Journey, wander, recharge: Rejoice Earth Day with nature escapes by transit

This Earth Day, take into account taking the scenic route—one which leads you nearer to nature.

Across the area, forests, shorelines, wetlands, and inexperienced areas are only a bus or prepare journey away. 

Swapping a automotive journey for transit isn’t simply handy; it’s a small solution to scale back your environmental footprint whereas reconnecting with the landscapes that make this area distinctive. 

Step right into a quieter setting and let it change your tempo. Taking transit helps set that tone early—no visitors to navigate, no parking to search out—simply time to look out the window as town provides solution to one thing greener.

Eastside escapes

Near the two Line’s South Bellevue Station, Mercer Slough Nature Park provides a lush wetland panorama with boardwalks, waterways, and dense greenery. 

Nearby on Mercer Island, Luther Burbank Park combines forested trails with lake entry, creating a straightforward place to spend a day open air. 

In Redmond, Marymoor Park gives wide-open area alongside the Sammamish River, whereas Bear Creek Trail provides a quieter, extra tucked-away expertise beneath tree cowl.

Speaking of trails, it’s also possible to hook up with the Eastrail from Wilburton Station. Learn extra concerning the Eastrail and different nature connections on this submit from the LifeSTyle archive.

North finish nature

In Mukilteo, Japanese Gulch provides a community of wooded trails that really feel faraway from surrounding neighborhoods. You can get there through the Sounder N Line or Community Transit bus. 

Neighborhood parks in Snohomish County are accessible through the 1 and a pair of Lines, together with Veterans Memorial Park by Mountlake Terrace Station and Scriber Creek Park by Lynnwood City Center. 

Find extra parks to discover right here.

South Sound surroundings

The W. W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory in Tacoma’s Wright Park gives a special form of nature expertise—one which brings flowers indoors inside a historic glass construction. Connect through the T Line’s Stadium District Station. 

The Sounder S Line additionally provides alternatives for out of doors exploration—together with Auburn Environmental Park. 

Seattle strolls

Within Seattle’s metropolis limits, nature is usually nearer than anticipated. Cheasty Boulevard Greenbelt by Columbia City Station is a community-supported inexperienced area the place trails wind via forested hillsides. 

Ravenna Park and the adjoining Ravenna Ravine close to Roosevelt Station create a shaded hall with a creek operating via it, providing a way of calm in the midst of town. 

And there are various path connections, together with to the enduring Burke-Gilman. Next month is Bike Month, and connecting your bike and transit journeys is a good way to go inexperienced. 

The new Judkins Park Station not solely connects you to the close by Judkins Park, but in addition to the I-90 Trail and Mountains to Sound Greenway. 

Choosing transit, even for a single journey, is one small solution to scale back emissions and congestion whereas accessing these locations. It additionally adjustments how the expertise begins. Instead of specializing in the logistics of getting there, the journey can begin with a second to pause, go searching, and ease into the day.

This Earth Day, the invitation is straightforward: journey as an alternative of drive, step off someplace inexperienced, and spend time within the locations all of us share.

Let us know what you’d add to this listing by tagging @SoundTransit on social media or emailing life-style@soundtransit.org.