Lakeside Loop: Walk the Seward Park Shore Trail

Seward Park sits on a peninsula jutting into Lake Washington on Seattle's south end, and the Shore Loop Trail is one of those walks that earns its reputation. The paved 2.4-mile loop circles the entire peninsula, which means you get uninterrupted water views on one side and old-growth forest on the other for most of the route. There are very few places in Seattle where you can walk for two miles and feel genuinely away from the city. This is one of them.

The trail is flat and easy to navigate, which makes it good for any pace or fitness level. Along the way there are spots to stop and sit at the water's edge, a small beach area on the western side, and forested interior trails if you want to branch off and explore. The park has a long sandy beach at the north end that works well for a picnic, and bike rentals are available near the entrance if you'd rather cover the loop that way. Seward Park is also one of the more reliable spots in Seattle for bald eagle sightings, so keep an eye on the tree line, particularly in the old-growth section at the southern tip.

The full Shore Loop takes most people between 45 minutes and an hour at a relaxed pace. If you want to add the interior forest trails or spend time at the beach, plan for closer to two hours. The park is free and open year-round, and some of the best visits happen in fall and winter when the crowds thin out and the water views look dramatic under gray skies. Parking is free but can fill up on sunny weekend afternoons, so an earlier start is worth it.

After your walk, Columbia City and Beacon Hill nearby have some of Seattle's most interesting dining. Flying Lion Brewing is a Columbia City brewery and taproom that fits naturally after a long walk, with a full food menu and a low-key neighborhood atmosphere. Musang on Beacon Hill is one of the best Filipino restaurants in Seattle, worth going out of your way for, with dinner service Wednesday through Monday and a brunch on weekends that is equally good. For something lighter, Milk Drunk does excellent fried chicken sandwiches and ice cream just up the hill, a simple and satisfying way to end an afternoon outside.