Seattle, WA · Same-day appointments available · Most health insurance accepted

The field guide · ten stops

Best places in Seattle to enjoy fitness programmes

Ten peaceful, mostly free places to move outdoors between visits to our tables.

Steep hills and stretches of beaches make Seattle a wonderful place to work out amidst nature. With so many natural treasures to choose from, in Seattle you won’t necessarily have to spend your money on luxurious gyms. Exercising in the open air is the healthy option whenever you’d prefer to take advantage of clement weather — and one more advantage is that nature is free.

While working out in the open air, you probably won’t use much, if any, of the equipment usually found in traditional gym centres — so exercise takes on a different feel. Training outdoors helps you establish a long-lasting relationship with the calming air found only in nature, while increasing your resistance power at the same time. If you’re looking for peaceful places in the city to do your workouts, you can count on the stops listed below.

North Seattle · lake loop

Green Lake

Very much like New York’s Central Park, Green Lake has a track of 2.8 miles. Joggers, non-motorized exercisers, rollerbladers and walkers from the surrounding neighbourhoods gather here to train while breathing the fresh, cool breeze off the water. For additional strength work, use the fitness equipment and pull-up bars on the north-eastern side of the lake.

Pioneer Square · plaza

Occidental Park

Seating inside the park and cafés in close proximity make Occidental Park an outstanding stop for cyclists and walkers. For easy-going, refreshing activity, several ping-pong tables and bocce courts have been installed. In season, Kinesia Pilates offers free Pilates classes to the general public — and doing Pilates in the tree-lined square restores peace of mind much like massage therapy does. When there’s no class on, a slalom course can be run under those same trees.

West Seattle · beachfront

Alki Beach

Alki has some enticing running paths and cycle tracks — and while you run, you can take in Downtown’s scenic skyline across the water. You may well come across plenty of beach bums playing volleyball on the sand. Exercising here is a refreshing experience for the body as well as the mind.

Eastlake · under the freeway

I-5 Colonnade

Much of the I-5 Colonnade in Eastlake was once covered with impromptu shelters. Thanks to the efforts of the Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance, a great portion has been converted into a playground where riders can chase their adrenaline rush on two wheels. After a thrilling ride, grab a quality beer at the nearby Zoo Tavern.

Montlake · outdoor gym

Montlake Playfield

Before 2014, this playfield offered the usual outdoor facilities — tennis courts and baseball fields. Now, with the addition of Norwell Outdoor fitness equipment, the place has become extremely popular among gym enthusiasts who prefer their workout under open sky.

Beacon Hill & Rainier Valley · greenway

Chief Sealth Trail

The Chief Sealth Trail lets walkers and cyclists tread soft green grass through Beacon Hill and Rainier Valley. Much of the time the route stays quiet, so you can come here whenever you want to exercise in a genuinely tranquil atmosphere.

Ballard to Woodinville · rail trail

Burke-Gilman Trail

One of Seattle’s famous rail trails, the Burke-Gilman covers approximately 20 miles, spreading from Golden Gardens Beach all the way to Woodinville wine country. Cycling, walking or jogging this peaceful trail — with blooming flowers along the lakeshore to keep you company — is an incredible experience.

Downtown · free classes

Westlake Park

In Westlake Park, Downtown, a whole range of yoga and Zumba classes is held — and people from around the city come to train absolutely free of cost. These fitness programmes in the heart of the city are run by Downtown Seattle with help from the Urban Parks Activation Partnership.

Central District · pocket gym

Atlantic Street Park

At the end of the I-90 vent in the Central District, Atlantic Street Park draws young and old alike for jogging and walking — a perfect spot for the health-conscious. The outdoor fitness equipment kept inside the park gives it the look of a professional gym centre.

Magnolia · sand running

Discovery Park

Experts believe that running on sand brings out more positive results than running on trails — and Discovery Park in Magnolia has a soft sandy beach stretching nearly two miles. Walking or jogging it at sunrise will keep you active for the entire day.

All the places listed above are well known for their clean and peaceful atmospheres. Pick any one of them and take your first steps towards healthy living — and save time by choosing the place nearest to you.

Then come stretch out on our table