Recently, I was walking the dog, as I do nearly every day, thinking about how much I love walking through our neighborhood. Prior to the pandemic, I hadn’t taken regular walks for a few years, not since our previous dog passed away. Now that daily walks had become the main way to get out of the house, I realized how much I missed them. I’m not alone in this — in our neighborhood and around the country, more and more people are walking, reconnecting with nature and their neighbors.
I feel immensely grateful to live someplace where I can step out my front door and enjoy a safe, beautiful walk. Not everyone has this ability. Some may feel unsafe on their own streets, find themselves housebound, or live in an urban area where nature has all but vanished. To me, this underlines just how important it is that we work to create and maintain safe urban parks and green spaces. Everyone benefits when there is easy access to nature for all, no matter where you live.
With that in mind, I started thinking of all the reasons why I love walking in my neighborhood. Some may sound obvious, some may be a little silly, but they are all part of what makes walking in my little corner of Northeast Seattle special. I hope you’re inspired to think of your own favorite walks, whether a ramble in the woods, a stroll down a busy urban street where nature hides in unexpected places, or a secret spot you visit in search of solitude.
TREES
Our neighborhood is blessed with an abundance of trees, something I often took for granted prior to the pandemic. There are so many trees here, trees of all shapes and sizes — evergreens, maples, flowering cherries, and far, far more. I’m fortunate to have lived most of my life surrounded by trees, something I now recognize as a privilege. Too often, urban environments are bereft of trees. Even here in Seattle, poorer areas often lack the welcome shade and fresh air that trees bring. It may not be the same as forest bathing, but urban trees are invaluable. There’s something about the way they draw the eye up to the heavens that lifts my spirits each time I step outside. There is no doubt that without these friendly giants, my state of mind would be in a far worse place. Each and every day, I am thankful for their gracious presence.
PEOPLE
It’s always a pleasure to see others out enjoying walks of their own. Plus, there’s the chance of running into someone we know — a neighbor, a teacher, a coworker, a friend from church — we’ve seen them all out on a walk! But snow days really are the best for meeting neighbors. Stuck at home, the snow brings everyone out for spontaneous snowball fights and sledding. There’s a sense of community when you encounter others outside on a neighborhood walk, even when you don’t know one another. The simple act of taking a walk slows us down, and gives us the opportunity to enjoy the space we’re in. Who knows, you might even talk with someone you don’t actually know (or maybe not — this is Seattle, after all)! But even if you don’t speak, a simple nod or smile to say hello goes a long way.
MUD, MOSS & WEEDS
Whenever I visit other cities, I love taking neighborhood walks. What better way to get to know a place? One of my absolute favorite places to wander is Stockholm in summer. The city is bursting with green and everyone is outside. Throughout it all, I noticed how natural Stockholm’s landscape was. In private gardens and sweeping parks, weeds poked through the grass, and no one seemed compelled to make their yard into a pristine showpiece. I loved it! When I returned home I noticed — Hey! That’s not so different from my neighborhood! In fact, Seattle Met magazine, in an article about Seattle’s neighborhoods, noted that Lake City’s water view mansions were similar to others in our city, but with “more mud and moss”. I say own it, Lake City! Mud, moss, and weeds — we’re keeping it real!
PEEK-A-BOO LAKE VIEWS
We’re in a bit of an odd spot, sandwiched between a busy commercial street and Lake Washington. Unfortunately, most of Lake Washington’s shores are developed and lined with waterfront homes. Can you imagine what it would be like if Seattle and our Lake Washington neighbors had the foresight to preserve the lakefront as a greenbelt for all to access? Wow! As it stands, we have to content ourselves with accessing the lake through public parks, such as Magnuson Park. Luckily, the steep terrain of northeast Seattle means there are plenty of hidden views to enjoy. We may not have a house with a view, but sneak peeks at the lake are only a few blocks away.
THE CHANGING SEASONS
As I write this, it’s early spring. One by one, the plum and cherry trees display their full glory in a riot of blooms. Tiny buds of green push through dull brown husks, and in the coming weeks the neighborhood will fill with the electric green that ushers in spring in the Pacific Northwest. Thinking back to fall, I remember the blaze of red and gold leaves backlit by autumn sun rays. Summer brings (somewhat) reliable sunshine, perfect for after dinner walks as the sun gradually sinks to meet the distant Olympic Mountains. Winter has its dull, dreary days, but even then there is beauty in the stark grey landscape. Every season brings its own delights, it’s own reasons to celebrate. With Easter just around the corner, the new life of spring is like a joyous shout of “Alleluia!” heralding rebirth.
HIDDEN STAIRWAYS
Seattle is a city of hills. Nature did not intend for the land here to be flat, and while humans have sometimes endeavored to smooth out the bumps, they haven’t gotten far. Living here, you get used to the fact that the road to anywhere is seldom straight. For those on foot, the most direct path isn’t always a road, either. Secret stairways climb through tree-filled ravines and steep hillsides, showing a quiet, hidden side of the city. Want to explore these stairways for yourself? There’s a book (and a blog) to help you do just that: Seattle Stairway Walks by Jake and Cathy Jaramillo. In our neighborhood, the nearest stairs take us 196 steps down to the street below, with a beautiful view of Lake Washington to boot. And since it’s 196 steps to walk back up, it’s a good choice if you’re looking for a little workout.
LITTLE FREE LIBRARIES
One trend that has gained momentum in recent years is the proliferation of Little Free Libraries. I am 100% on board with it! Now, the contents of our local Little Free Libraries have stagnated a bit through the pandemic; maybe someone should clear out the old stock and take it to a used bookstore. Nonetheless, it’s a treat to stumble across a precious book to bring home from your daily walk. The kids are big fans as well. For something a little different, one house in our neighborhood began a poetry library, where you can choose a poem to take home in your pocket. Little Free Libraries are also a great way to pass on your old books, which reminds me that there are a few volumes I should bring along on my next walk (you know, the ones that, once read, sit around for months gathering dust due to a lack of space on the bookshelf)… With luck, someone else will take them home to read, continuing the cycle.
WHERE THE SIDEWALK ENDS
Seattleites north of 85th Street, you know our pain! For decades, Seattle promised us sidewalks, and still we wait. This, by the way, is what happens when a neighborhood develops on unincorporated land without requiring pedestrian-friendly infrastructure. The north end of the city was annexed with Seattle in 1954, and you can see the difference. There is a bright side, however. During the pandemic, the lack of sidewalks in our neighborhood has made social distancing undeniably easy. With little car traffic, the entire street becomes one big sidewalk. Of course, I don’t recommend strolling casually down the middle (as I have explained many, many times to my children), but people readily cross sides to give extra space, and it’s never crowded. But for the record, Seattle — we’d still like more sidewalks, please.
IT’S A DOG’S WORLD
The reason I still manage a daily walk? Buddy. There’s nothing like a dog to encourage you to get out and explore the neighborhood, and judging from the number of canines out and about, this holds true for many others. Sure, he may pull on his leash too much, and he may go crazy at any sign of attention from another human, but he keeps me going. And by golly, he makes the most of it! All the smells, the textures of grass and dirt, the leaves blowing in the breeze — for Buddy, it never gets old. He probably wonders why we’re not out there right now, instead of him lying bored on the kitchen floor while I tap away on this funny machine, ignoring his pleading eyes. Dogs: they know what’s important in life, and they remind us every day.
