Seattle Leisure

Seattles location by the sea makes it ideal for water sports, with many beaches within the city limits. Boating is also popular and in winter, skiing can be enjoyed just an hours drive from the city.

Beaches

Seattles most popular beach, Alki Beach, is located across Elliott Bay from downtown. A paved path running along this two and a half mile beach offers good skating, walking and cycling. The views across Puget Sound to the Olympic Mountains provide great scenery, but the beach lacks the greenery of some of the citys other beaches. A water taxi runs between the downtown Seattle waterfront and Alki Beach. Discovery Park has miles of beaches attracting many visitors. Golden Gardens Park, located north of Ballard and Shilshole Bay, where people build fires on the beach, also has lawns and shady trees ideal for a picnic.

Boating

Sea kayaking is popular and can be arranged at the Northwest Outdoor Center, on the west side of Lake Union. Here, sea kayaks are for rent and guided tours lasting from a few hours to several days are also available. Moss Bay Rowing and Kayak Center offers sea kayaks, canoes, pedal boats and sailboats for rent at the south end of Lake Union near Chandlers Cove. This operator is a bit closer to downtown Seattle and a better choice if you dont have a car. Phone: +1 206 281 9694; website: www.nwoc.com; or phone: +1 206 682 2031; website: www.mossbay.net.

Skiing

Seattles long, wet winters have an upside in that skiing is available within an hour of the city. Many slopes are set up for night skiing and cross-country skiing is also available. The ski season in the Seattle area generally lasts from mid-November to the end of April.