The Space Needle To Elliot Bay And The Art Along The Way: Seattle Urban Hike With Dogs, Part 1

Typist: Bethany
After almost three weeks away from Seattle, I needed a serious infusion of all things Jet City. So just three days after returning from our epic road trip to the Southwest, the dogs and I headed out for a seven mile urban hike that began in the shadow of the Space Needle and wound us along the shore of Elliot Bay (the bay in Puget Sound which Seattle is centered around.) It was a sparkling Pacific Northwest day and the views of the beauty of Seattle in the sunshine, made by man and nature, were just what I needed to see of the city I had missed.

The International Fountain at Seattle Center, Seattle, Washington, Cascadia.

Of course, the dogs loved every moment of this fit dog adventure too. Wilhelm, Brychwyn and Huxley love traveling and camping but they are city dogs at heart. An urban hike like this one, with all of the stimulating smells, exciting sounds, and admiring people the city can offer, was an excellent welcome home for them.

We started this urban hike at Seattle Center, the 74 acre urban park that was built for the 1962 World's Fair, that is always alive with recreating people. I could wander Seattle Center for hours. The memories alone of being a child and teen there make me ceaselessly smile. Watching people pass through and play at Seattle Center could be a more than full time job. Most of all, it is just so pleasant to spend time in a park with one of the world's most recognizable towers constantly in view.

Just six blocks from Seattle Center is the Thomas Street Overpass, a bridge for bicycles and pedestrians that connects the Lower Queen Anne neighborhood to Myrtle Edwards park on Elliot Bay. The busy bridge is wide enough to easily share with bike commuters and other pedestrians with my three leashed dogs. I absolutely love the art at the eastern entrance to the overpass as well as the sweeping Elliot Bay views from the overpass itself.

Brychwyn, Huxley and Wilhelm appreciating "Snoqual" by Roger Fernandez at the entrance to the Thomas Street Overpass.

Thomas Street Overpass

Once we crossed the Thomas Street Overpass, we were on the leashed dog friendly Elliot Bay Trail at Myrtle Edwards Park. Much of the Elliot Bay Trail has clearly separated bike and pedestrian paths making it an excellent urban trail for dog walking. Usually a very busy city park, Myrtle Edwards was surprisingly quiet for such a sunny Seattle afternoon but it gave the dogs plenty of time to sniff around and me a chance to get some wonderful photographs. The first photo opportunity I had was with a large sculpture found immediately when entering Myrtle Edwards Park from the Thomas Street Overpass,"Adjacent, Against, Upon" by Michael Heizer.

Less that halfway through our hike and we had seen one of two fountains, one of two story totems and the first of many wonderful pieces of art. Just one mile south of where we entered Myrtle Edwards Park, we began a tour ofThe Seattle Art Museum's leashed dog friendly Olympic Sculpture Park. The three fit dogs enjoyed the varied terrain that included stairs, grass, gravel and wood chip paths and we all took the time to appreciate the art at every turn and rise in the trails.

Three dogs with three parts of "Adjacent, Against, Upon" by Michael Heizer at Myrtle Edwards Park, Seattle, Washington, Cascadia.

Huxley, Brychwyn and Wilhelm get cooled off from the spray of the "Father and Son" Fountain by Louise Bourgeois at the Southwest corner of The Seattle Art Museum's Olympic Sculpture Park, Seattle, Washington, Cascadia.

To Be Continued...

This was just the beginning of the great art enjoyed and fit dog fun we had on our walk from Seattle Center along the Elliot Bay Trail, Myrtle Edwards Park, the Olympic Sculpture Park and Centennial Park.
Please check out Part 2 of our alluring Seattle urban hike here.

This fabulous Fit Dog Friday urban hike was mostly inspired by the spectacularly beautiful city we live in but some credit goes to the brilliant hosts of the FitDog Friday Blog Hop: SlimDoggy, Peggy's Pet Place and To Dog With Love. Hopefully the Cascadian Nomads fit dog adventures inspire you to get out and about with your dogs but you'll find more dog health and fitness advice and examples in the links below.