In recovery, it’s about making good habits that help you sustain your sobriety. Thankfully, the Bellevue area is ripe with outdoor opportunities to get physical and stay sober. Here are just 13 ways you can increase your sense of well-being in this amazing city.
1. Sober Fun Adventura Aerial Adventure Park
Woodinville, WA Located about ten miles north and west of Bellevue, Adventura Aerial Adventure Park encourages team building, courage and physical fitness in a safe place. Their website state they are “An aerial adventure course is a physical environment where individual climbers encounter obstacles that challenge their ability to climb, jump, grab, haul, walk, swing, and balance themselves while at heights of up to 50 feet above ground. Our course includes a hydraulic zipline as an exit.” This location is great for groups both large and small. There are some age limitations – all participants must be 10 years or older. Completing the park’s obstacle course requires you be in good health and in a good, undistracted mindset. If you are unsure if you’re physically ready for this type of challenge, talk to your doctor.
2. Smell the Roses at Bellevue Botanical Garden
Bellevue, WA Located in Wilburton Park, Bellevue Botanical Garden is a great place to learn about native plants and local nature. There are various gardens to enjoy, including their Rock Garden, Waterwise Garden, Tapestry Hedge, Native Discovery Garden, Yao Garden, and Ravine Experience. What’s better? It’s free! There is also a coffee cart that sells caffeinated beverages and pastries if you need a snack as you walk. For groups, the website states “Additional private walking tours may be arranged seven days a week from April through October. A two week notice is required to schedule all tours. Request for tours are accepted starting in January for the current year. Group size is limited to a maximum number of fifty (50) people.”
3. Bellevue Square for Drug-Free Shopping and Socializing
Bellevue, WA With 16 million visitors a year, Bellevue Square is where you want to be if you like shopping and people watching. As an outdoor and indoor option, the area surrounding the mall has some amazing shops! It’s great for walking on rainy days. The Square has since upgraded and was branded as “The Bellevue Collection.” It houses various shops and restaurants, and it also includes a sky-bridge to Lincoln Square. If you love fashion, this is the place to be.
4. Hiking During Recovery at Mercer Slough Nature Park
Bellevue, WA In the southern edge of Bellevue near the I-90 expressway, you’ll find Mercer Slough Nature Park. According to the Washington Trails Association, “The Mercer Slough Nature Park is a 320-acre wetland lushly populated with ferns, shrubs, flowers, several varieties of berries, distinctive wooden boardwalks and shaded pathways. There are three main trails in the Park: the 0.8 mile Bellefields Loop Trail, the 1.1 mile Heritage Loop Trail, and the 4-mile Periphery Trail. Canoers and kayakers can explore the 2.6 mile Water Trail that flows through the length of the Park.”
5. Picnic with Family at Meydenbauer Beach Park
Bellevue, WA This beach park is tucked away in downtown Bellevue. According to Bellevue’s tourism site, Meydenbauer Beach Park was, “Once the landing site for passenger ferries that ran between Seattle and Bellevue from the 1890s until 1921, the 2.5-acre park now offers plenty of recreational activities. The park makes a great place for family outing with a playground area for the little ones to burn off some energy and large grassy areas to throw down a blanket for a picnic by the water. During the summer months, visitors enjoy playing volleyball on the sandy beach or going for a dip in the swimming area (lifeguards on duty during the summer). The park also has a fishing dock and spectacular sunset views.” If you just need a solitary stroll on the beach or are looking to reflect on your sobriety, this can be a nice place to relax.
6. Sober-friendly Hiking and Camping at Mount Rainier National Park
Ashford, WA Perfect for a day or weekend camping trip, Mount Rainier National Park is located about 60 miles from Bellevue, Washington. This location is ideal for a quiet, pensive weekend trip alone or as a team building trip with friends. “Ascending to 14,410 feet above sea level, Mount Rainier stands as an icon in the Washington landscape. An active volcano, Mount Rainier is the most glaciated peak in the contiguous U.S.A., spawning six major rivers. Subalpine wildflower meadows ring the icy volcano while ancient forest cloaks Mount Rainier’s lower slopes. Wildlife abounds in the park’s ecosystems. A lifetime of discovery awaits.” The weather changes rapidly, so be prepared to layer and have protection from rain. The views will remind you that you made the right choice to choose sobriety over addiction.
7. Connect with Wildlife at Kelsey Creek Park and Farm
Bellevue, WA This fun, rustic working farm is an oasis in downtown Bellevue. Visit on your own or with family – Kelsey Creek Park and Farm is fun for all ages. “Quiet and secluded, Kelsey Creek Farm retains the feel of country life while centrally located in downtown Bellevue, Washington. Home to ponies, sheep, goats, chickens, pigs, rabbits and waterfowl, our farm dates from the 1930’s, complete with white-rail fencing, beautiful lawns and play fields. Kelsey Creek Farm is owned by the City of Bellevue, WA, and operated by the Parks and Community Services Department.” This is a great opportunity for you to connect with the flora and fauna of Bellevue.
8. Remember Why You Chose Sobriety at Chism Beach Park
Bellevue, WA Being sober in Washington isn’t too hard with outdoor recreation areas like this set aside for residents. “This beautifully landscaped 18-acre beach park is the perfect location to hold a family or group gathering, take in the natural scenery of the Pacific Northwest, or simply cool off during the summer months. With a sandy waterfront on the shores of Lake Washington and a designated swim area, the park is just begging for visitors to come take a dip on a hot summer day. The park offers a picturesque view of the Seattle skyline across the lake, a making it an ideal location to watch the sunset.” Not only is it a fun place to relax – you can get your exercise in through swimming!
9. Sober Fun in the City at Bellevue Downtown Park
Bellevue, WA This lovely park is located in the heart of downtown Bellevue, “A 20-acre oasis of green in the heart of Bellevue defines this elegant centerpiece of the Bellevue Parks System. A one-half mile promenade, bordered by a double row of shade trees, and a stepped canal, brings one to the 240-foot wide waterfall that cascades into a reflecting pond. A ten-acre lawn area invites one to pause for a picnic with Bellevue’s skyline and Mount Rainier in the background. The park’s delightful play area and formal gardens add to family enjoyment and serve as a backdrop for community events.” Downtown Park is all-year fun! In winter, enjoy ice skating, and in warmer weather, you can enjoy picnics and kite flying.
10. Alcohol-free Fishing at Enatai Beach Park
Bellevue, WA If water sports and fishing are of interest to you, Enatai Beach Park may be the perfect place to participate in healthy activities that aid your recovery. If you own your own canoe or kayak, you can launch on an excursion from this park. Otherwise, you can rent from one of the rental facilities on site. “The park also has a fishing dock, play area, a small sandy beach, and a designated swim area with seasonal lifeguards on-duty. There are plenty of picnicking spaces at the park including a spacious patio overlooking the lake, a large grassy area, and the beach.”
11. Read and Play at Ashwood Park
Bellevue, WA After visiting Bellevue’s library, head to the adjacent Ashwood Park. A grassy field most of the year, in winter, it transforms into Bellevue’s Magical Season Ice Area. There are rental charges for ice skates and admission, but this winter adventure is perfect for families and friends to slide across the ice! In the summer, use the field to picnic, read or take a nap in the warm sun!
12. Face Sobriety Head-on at Wilburton Hill Park
Bellevue, WA Located inland and west of the 405 highway, Wilburton Hill Park is the largest park in the city. Amenities include: picnic area, play area, two baseball fields, one soccer field, restrooms, 105 acres. The Botanical Garden is located within this park, making it a stimulating recreational experience. The trail system here is robust if exercise and diet are a big part of your recovery (as they should be!). The Washington Trails Association says, “How’s this for a diverse urban hike? Begin in the eastern section of this Bellevue park and hike a series of trails for a satisfying loop through dark second-growth forest. Then, follow a connecting trail over to the western section of the park for a loop though the Bellevue Botanical Garden – both the formal gardens and some additional longer forest trails. Along the way brave a high, narrow trail bridge that crosses a deep ravine. Not enough? Multiple spur trails throughout the park invite further exploration.”
13. Visit Neighboring Cities for Sober Fun
Bellevue is nicely situated in Washington state. Across Lake Washington from Seattle, it is the third-largest city in the area. So, if you’re feeling like traveling for a weekend trip, Tacoma, Olympia and Everett are within an easy, drivable distance. They open up a whole new world of adventurous outdoor fun! These ideas will keep you happy, healthy and sober. It’s also fantastic that most of these options are free or cost little. By stretching your body and stimulating your mind with outdoor entertainment, you’re changing the way your brain works. Consider having adventures like these as just one way you’re supporting your sobriety. Being sober doesn’t mean you have to be bored. There’s a whole world of clean, exhilarating fun just waiting to be explored. How about starting in Bellevue? If you haven’t already started the recovery process but are considering it, now’s the time to contact us.