Except for simply not smoking, the most important thing that you can do to stay healthy and fit is to get regular exercise.
Among many other things, exercise:
- Strengthens your cardiovascular system
- Raises HDL cholesterol ("good" cholesterol which prevents heart disease)
- Improves your metabolism and appetite control
- Eases depression and relieves the effect of stress
Do yourself a favor. Walk at least 20 minutes three times a week.
To do our part, we will regularly post ideas about interesting places to stroll that are nearby, interesting, and/or simply beautiful.
Walk through a forest and along a cliff overlooking Puget Sound and the Olympic Pennisula.
Discovery Park is a 534 acre park which occupies most of the former Fort Lawton military reservation. It has a number of well-maintained trails. You can walk for one mile or for five miles with easy upgrades and downgrades.. Your effort will be rewarded with gorgeous scenic vistas of Puget Sound and the Olympic Peninsula. Ferries and ships will parade in front of you.
To get to Discovery Park from I5, take the Mercer exit Go right at the first stoplight. Go left at the next stoplight, staying in the far right lane. You will merge onto Westlake Avenue N. Follow Westlake (which becomes Nickerson Street). Pass the Freemont Bridge. In another mile, stay in the left lane. Follow the sign to the Ballard Bridge/Emerson street. At the 3 way stop, go left onto Emerson. Follow Emerson to the 4 way stop. Turn left onto Gilman that becomes Government Way. You will then come to the east entrance of the park and the visitor center.
The best hiking is from the North parking lot. To get there, drive past the visitors center. Follow the signs to the North Lot.
