| Visiting Seattle and wondering where to go for tea? Then this is the site for you! You've found Cindy's guide to "taking tea" in Seattle and the Puget Sound. I'll regularly update the information here, but for the most recent news and reviews see my Cup of Tea and a Blog. |
III. Best Places to Take a Thermos
The Puget Sound is filled with startlingly beautiful natural wonders. Below you'll find my favorite places for taking tea in a thermos. Some are urban getaways, while others are further afield.
In / Close To Seattle
Seward Park, with the largest stand of old trees within the city limits. You'll find easy strolls through the old-growth forest or along the lakefront. You can see one of the country's oldest trees, walk/bike/skate the lakeside trail, or bring binoculars to watch bald eagles and other wildlife. Handicapped-accessible parking and trails. Rest rooms. Picnic tables. The park can get crowded on sunny weekends, but that can make for fun people-watching.
Washington Park Arboretum & the Japanese Garden. Chado, the Way of Tea, is demonstrated the third Saturday of each month at 1:30 p.m.at the tea house in the Japanese Garden. These and other tea events are sponsored by the Seattle Branch of the Urasenke Foundation.
Mercer Slough Nature Park. Walk, canoe, take a free guided tour (see maps and more information on the web site). Wonderful wetlands and bogs on the east side of Lake Washington (in Bellevue). There are 5 miles of groomed trails, plenty of informative signs, and several sit-and-relax areas. In addition to a thermos of tea, bring your binoculars for bird and critter watching.
Marymoor Park, Redmond. Take 520 across the floating Evergreen Bridge. At the West Lake Sammamish exit, you'll also see signs for Marymoor Park (located just off the exit). Cost: $1/day parking. Ride a bike, walk along the river, fly a model plane, take your dog to a huge off-leash park, spot a bald eagle, or watch herons swoop through the trees in the thick fog of winter.
Timberlake Park, southern end of Lake Sammamish. Drive east from Seattle on I-90, toward Issaquah. Take theW. Lake Sammamish exit, and be ready to make a quick turn at the roundabout (along the frontage road, which is called W. Lake Sammamish Parkway SE at this point -- I know, I know, look at a map and you'll get it).This is a hard park to spot, with a very narrow entrance, so keep your eyes peeled. The advantage of this being hard to find is that very few people visit. You have a pleasant stroll along a paved then graveled roadway that takes you through a great piece of northwest forest (big booming trees dripping in ivy, with large ferns unfurling beneath). After about a half mile, you leave the sounds of the interstate highway behnind, and you come to a small stretch of sandy beach. There are benches and a picnic table or two, but no rest rooms. Sit, sip, watch the birds and think about those huge old trees.
There are several Puget Sound beach parks in King County. I always enjoy Richmond Beach Saltwater Park in Shoreline, WA, just north of Seattle. It is especially nice during non-summer months (when its less crowded and the kite-surfers are fighting the wind. However, sun-bathers and beach naturalists love this park in the summer. Great views of the Olympics across the Sound, picnic tables and plenty of ships in the passage. Meander, pick up shells, build driftwood forts, and have a tea picnic!
Afternoon or Day Excursions: ferry rides, walks, short hikes, and quick getaways
Ferry Rides: Start from Seattle, Edmonds, or Mukilteo, and head across the Sound to islands or the peninsula. If you want a sunny day filled with mountains and water and birds and the occasional orca, walk on to the Bremerton Ferry from downtown Seattle. You'll get about 50 minutes of deck time each way.
Meadowdale County Park, in Edmonds. You'll walk a bit over two miles roundtrip, hiking through a fern-riddled forest, following a salmon stream down to a wonderful beach. There are views of mountains and ocean, open grassy areas, and plenty of picnic tables and driftwood logs for tea picnic. Remember, though, that you must then trek back up the moderately steep incline (about 500 ft altitude change). The trail is well-marked and nicely maintained. Parking can be tough on summer weekends; arrive early.
Snoqualmie Falls. The waterfalls are always at their best during the rainy winter season. Locals drive to the overlook when the river is flooding for a truly amazing experience. If you were a fan of the Twin Peaks television series, you'll recognize the falls and the lodge.
Iron Horse Trail and Tunnel, 30 miles east of Seattle in the Cascade Mountains, take exit 54 off I-90. This is your chance to hike or bike through a 2.3 mile-long tunnel through a mountain and out the other side. You can continue along the level and wide trail, passing avalanche sheds and crossing wood bridges. The tunnel is closed in the winter, but during the summer it can provide cool relief on a hot day.
Franklin Falls, click the link for details on getting there and finding trailheads. Easy hiking to a beautiful waterfall nestled next to I-90. Another great spot for cooling off on a hot day. (this is the waterfall in the photo at the top of the page)
Mountain Loop Highway. You take this as a scenic drive, or you can use it as a path to hiking, camping, and showshoeing activities. One of my favorite treks is the 8-mile roundtrip hike to the old mining town of Monte Cristo. If you'd like an easier and shorter 2-mile roundtrip hike with some of the same breathtaking scenery, just walk until you get to the bridge that crosses the river (you'll find discrete outhouses and plenty of places to dip your toes while you sip from your thermos). Maps and directions available in each of those links, plus you can pick up guides when you stop at the Ranger Station on your way in (parking pass required if you're going to stop for a hike).
Coming Soon: Whidbey Island, Mt. St. Helens, Portland, and more.
Geocaching: another of my past-times is geocaching,
a sport that combines treasure hunting with technology. Just in case there
are any other cachers out there, I've provided links to nearby geocaches for
many of these spots. Click on the geocaching icon to find the cache listing.
Last updated May 2005 by cindy at wambeam.net