Sports & Recreation
Family Entertainment
Seattle’s Waterfront
The Seattle Aquarium features the “Omnidome,” an IMAX dome theater, a salmon run, an underwater room, and the Pacific Coral Reef Exhibit and the Maritime Discovery Center, which includes 33,000 square feet of hands-on activities and exploration of marine heritage.
Zoos
Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo is rated number one by the Humane Society for simulated wide open natural habitats. The zoo includes four award-winning exhibits and features over 300 animal species. Northwest Trek Wildlife Park, a short drive from Seattle, features native animals in their natural habitats.
The Seattle Center
Developed out of the 1962 World’s Fair, the Seattle Center now holds a variety of attractions, including the world-famous Space Needle, a monorail connecting to downtown’s Westlake Mall and will soon be home to the Chihuly Exhibition, an indoor and outdoor exploring the work of world-renowned glass artist Dale Chihuly. Also on the Center grounds are the Seattle Children’s Theater, the Pacific Science Center complete with a 3 1/2 story IMAX movie screen and learning works center, the Children’s Museum, and the Experience Music Project and Science Fiction Museum.
Spectator Sports
Professional franchises in Seattle include the Seattle Seahawks (football), Mariners (baseball), Sounders (soccer), Thunderbirds (hockey), and the Storm (women’s basketball).
In addition to the Husky football and basketball teams, the University of Washington boasts a strong athletic department with teams competing in everything from crew to soccer.
Outdoor Recreation
King County offers a wide range of recreation opportunities, from kayaking to snow boarding to water skiing. The county’s location (between Puget Sound and the mountains), and extensive public parks, allows all residents many opportunities to get out into the wilderness.
Hiking and Camping
King County lies between two spectacular mountain chains. One hour to the east are the Cascade Mountains, which feature dramatic mountain ranges and rugged foothills. The Olympic Mountains lie to the west, and encompass the Olympic National Park—a temperate rain forest. Both mountain chains are dominated by large, national and state parks that feature extensive trail systems for all hiking levels. For the more experienced climber, Mount Rainier and Mount Adams are within a few hours drive.
There are a number of resources dedicated to hiking and camping in the area, including:
- Pacific Northwest Trail
- US National Park List – Link to GORP
- Explore Outside Seattle
Water Sports
From King County, adventurers are only a short drive from the Pacific Ocean, and Puget Sound itself encourages an unusual abundance of sea life due to the sheltered nature of the waterway. The scenery above and below water attracts sailors and scuba divers from around the world. The area is also scattered with numerous lakes, streams and rivers that provide ample playgrounds for fishermen, rafters, and waterskiers alike.
Bicycling
Partly because the mild weather enables year-round cycling, Seattle has been named the “Best North American City” for Bicycling. The King County area has several excellent bike paths including the 18-mile Burke-Gilman Trail, the University of Washington’s Arboretum, the 2.8 mile Green Lake bike path and the Sammamish River Trail along the east side of Lake Washington.
Snow Sports
King County residents are within a few hours drive of five major ski areas open from November until late spring. Although there is rarely snow in the coastal region, the mountains get an excellent skiing base. For cross country enthusiasts, there are numerous public forest lands and trails.
Public Parks
Part of King County and Seattle’s “emerald” nature comes from the public parks located all over the county. Some feature special attractions like swimming and boating while others offer quiet picnicking and trails. Discovery Park is one of the largest Seattle parks, a 534-acre natural area northwest of downtown.