Odds and Ends

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Odds and Ends

I plan to write a couple more posts about A Nation of Wimps next week--one focused on the issue of parental involvement, and another that I've already titled "Got Grit?"

Also, as I've hinted, the book I'm reading (or more accurately, re-reading) in July is Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder by Richard Louv. Granted, the book is a few years old, but its premise--that exposure to the outdoors positively impacts mental and physical health, along with academic achievement--is driving millions of grant dollars in our state, and at the congressional level, HR 3036, The No Child Left Inside Act, is being worked on.

I have a totally unrelated question for my readers--where is the best place to watch fireworks in Seattle? Last year, in an attempt to avoid the crowds, we ended up at a very lame display put on by a suburban city whose name I won't mention...

This time, we've decided to catch one of Seattle's big fireworks shows, but we don't necessarily want to be sitting at Gasworks or Myrtle Edwards Park. For a few years, we went to Eastlake and hung out on TOPS' playfield, where you could see the Lake Union display pretty clearly--but those trees kept getting bigger and bigger. We tried West Seattle once, too, looking out over the water toward downtown, but my eyes aren't that great, and I missed the loud booms.

Are you willing to share your favorite spot to watch the fireworks?

Posted by at July 2, 2008 7:30 a.m.
Category: Misc.

Comments

#146062

Posted by unregistered user at 7/2/08 7:57 a.m.

SHHHHHHH, don't tell anyone.
We always go to Lyons Creek Park in Lake Forest Park - it's an amazing, tiny park, right on Lake Washington. It has a creek, a few picnic tables, and a long dock. The fireworks boat pulls up right in front of the dock, and you can almost reach out and touch the fireworks. They are literally right over your head. It's an amazing show, and it's such a small park that not many people know about - so it doesn't get crowded (maybe 30-40 people?). Bring some folding chairs or a blanket and have a picnic on the dock! As an added bonus, in the near distance, but unobstructed, you can see Kirkland's fireworks show!

Lyons Creek Park (across the street from 3rd Place Books and right next to the Lake Forest Park Civic Club beach park)

17425 Ballinger Way
Lake Forest Park

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#146101

Posted by unregistered user at 7/2/08 9:48 a.m.

We're also Lake Washington fans - but from Magnuson Park. It's really easy access, not crowded at all, and although you're a ways away from the biggest displays, you can look across the water to see Kirkland, Bellevue, and some fancy folks on Mercer Island. And best of all it has a family 4th sort of feel - you can picnic, splash in the water, fly kites, play volleyball or baseball, whatever. And leave whenever the kids or grown-ups get tired.
Confession though - last few years our oldest has joined a friend's family who walk from the U district down to Gasworks.

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#146103

Posted by unregistered user at 7/2/08 9:50 a.m.

I'd like some good tips, too. For years we have watched from just west of the Aurora bridge, but now Adobe has turned that grassy lawn into a nearly-finished parking garage. I'm looking for a new place to watch the fireworks over Lake Union, one that we can walk to from our home in Fremont, but not quite in the crowds of Gasworks park. --Lisa

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#146257

Posted by unregistered user at 7/2/08 7:01 p.m.

I know it's a long ways, but we went to Ft. Lewis for the first time last year and the fireworks are absolutely spectacular. And - you mentioned missing the boom - it is loud. Definitely a family atmosphere, and it is run jointly with a fun fair. The best fireworks I've seen in the last 20 years. And I live north of Seattle...

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#146272

Posted by unregistered user at 7/2/08 7:41 p.m.

I know it's far but the Oregon Coast has spectacular fireworks, especially in Seaside. Get a yurt at Nehalm Bay State park, and walk out on the sand to watch the fireworks show out over the ocean. It gets quite windy at night on the beach, but in Oregon you are allowed to build a bonfire in the sand!!!! It's far away, but it's the best time we've ever had for 4th of July.

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#147544