue reading East Lake Sammamish Trail
Torguson Park
Location: North Bend/Eastside Address: 750 East North Bend Way, North Bend Acreage: 17.3 A dramatic 31-foot climbing tower is the featured attraction at Torguson Park, although the view of Mount Si in the background is pretty stunning in itself. This park, which sits close to a cute downtown, is sports central for North Bend. You’ll… Continue reading Torguson Park