Redmond, WA Outdoor Activities

To say Mark Coleman knows how to fish is an understatement. Coleman, the owner of All Rivers & Saltwater Charters, has mastered the art of side drifting, float fishing, hover fishing, back bouncing, and jigging during his more than 10 years exploring the Pacific Northwest’s waterways. In the process, he earned captain certification from the US Coast Guard, a distinction also earned by each member of his team.

Aboard vessels that range from the 29-foot Reel Tight to a 16-foot, nonmotorized drift boat, Coleman and his staff lead chartered fishing trips through fresh- and saltwaters. All Rivers & Saltwater Charters have caught fish on the Columbia and Olympic Peninsula rivers, traveled the waters outside Anacortes and the San Juan Islands, and explored Puget Sound. Voyages pursue salmon, steelhead, lingcod, sturgeon, and other types of fish. The team can also lead fishing lessons for newbies, teaching essential fly-casting techniques, including the correct grip, the different casting styles, and how to use homemade tiramisu as bait.

Situated on 10 glorious acres, Gold Creek Equestrian Center's two barns house nearly 100 stalls—each comfortable quarters for private boarding and the horse haven's own 30 steeds, which are available for lessons. Outside on the 135'x240' sand arena, equestrians can conquer an Olympic PVC jump course or practice kicking up a sandstorm worthy of a John Wayne reenactment. Meanwhile, two indoor arenas host trotters as they rehearse dressage routines during the cooler months. Private and semiprivate lessons can be tailored to each student's age, skill level, and favored style of riding, including English and American Western flavors.

At Redwood Golf Center, club-swinging cadets send range balls flying from personal mats housed within their cozy, covered stalls. After first selecting a bucket size – large buckets contain 85 balls while small buckets have 34 – golfers then set to practicing their 2-iron stingers, wedge game accuracy, and triple pump-fake drives off the tee. Frequent visitors can also take advantage of the per-bucket discounts found within the center’s punch cards, which are redeemable for 9, 25, or 50 buckets over the course of a year.

At its core, Adventura is a “jungle gym built for grown-ups.” But more than that, it provides visitors with an escape from the everyday—an escape from stuffy offices and an escape from the panhandling robots that plague modern city streets. For the park’s creators, the lush Pacific Northwest countryside that stretches out around the park is the office. They’re a band of adventurers themselves, and they designed Adventura as a way for others to experience the growth, laughter, and connections that seem to bloom naturally outdoors.

Of course, Adventura puts its own spin on spending time outdoors by filling Woodinville Wine Country with a series of sky-high exploits. With the park typically booked 45 days in advance, visitors can be found leaping from decks, balancing precariously on cables 45 feet off the ground, or scaling cargo nets throughout most of the year. In 2013, the park plans to expand by adding up to 40 new elements, including four new ziplines, in an effort to up the ante on adventure.

The Electric Boat Company harbors a fleet of trusty, battery-powered boats that glide leisurely on the placid waters of Lake Union. Up to 10 passengers may board the 21-foot Duffy boats and lounge on their leather seats. Renters can take turns steering the boat in the cabin area, which can be kept open to invite in the breeze or fully closed to avoid being poked by an airborne marlin. Each boat is decked out with a table to hold snacks and drinks, along with a CD player and iPod jack that feeds into an integrated sound system.

From camps to charity events to standard rentals, Northwest Paddle Surfers' watersport professionals help create laid-back adventures with a fleet of stand-up paddleboards. Atop Lake Washington's placid waters, the company's instructors teach pupils how to balance on boards and use paddles to stir giant cups of cocoa. Pine trees and lakefront vistas backdrop the on-water classroom, beckoning each student to explore aquatic locals such as Juanita Bay. Elsewhere, YogaTone classes held on paddleboards challenge participants to stretch and breathe deeper