Waterfront walks

WATERFRONT WALKS

Myrtle Edwards Park

Seattle On the waterfront, with path for walking and biking, Alaskan Way just north of Pier 70, Seattle.

Alki Beach

Seattle Lanes for bicyclists, walkers and skaters on a flat, scenic 2.6-mile route next to the beach, Alki Avenue Southwest from Harbor Avenue Southwest near Salty's restaurant, to approximately Southwest 64th Street, Seattle (206-684-4075 or www.cityofseattle.net/parks/">www.cityofseattle.net/parks/ parkspaces/alki.htm).

Lincoln Park

Seattle About 130 acres of woods, playground, playing fields, trails and beach, Fauntleroy Way Southwest and Southwest Webster Street, Seattle.

Discovery Park

Seattle More than 11 miles of trails for bikers, hikers, walkers and runners in a 534-acre park of forest, beaches and a lighthouse, park open dawn to dusk, visitors center open 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday, 3801 W. Government Way, Seattle (206-386-4236 or www.cityofseattle.net/parks/ environment/discovparkindex.htm).

Green Lake

Seattle Flat, 2.8-mile loop around the lake with lanes for bicyclists and walkers, 7201 E. Green Lake Drive N., Seattle (206-684-4075 or www.cityofseattle.net/ parks/parkspaces/greenlak.htm).

Golden Gardens Park

Seattle Beach, trails and paths, 8498 Seaview Place N.W., Seattle.

Magnuson Park

Seattle Waterfront park with sports fields, paved paths, 6500 Sand Point Way N.E., Seattle.

Seward Park

Seattle Wide, flat, paved 2.4-mile loop along Lake Washington, with upper paved loop and forest trails, 5898 Lake Washington Blvd. S., Seattle (206-684-4396 or www.cityofseattle.net/ parks/parkspaces/sewardpark.htm).

Carkeek Park

Seattle Six miles of trails; level trail along Pipers Creek, with views of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains, with ADA-accessible Salmon to Sound trail, 950 N.W. Carkeek Park Road, Seattle (206-684-0877 or www.cityofseattle.net/ parks/parkspaces/carkeek.htm).

Luther Burbank Park

Mercer Island About 77 acres with wooded trails, beach and playgrounds, 2040 84th Ave. S.E., Mercer Island.

Mercer Slough Nature Park

Bellevue Trails through 320-acre wetland habitat with a variety of birds, plants and animals, 2102 Bellevue Way S.E., Bellevue.

Juanita Beach Park

Kirkland Lake Washington pier, playground, tennis court, 9703 N.E. Juanita Drive, Kirkland.

Marina Park

Kirkland Walkway, picnic areas and beach along Lake Washington, 25 Lake Ave. W., Kirkland.

Beaver Lake Park

Sammamish Marshes and forest trails popular for bird watching and hiking, Southeast 24th Street and 244th Avenue Southeast, Sammamish.

Lake Sammamish State Park

Issaquah Popular 512-acre, day-use lakefront park with picnic areas, forest and wetlands, salmon creek and great blue heron rookery, 20606 S.E. 56th St., Issaquah.

Richmond Beach Saltwater Park

Shoreline Puget Sound shoreline with playground and picnic areas, 2021 N.W. 190th St., Shoreline.

Park at Bothell Landing

Bothell Adjacent to the Sammamish River Trail, 9919 N.E. 180th St., Bothell.

St. Edward State Park

Kenmore About 316 acres of forest trails, picnic areas, athletic fields and beach on Lake Washington, 14445 Juanita Drive N.E., Kenmore.

Des Moines Beach Park

Des Moines Play area, trails, natural area, 22030 Cliff Ave. S., Des Moines.

Redondo Pier

Des Moines Boardwalk, walking path, Redondo Beach Drive and Redondo Way, Des Moines.

Gene Coulon Beach Park

Renton Beach on Lake Washington, more than a mile of paths including paved waterfront trail, 1201 Lake Washington Blvd. N., Renton.

Dash Point State Park

Federal Way A 398-acre park on Puget Sound for camping and day use, Dash Point Drive, Federal Way.

Dumas Bay Park

Federal Way Unpaved trails lead to sandy beach on Puget Sound, with large heron rookery in greenbelts, 19 acres, 30844 44th Ave. S.W., Federal Way.

GARDENS

Washington Park Arboretum

Seattle More than 200 acres with 5,500 trees and shrubs; seasonal highlights include dogwood, heather, hellebore, holly, witch hazel and rhododendrons, Winter Garden, dawn to dusk daily, guided tours, 1 p.m. most first and third Sundays, call to confirm; Graham Visitor Center open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. daily, Washington Park Arboretum, 2300 Arboretum Drive E., Seattle; free (206-543-8800 or www.depts.washington.edu/wpa).

Kubota Garden

Seattle 20-acre Japanese-American garden with a Northwest influence, waterfalls, ponds, ginkgo trees, bamboo and Japanese pines, open daylight hours daily; Kubota Garden Park, 55th Avenue South and Renton Avenue South, Seattle (206-684-4584 or www.kubota.org).

Medicinal Herb Garden

Seattle One of the largest medicinal herb gardens in the Western Hemisphere, plus trees and shrubs, open daylight hours daily, University of Washington campus along Stevens Way across from the Botany Greenhouse, Seattle; free (206-543-1126).

Carl S. English Jr. Gardens

Seattle Ornamental garden trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants from around the world. 7 a.m.-dusk daily at the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, 3015 N.W. 54th St., Seattle; free (206-783-7001).

Volunteer Park Conservatory

Seattle Victorian-style greenhouse has permanent and rotating seasonal displays of plants from around the world, including cacti, succulents, bromeliads and orchids. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. daily, Volunteer Park, 1400 E. Galer St., Seattle; free (206-684-4743 or www.cityofseattle.net/parks/ parkspaces/volunteerpark/ conservatory.htm).

Bellevue Botanical Garden

Bellevue Perennials, Japanese garden, alpine rock garden, trees and native Northwest plants, dawn-dusk daily, visitor center open 9 a.m.-4 p.m. daily, 12001 Main St., Bellevue; free (425-452-2750 or www.bellevuebotanical.org).

Highline SeaTac

Botanical Garden

SeaTac Two developed acres on 11-acre site include the Seike Japanese Garden, the Elda Behm Paradise Garden, trees, streams, Accessible Garden, daily, 7 a.m.-dusk daily, 13735 24th Ave. S., SeaTac; tours available (206-391-4003 or www.highlinegarden.org).

Lake Wilderness Arboretum

Maple Valley 40-acre forest retreat and outdoor classroom with trails through native forests, display gardens, dawn to dusk daily, adjacent to Lake Wilderness Park, 22520 S.E. 248th St., Maple Valley; free (425-413-2572 or www.lakewildernessarboretum.org).

W.W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory

Tacoma Extensive permanent collection of trees, ferns, orchids and floral displays, and plant and gift shop in Victorian-style domed conservatory, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday, Wright Park, 316 S. G St., Tacoma; free, donations appreciated (253-591-5330 or www.metroparkstacoma.org/ parks/conservatory.view).

SEATTLE CENTER

Center House

Food court and family activities. 11 a.m.-8 p.m. daily (206-684-7200 or www.seattlecenter.com).

Fun Forest Amusement Park and Entertainment Pavilion

Indoor pavilion with rides, bumper cars, miniature golf, video games, laser tag, climbing wall, Inflatable Castle, food vendors; outdoor Ferris wheel, merry-go-round closed for maintenance, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday, weather and crowds permitting; outdoor midway rides, noon-6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, weather and crowds permitting (206-728-1585 or www.funforest.com).

Seattle Center Monorail

The monorail runs between Seattle Center and Westlake Center Mall every 10 minutes, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. daily; one-way tickets 75 cents-$2 (206-905-2620 or www.seattlemonorail.com).

The Space Needle

Observation deck offers 360-degree view, indoor and outdoor viewing areas, gift shop, espresso bar; observation deck and gift shops, 9 a.m.-11 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-midnight Friday and Saturday, 400 Broad St., Seattle; $16/adult, $8/age 4-13, $14/ages 65 and older, $12.50/active military; day and night pass for 2 visits within 24 hours, $20/adult, $12/age 4-13, $16/age 65 and older (206-905-2100 or www.spaceneedle.com).

The Children's Museum

Interactive exhibits include Mountain Forest, Global Village, Keys to Your Health and The Neighborhood; "Alice's Wonderland" exhibit based on Lewis Carroll's classic, with interactive theater experience Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Center House, lower level, $7.50/adults and children, $6.50/grandparents (206-441-1768 or www.thechildrensmuseum.org).

Experience Music Project

Music museum with interactive and interpretive exhibits on rock 'n' roll, its roots in jazz, soul, gospel, country and blues and its influence on hip-hop, punk and other recent genres, featuring "Message to Love: Remembering and Reclaiming Jimi Hendrix," through April 6, "American Sabor: Latinos in U.S. Popular Music," through Sept. 7, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, hours may vary due to special events, Seattle Center, Seattle; combo EMP/SFM admission $15/adults, $12/ages 5-17 and ages 65 and older (206-EMPLIVE or www.emplive.com).

Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame

Exhibits include sci-fi robots, monsters, aliens, spaceships, art and literature; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, in the Experience Music Project building, Seattle Center; combo EMP/SFM admission $15/adults, $12/ages 5-17 and ages 65 and older (206-724-3428 or www.sfhomeworld.org).

Pacific Science Center

"Exploring Trees Inside and Out" exhibit from The Arbor Day Foundation, "Strange Matter" interactive exhibit on exotic and everyday materials and their uses; permanent exhibits include Tropical Butterfly House, Insect Village, saltwater tide pool, Kids Works, animal exhibits, Body Works, science playground, technology exhibits, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, $6-$11; Laser Dome shows featuring music by the Beatles, 8 p.m. Thursdays, Tool, 9:15 p.m. Thursdays, Queen, 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Pink Floyd: Dark Side of the Moon, 9:15 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Radiohead, 10:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Pink Floyd: The Wall, midnight Friday and Saturday, Led Zeppelin, 8 p.m. Sunday; $5/Thursdays, $8/Friday, Saturday, Sunday; Imax theaters showing "U2 3D," "Sea Monsters 3D," "The Spiderwick Chronicles: the Imax Experience," hours vary daily, $6-$10.75; Pacific Science Center, 200 Second Ave. N., Seattle; memberships available; Pacific Science Center parking available in James Albert Claypool Memorial Garage at the corner of Second Avenue North and Denny Way, with covered walkway to Science Center entrance (206-443-2001 or www.pacsci.org).

Teen Tix

Discount $5 rush tickets for ages 13-18 enrolled in Teen Tix, for Seattle Repertory Theatre, Book-It Repertory Theatre, Intiman Theatre, Seattle Shakespeare Company, Seattle Opera, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Seattle Children's Theatre, Pacific Science Center Imax and Laser Dome, concerts and special events at EMP at the Seattle Center, with special offers from other local art venues, enrollment free (206-233-3959 or www.seattlecenter.com/teentix).