Even if your meal was scaled back this year, you might enjoy a holiday stroll. Instead of the usual route around your neighborhood, you can explore some leaf-strewn trails.
Seattle Walks
Carkeek Park
Explore this 200-acre Seattle gem via any of its winding trails. They’ll lead you into ravines, through quiet woods, down to salmon-filled creeks and even up to big views of Puget Sound.
Discovery Park Loop
This 3-mile loop right in Seattle has a little something for everyone: pretty forests, stunning bluffs, quiet meadows and vistas that stretch over Puget Sound to the Olympic Mountains. Hope for a clear day — and don’t forget a camera.
Camp Long
Not everyone knows about this little gem in West Seattle — and that’s just fine. That means more old-growth forest and Mother Nature for those who do hit the trails at Camp Long.
Alki Beach
The 2.5-mile walk between Alki Point and Duwamish Head on Elliott Bay is a Seattle favorite throughout the year. The path here is wide and flat, which means it’s good for just about everyone. And when the skies are clear, the scene out over Puget Sounds is definitely something to be thankful for.
Portland Walks
Eastbank Esplanade
Stroll along the banks of the Willamette River on this flat, 1.5-mile pathway that clings to the river’s eastern banks. You’ll get great views of the Portland skyline and the bustling boat traffic — not to mention some of the Rose City’s unique flavor.
Forest Park
When it comes to urban parks, it’s hard to beat Forest Park, a 5,000-acre forested expanse, cut with 80 miles of trails and forest roads. Classics include the Dogwood-Wild Cherry Loop and Firelane 15.
Mt. Tabor
You’ll burn off plenty of mashed potatoes on the walk to the top of Mt. Tabor, an extinct cinder cone in southeast Portland that offers expansive views of downtown and a few Cascade peaks.
Willamette Greenway
Head to Willamette Park in southwest Portland, then ditch the car and stretch your legs out on the Willamette Greenway Trail. This path winds along the western edge of the Willamette River all the way into downtown.