Seattle Official Visitors Guide 2008-2009 - (Page 19) in 1912. The conservatory features five “houses” to stroll through: bromeliad, palm, fern, seasonal and cactus. There are also two cats who have adopted the conservatory as their home. Looking for a range of fun recreational options? Then head north of the city center to Green Lake Park, where Seattleites flock to jog, skate and bike. Visitors can rent inline skates and bicycles from nearby shops to enjoy the 2.8-mile trail around the lake. The park also has basketball and tennis courts, and a children’s play area. For an escape on a smaller scale, grab sandwiches from a deli in Pioneer Square and enjoy the neighborhood’s tranquil Waterfall Garden Park. Bustling streets surround the urban park, but the noise of the city is drowned out by the park’s main feature, a 22-foot waterfall cascading down a rock formation into a Japanese-style pool. Japanese influence is also evident in other places throughout Seattle. A prime example is the city’s plentiful cherry trees, which were first planted by Japanese residents nearly a century ago. While rows of shady cherry trees pepper all of Seattle, the best place to enjoy their beautiful pinkand-white springtime blossoms is on the University of Washington campus. Blooming cherry trees lining the Liberal Arts Quadrangle cause passersby in early spring to stop and stare. Find a quiet place on the green lawn to practice “hanami,” the Japanese tradition of viewing cherry blossoms, a passion that many Seattleites have adopted. Seattle’s array of flora goes far beyond cherry trees, and the best place to check it all out is at the Washington Park Arboretum. The arboretum’s 230 acres are home to more than 20,000 trees, shrubs and vines, including 139 plants on the endangered species list. Here you’ll also find Seattle’s Japanese Garden featuring plants and sculptures from the Land of the Rising Sun. For exotica of the fauna variety, head to Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo, where more than 1,000 animals are featured in carefully designed, bio-climatic habitats. The zoo’s 92 acres resemble a botanic garden and provide a scenic, peaceful setting for a leisurely stroll. Whether you’re looking for outdoor activities in a picturesque park or the perfect spot to sit and sip a warm cup of coffee, Seattle has plenty of serene, green places to relax and recharge. WWW.VISITSEATTLE.ORG 19 http://WWW.VISITSEATTLE.ORG
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