My Extended Experience

 

            As mentioned in a previous blog, I had the opportunity to spend fall break in Seattle with my honors business program. When choosing flights, my friend Haley and I decided to head back to Texas a bit later the last day so we could explore more of the Seattle area. Most of our time spent with our program was in the heart of Seattle amid the hustle and bustle. We pondered how we would spend our last day and decided it would be best spent among the beautiful nature Washington has to offer. We asked some friends living in Seattle where we should go, and the resounding answer was Discovery Park. Haley and I woke up early, grabbed some coffee, and headed on our way to what would be one of the most beautiful places I have ever been.

            Discovery Park is a gorgeous park hosting over 500 acres of flora and fauna. The edge of the park overlooks the Puget Sound. I had never visited the Pacific Northwest, but this park encapsulated everything I imagined the region to be. The park is dominated by red cedar, Douglas fir, western hemlock, red alder, and bigleaf maple trees. The Douglas firs were my favorite, as the smell and the beauty reminded me of fond Christmas memories. The birds were equally as exquisite. After more research, I found that bald eagles and various woodpeckers are commonly found in the park. Also common in the park were dogs walking with their owners, as Seattle is a dog-friendly city. I loved seeing the sweet pups galloping through the trees.

The beautiful weather that required only a jacket and the sunshine that peaked through the trees took me into a fall wonderland. As a lover of autumn, it was incredible to be somewhere for fall break that actually felt like fall. Haley and I walked all through the park and down by the water. We often stopped to take in the magic around us.

I am someone who tends to look at the big picture when taking in beautiful sights. I hike to high places to see panoramic views, or I stare off over the water taking in all of the mountains and trees towering it. However, this class has encouraged me to look at the details too. I admired individual leaves that were beginning to change. Some of my favorite plants I saw once I took a closer look were clematis vitalba (also known as old man’s beard), Canada goldenrod, and Himalayan blackberries. Every turn brought with it a plethora of plants that my camera was drawn to.

Discovery Park is operated by the Seattle Parks and Recreation. It is well maintained, and the trails are easy to decipher. There have been various projects to improve accessibility at the park, especially for various “gathering” areas. There are roads that cut through the park and a couple of parking lots that allow easy access to the park. The Park itself is distant from downtown Seattle; we took an Uber to get there and rode a bus back. Using public transportation from the park made me realize how much I appreciate accessibility to parks. While the heart of Seattle is a great place for businesses to operate, it is important for people to have access to wildlife, even if it is not as “wild” as it could be.

Our discussion on Edward Abbey and his disdain for accessibility in parks comes to mind when

I think about my experience in Discovery Park. I was thankful that I could hop in a car, go to the park, admire the nature, and catch a bus home. A desire to leave the busy city was fulfilled by paved roads. However, it is important to treat the nature kindly, and paved roads do disrupt it. These issues are tough to grapple with, which is why I think it is okay to feel somewhere in the middle. Ultimately, getting out of the car and traveling by foot is when I made the memories. It is how I was able to pay attention to the details. Preservation is crucial, but allowing people access to the wildlife helps them understand its beauty and why we need to preserve it.

Discovery Park will forever hold a special place in my heart, and I look forward to exploring more of the Pacific Northwest in the future. Outside does lie magic – we just have to be brave enough to discover it.

Until my next adventure,

 

Sav