by Raven Lebeau

Created on: November 14, 2008   Last Updated: December 06, 2011

Mercer Island, in Lake Washington, is connected to both Seattle and Bellevue by bridges on I-90. This small suburban town makes a wonderful weekend getaway for those who live in the area as well as a fun vacation destination for out-of-state tourists.

People who enjoy outdoor recreation will be especially enchanted with Mercer Island. The town is known locally as a great destination for hunting, fishing, horseback riding, boating, and skiing. Here are some of the specific places you may want to visit if you have the good fortune to travel to Mercer Island.

1. Luther Burbank Park
Luther Burbank Park functions as both a conservation area for the rich, diverse area wildlife and a recreation spot for outdoor sportsmen and nature lovers alike. The 77-acre park has designated areas for swimming, boating, hunting and fishing. Hikers can enjoy the park's trails, and those with dogs can enjoy letting them run in an off-leash area. The park even has tennis courts and basketball courts available for public use.

2. Deane's Children's' Park
The whole family will love a visit to Deane's Children's Park, which has extensive outdoor playground equipment designed with 3–9 year old kids in mind. The park also has plenty of beautiful walking trails for adults to enjoy.

3. Beaches
While Luther Burbank Park features a swimming area staffed with lifeguards, there are unguarded swimming areas at other local beaches. In the summer, a visit to one of these parks is a great way to cool off and enjoy the water.

4. Pioneer Park
Pioneer Park is a 113-acre woodland with over six miles of trails. This park is an excellent place to ride horses, with designated equestrian trails. Locals enjoy riding their own horses in Pioneer Park, and visitors who want to take full advantage of the equestrian trails can rent a horse.

5. The Summit
For winter sports enthusiasts, there is no better getaway than a visit to the Summit. This exciting ski area offers both downhill and cross country skiing, snowboarding, tubing and snowshoeing. If you don't have your own equipment, you can rent skis, snow shoes or an inner tube for the day. To get the most out of your ski experience, you may even want to sign up for some lessons, which are offered for both children and adults at a variety of skill levels.

6. Seattle
If Mercer Island is your vacation destination, consider staying an extra day or two and seeing the sites in Seattle. Eat in the revolving restaurant at the Space Needle, go on an underground tour or check out one of the many world-class museums.

Learn more about this author, Raven Lebeau.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.