Month by Month - Seattle - page 56

RUNNING
With its many parks, Seattle provides a number of good trails for runners. If you're in
the downtown area, the trails along Myrtle Edwards Park - just north of the waterfront
along Elliott Bay - make for a nice run, affording views over the sound and of the
downtown skyline. Green Lake includes two paths, the 2.75-mile paved path immedi-
ately surrounding the lake and a less-crowded, unpaved path going around the perimet-
er of the park. The Washington Park Arboretum is another good choice for running,
as the trails lead through some beautiful trees and flower gardens. The trails in the ar-
boretum connect to the Lake Washington Blvd trail system, which extends all the way
south to Seward Park, just in case you happen to be training for a marathon.
SWIMMING
When summer temperatures rise, there's no more popular place to be than on one of
Seattle's beaches. One of the most visited is Alki Beach in West Seattle, a real scene
with beach volleyball, acres of flesh and teenagers cruising in their cars. Green Lake
Park has two lakefront swimming and sunbathing beaches, as do several parks along
the western shores of Lake Washington, including Madison Park, Madrona Park, Se-
ward Park, Magnuson Park and Mt Baker Park. Lifeguards are on duty at public
beaches between 11am and 8pm mid-June to Labor Day (beginning of September).