10 Best Healthful Activities in Seattle

Whether seen from the vantage point of a peaceful kayak excursion on the waters of Puget Sound or a morning tour of bustling food lover's mecca Pike Place Market, Seattle always appears to be a place where healthful living comes easily and naturally.

1. Savor the city's flavor: Everything great about Seattle is distilled in Pike Place Market. Tucked between a vibrant downtown core and the Puget Sound's Elliott Bay, the lively market offers fresh breezes off the water, locally grown foods, quirky shops, a diverse crowd, and, of course, the famous fishmongers of Pike Place Fish, who fling fresh salmon to one another through the air. Those in the know do as the locals: Shop the market early in the morning before it becomes crowded. Seek out an on-the-go breakfast or the makings for a picnic lunch at the market's numerous ethnic food shops, where you'll find everything from dim sum to Turkish delight.

2. Park it: While north Seattle's Green Lake is popular with joggers and walkers, Discovery Park, a 534-acre wilderness area just northwest of downtown, offers real treks. Formerly a U.S. Army fort, it's now the largest park in the city and home to an extensive trail network, tidal beaches along Puget Sound, and a lighthouse.

3. Experience the city: The exterior of the Experience Music Project was designed by architect Frank Gehry to resemble a smashed guitar. Inside, you'll find a museum that pays homage to popular music with memorabilia, exhibits on the evolution of the Seattle music scene, and video interviews with hundreds of influential musicians, from Randy Newman to native daughters Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart. Musicians or those who aspire to be are equally at home here: The museum's 12 soundproof studios can be reserved for everything from jam sessions for experienced players to step-by-step instruction for beginners. An added bonus: Visit on the first Thursday evening of the month, and admission is free.

4. Catch it fresh: Chef-owner Christine Keff changes the menu daily at Belltown's Flying Fish, which has consistently been regarded as one of Seattle's top seafood spots since it opened. "You can find great seafood all over the city," says Cynthia Nims, Seattle-based cookbook author and contributor to Cooking Light. "But Flying Fish elevates ocean fare to the more exotic with a broader culinary influence over the array of unique regional seafood." Make sure to try the small plates of seared scallops with pineapple hollandaise or Thai crab cakes, or share a large family-style platter of oysters and pickled ginger sorbet.

5. Walk on the wild side: Woodland Park Zoo, near Green Lake, is rated as one of the top zoos in the country. It initiated the now-common method of building exhibits that mimic natural ecosystems, rather than restrictive cages. A self-guided Rainy Day Tour means you can explore the zoo's many covered exhibits and interactive indoor displays without having to wait for the weather to cooperate.