Some Like it Hot

Seattle’s been under a bit of a heat wave. As we Seattleites are accustomed to gray skies and drizzly weather many locals are taking refuge in air conditioned movie theaters and malls. I however embrace this weeks 95 degree weather with open arms, or in today’s exception 101 degree weather! We rarely have weather like what we are experiencing right now, so why not get out there and enjoy all the beauty of the Pacific Northwest?

This past weekend I enjoyed the sunny skies and hot breezes at Warren Magnuson Park. Dan and I were in the mood for a picnic, but we also wanted to lounge on the beach. As we have frequented many of the same parks over the last few weeks, we were in the mood for something new. We pulled up Google Maps (honestly – the greatest feature on the Internet!) and looked for a nice big green area and the next thing you know we were cruising to Seattle’s second largest park. I couldn’t tell you how many times Google Maps has proven to be a usual travel guide.

Warren Magnuson Park, a former Navy facility, takes up a one mile stretch of Lake Washington shoreline. This unique combination of former military grounds meets family picnics in the park provides a fabulous backdrop for photos.

We enjoyed our picnic in the park and watched the kids play amongst the waves. One of the highlights was watching an adorable little girl clomp around in a pair of high heel shoes.

After our picnic dinner we walked the trails which lined the beach front. Although the park is not the most impressively maintained park in Seattle, it still has a rustic charm. A unique feature was the sculpture garden titled “The Fin Project” containing what else but dozens of airplane tail fins.

We also stopped and watched a photo shoot for a local musician. I couldn't help but get in on the picture taking. The lighting was so pretty and the backdrop perfect.

Following our walk along the waterfront we stopped and lounged in the grass to watch families fly kites from one of the giant hills overlooking Lake Washington.

The heat was intense, and we were parched. The movie theater started to sound pretty refreshing…and that new movie, a little film you may have heard of, called something like Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince was playing. We figured it was getting dark and we wouldn’t be able to enjoy the sun for much longer, so screw it…we went to the movies. Sometimes you just can’t beat the heat.