| Typist: Bethany In my (lifetime dog adventurer and well over half my lifetime city of Seattle resident) opinion, one of the very best leashed dog friendly attractions in the city of Seattle is The Seattle Art Museum's Olympic Sculpture Park. How lucky are we that the only free, public admission outdoor sculpture park in the country can be enjoyed by humans and canines? Yet as fortunate as I feel to have this unique art and dog walking experience in my beloved city, I honestly don't go there very often. After our almost three week road trip to and from the Southwest, though, I wanted the dogs and I to experience an urban hike that is distinctively Seattle. So views of the Space Needle and the spectacular dog friendly outdoor art museum next to Elliot Bay seemed like the perfect welcome home. |  The Olympic Sculpture Park's newest installation, "Echo," by Jaume Plensa. |
"Wake" by Richard Serra. This is one of my favorite pieces at the Olympic Sculpture Park. I have wonderful memories of weaving through these "waves" with an exuberant Tynan and a burgeoning Wilhelm...
After meandering the trails of the Olympic Sculpture Park, Wilhelm, Brychwyn, Huxley and I proceeded North on the pedestrian path of the Elliot Bay Trail back through the City of Seattle's Myrtle Edwards Park, past the Thomas Street Overpass where we had come down to the water from Lower Queen Anne hill, to the Port of Seattle's Centennial Park.
 Huxley enjoys the view at Myrtle Edwards Park. |  Wilhelm enjoys the smells at Myrtle Edwards Park. |  Brychwyn and Elliot Bay from Myrtle Edwards Park. |
While I had, of course, brought my H20K9 water bottle to keep the dogs hydrated on our sunny urban hike, the first stop we made at Centennial Park was at a fantastic piece of functional art. There was a nozzle on the side of a fire hydrant that slowly drained into a low bowl. This was definitely the dogs favorite "art" of the day! I am still wondering why there isn't one of these nozzles on every fire hydrant. Even without the bowl, this is absolutely brilliant! I have walked this trail innumerable times in my life, with a variety of dogs, but have never seen this great canine hydration stop. I simply love to discover new things on what I thought was a familiar hike.
 Huxley and Wilhelm enjoy water from the hydrant. |  Brychwyn and Wilhelm get hydrated. |  Can we get one of these dog friendly fire hydrants in every park? |
| Other new things we discovered on this repeated Seattle route was the restored story totem (the second totem we enjoyed on this hike) and the lovely Centennial Park rose garden. The roses of the garden weren't the only one's we enjoyed on this dog friendly urban hike. Much of the Elliot Bay Trail and the parks connected by it have wild roses throughout. The fragrant blossoms increased the pleasure of our entire trek along the sunlit shore of Elliot Bay.  |  Centennial Park Rose Garden, Seattle, Washington, Cascadia.  No spring/summer hike in Cascadia is complete without some time to stop and smell the roses! |
The public fishing pier at Centennial Park with a view of a functioning grain Port of Seattle terminal and the Space Needle (in the distance.)
Elliot Bay and the Elliot Bay Trail from Centennial Park.
I considered following the Elliot Bay Trail to it's end at Smith Cove Park, where the dogs, Jason and I have strolled many times before, but it was getting late and we still had a hike back up from Elliot Bay to the Seattle Center. So we turned around before the Elliot Bay Trail neared the Magnolia Bridge. When we got close to Seattle Center, we passed a cordial looking Mexican restaurant and I asked if the dogs could join me at a sidewalk table. The people at Agave Cocina & Cantina in Lower Queen Anne could not have been kinder to my weary traveling pups. They gladly allowed me to refill my H2OK9 and hydrate the dogs. Plus I simply adore pet friendly restaurants where half the staff comes out to say "hi" and pet the dogs. Oh. And I had a delightful experience as well.
 A well deserved urban hike rest stop at Agave on Lower Queen Anne. |  Brychwyn approves of Agave's sidewalk chairs chin restablitly. |
Just before our hike was over I noticed Mount Rainier behind the Space Needle. Could anything be more perfect? Don't answer that! I suppose if you don't live in our Jet City by the bay you might have had more perfect moments of your own. But for these homesick Cascadian Nomads, all was right with the world.
Thank you Seattle.
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