Month by Month - Seattle - page 55

BICYCLING
Despite frequent rain and hilly terrain, cycling is still a major form of both transporta-
tion and recreation in the Seattle area.
In the city, commuter bike lanes are painted on many streets, city trails are well
maintained, and the friendly and enthusiastic cycling community is happy to share the
road. The wildly popular 20-mile Burke-Gilman Trail winds from Ballard to Log Boom
Park in Kenmore on Seattle's Eastside. There, it connects with the 11-mile long
Sammamish River Trail , which winds past the Chateau Ste Michelle winery in Wood-
inville before terminating at Redmond's Marymoor Park.
Other good places to cycle are around Green Lake (congested), at Alki Beach (sub-
lime) or, closer to downtown, through scenic Myrtle Edwards Park. The Myrtle Ed-
wards Park trail continues through Interbay to Ballard, where it links with the Burke-
Gilman.
Anyone planning on cycling in Seattle should download or pick up a copy of the
Seattle Bicycling Guide Map, published by the City of Seattle's Transportation Bicycle
& Pedestrian Program ( Click here ) .
GOLF
Seattle Parks & Recreation ( Click here ) operates four public golf courses in Seattle,
along with a short (nine-hole) pitch-and-putt course located at Green Lake (
206-632-2280; 5701 W Green Lake Way N), a fun spot to go if you're just learning or
lack the patience or experience to go a full round. Green fees for the Jefferson Park
Golf Course ( 206-762-4513; 4101 Beacon Ave S) in Beacon Hill and West Seattle
Golf Course ( 206-935-5187; 4470 35th Ave SW) are $34 per person on weekdays
and $39 on weekends. When they're not booked, the courses also offer reduced rates in
the evenings.
HIKING
In Seattle, it's possible to hike (or run) wilderness trails without ever leaving the city.
Seward Park , east of Georgetown, offers several miles of trails in a remnant of the
area's old-growth forest, and an even more extensive network of trails is available in
534-acre Discovery Park , northwest of downtown. At the northern edge of Washing-
ton Park Arboretum, Foster Island offers a 20-minute wetlands trail winding through
marshlands created upon the opening of the Lake Washington Ship Canal. This is also a
great place for bird-watching, fishing and swimming.