Skydiving
Take a bird’s eye view with a difference, and try your hand at indoor skydiving at Tukwila. Pull on a jumpsuit and helmet and suspend mid-air above roaring fans or watch the professionals swoop and dive, bounding and flipping like superheroes. What’s stopping you from taking off for some Saturday soaring?
Biking
If you prefer to keep your feet on the ground but want to stretch your legs, dust off the bike or hire one if you’re not naturally a cyclist, plonk the helmet on and hit the trails. The South Lake Union neighborhood offers great urban cycling opportunities (not to mention restaurants to tempt you off the saddle), but for fresh air and greenery look no further than the Cheshiahud Lake Union Loop or Alki Beach, in West Seattle. That said, the adventurous amongst you can take the 21-mile long Burke Gilman trail, which loops along the shores of Lake Washington to Puget Sound and up to Golden Gardens Park and the Olympic Mountains.
Rock climbing
Between earth and sky stands a wall of rock, and your chalk bag needs a work out so head to the Mountain Home (Leavenworth) area, one of the most popular bouldering areas in the Pacific Northwest. Rock-climbing keeps you close to nature, challenges body, mind, patience, stamina - and with climbing opportunities at Darrington, Exit 38 just outside of Iron Horse State Park and Exit 32 just off the Little Si trailhead, what’s keeping your harness and ropes in the bag?
Paddling
Time to get wet? Tour one of the many waterways bordering Seattle by sea-kayak. Paddle from Portage Bay to the Arboretum, or glide past the Bay’s houseboats and yacht clubs until nature is just within your grasp. Pack a blanket and picnic at Madison Park Beach on Lake Washington, or go a little later and watch the moon rise. Experience one of the most beautiful waterways in the region, and before it gets too cold - pack that swimsuit.
There’s outdoor action and adventure to be found on your doorstep, and an entire weekend to be lived. Time to get out there!
(Photo by howardignatius via Flickr)
Article written by Kashif