Row, row, row your boat (from UW’s Waterfront Activities Center). Credit: UW Waterfront Activities Center

To anyone who says it’s mid-July and summer’s almost over—no. Look outside. It has barely begun. That’s not how we do things here in the PNW, where summer hits its stride in late July and keeps rolling through September. That said, summer is short here: The Rainy Season starts pretty promptly and completely around the Autumn Equinox on September 22, so you’ve got about two months left to check all this stuff off your list. From good blackberry pickin’ spots to secret beaches, you’ve got your work cut out for you, so get crackin’. 

Go for a beautiful swim at Fauntleroy’s historic Colman Pool
There’s a city-wide shortage of staffing at Seattle’s public pools this year. But Colman Pool is one of a few that are both fully staffed and open for biz seven days a week! This historic landmark is only swimmable in the summers, so don’t miss your chance to visit. It’s also one of the scarce outdoor pools in these parts. And it’s heated. AND it’s in Lincoln Park and therefore comes equipped with a stunning view of the Salish Sea. If all that isn’t enough, the park provides biking and hiking trails, picnicking spots, sports fields, and beach access. What else could you want in a swim? Nothing, that’s right. It’s good that you know.

Meg van Huygen has been writing for The Stranger for half of her damn life, usually about food or local history. She was born on the Hill, grew up on Queen Anne, went to school in the CD, and presently...