Shoreline, WA Outdoor Activities

Classes run year-round at various times of day during the midweek and weekend, depending on availability (it's busiest on weekends, naturally). The first three hours are spent in the classroom, covering basic knots, safety precautions, and terminology. Once you've sorted out port from starboard and clarified where the bunny goes after emerging from the hole, you and two or three other students will hop into one of the club's boats for some hands-on practice. The small class size ensures plenty of time sailing, mastering the rigs of rigging and the sportsmanship of seamanship, while receiving personal attention and critique from a worthy seastructor who is United States Coast Guard certified.

It's been more than three decades since Andrew Drake rode his first wave, but his passion for surfing stays strong. Washington Surf Academy is the embodiment of his passion and has grown to include instruction not just for surfing but for paddleboards as well. Unlike a gingerbread man's enemies, Mr. Drake's classes don't take a cookie-cutter approach. "Every person is a unique case," he says. The diversity of his clientele is one of the things Mr. Drake finds most rewarding. "Some people will have huge fears, and it is nice to see them get over them. This one time, this lady was freaking out, but I talked her into it, and she loved it so much that she bought a board from us on the first day."

By helping them to float out of their comfort zones, Mr. Drake and his team open people up to the hidden world off Seattle's coast. With snow-capped peaks in the distance, surfers can conquer waves and paddleboarders can float beneath bald eagles flying to their next college history lecture.

Wave Hounds’ staff of paddling pros connects surf riders with outstretched waves via easygoing paddleboard rentals and lessons. For those requiring a car rack to hoist boards to the beach, the stoked staff at Wave Hounds can provide temporary use of one for no additional cost. With a board onboard, water-walkers can speed off to any nearby body of water, including Green Lake, Lake Washington, Lake Union, or Lake Sammamish, or any other spot indicated by a blue blob on a map. A stand-up paddleboard not only imbues stand-out abs, but provides a quiet, connected-to-the-sea means to poke around mysterious inlets and intimate coves. Though a stand-up paddleboard is easy to operate, the shop can provide a condensed 10-minute lesson for those who request it. With multiple boards in stock, the husband-and-wife team behind Wave Hounds can provide a well-fitting 3-D steed for any rider. Wetsuits are also available to rent for an additional fee.

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.