Parks We Love for a Three-Day Weekend

We feel you, Seattle. It was so nice to have three whole days of sunshine, and now here we are, looking out the window, wearing a hoodie, mourning what had appeared to be a good solid spring. But it's coming back (sort of) this weekend, just in time for Sasquatch and Folklife. Just in time for BBQs and volleyball games at parks. Three days off (four if, like our office-working friends, you're taking Friday or Tuesday off, too)...we all want to get outside. It's been a while since the last time we had nice weather and a three-day weekend at the same time (almost a year, to be exact), so we thought we'd take a moment to remind you of our various outdoor options.

1. Seward Park - This is where we spent last Saturday, lying on the grass, reading. There were plenty of families there already celebrating the sun, barbecuing, playing volleyball. Tons of cutie pie kids running in and out of the water.

2. Madison Beach - Our personal favorite local beach. It's kind of small and kind of crowded, but the ice cream truck keeps close patrol, and there's food and drink close enough that you can walk over, grab a cocktail, then get back in the sun.

3. Golden Gardens - Ballard's finest sandy beach. We love the fire pits, even if you have to get there at the break of dawn to claim one. We love the proximity to Ray's, the availability of the grills, and the volleyball nets. It's big enough that, even when it's crowded, it's not overwhelming.

4. Magnuson/Sand Point Park - Great for families with kids and dogs, since dogs aren't allowed on city beaches. Plenty of room for long, drawn-out strolls, soccer games, picnics, and boat launching.

We know, we know. There are a thousand other parks and places to spend a nice, sunny three-day weekend. So now we'll hand it over to you: where are you daydreaming this mid-week cloudy day about spending your gorgeous three-day weekend?

Thanks for dropping that photo in the Seattlest Flickr pool, Adam Lyon!