Summer is slipping by, but not the fun, with King County Parks – Your Big Backyard

Ah, Labor Day, the unofficial end to the summer – and for school-aged kids the official end to weeks of carefree fun in the sun.

King County Parks is here to remind you Gloomy Gusses of a couple facts: First, summer isn’t really over until Sept. 22. Second, there are still plenty of great reasons to get outside and enjoy late summer.

For starters, the Marymoor Summer Concert Series continues to offer lots of fantastic live music.

Also, King County Parks’ extensive backcountry trail system can get hikers, runners, mountain bikers and others out of the city and into the woods in no time.

Marymoor Park

Marymoor Concert Series

Sept. 11 – 7 p.m.
The National with Okkervil River

There aren’t many indie bands that are flying as high as The National these days. A string of critically acclaimed albums, including “High Violet,” which debuted at number three on the charts earlier this year, this Brooklyn based quintet features not one, but two pairs of twins (the Dessner brothers and the Devendorf brothers) who back their deep-voiced lead singer, Matt Berninger, to create a sound that’s been compared to everybody from Wilco to Springsteen. Opening act Okkervil River has also been lauded with critical acclaim for their thoughtful lyrics and intricate compositions.

Sept. 12 – 6 p.m.
David Gray with Ray LaMontagne and Tift Merritt

Singer and multi-instrumentalist David Gray released three albums in the early and mid 1990s and was making a pretty good name for himself throughout his native Britain before his fourth album, 1998’s “White Ladder,” launched him onto a worldwide stage. Gray has since released five more albums, including his latest, “Foundling,” which just went on sale a few weeks ago. Expect to hear an eclectic mix of sounds. Ray LaMontagne struck it big with his soulful hit,” Trouble” back in 2004. Since then the raspy-voiced LaMontagne has released three more albums that have all been met with a warm critical response and commercial success. Singer Tift Merritt has earned comparisons to Joni Mitchell and Emmylou Harris for her strong alt country/folk style. She has released four studio albums and is considered one of her genre’s brightest up-and-coming artists.

Tickets for these and all other Concerts at Marymoor shows are available online at http://www.concertsatmarymoor.com/, and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Marymoor Park business office.

Located on the great lawn next to the historic Clise Mansion, Marymoor's state-of-the-art venue offers outstanding staging, production and acoustics in an intimate park setting. The picturesque venue has space for 1,000 reserved seats and 4,000 general admission lawn tickets, many of them elevated on an earthen berm.

Backcountry hiking

Had enough of pavement, skyscrapers and traffic for a while? Why not escape to places where it’s green and serene? We’re talking about Cougar Mountain and Grand Ridge – two of King County’s biggest and best parks. No, they don’t have climbing walls, mountain bike skills parks, concession stands or other terrific amenities that some King County parks do. But Cougar and Grand Ridge both have plenty of room and gorgeous scenery. Big trees can be found in both parks – including some that are probably old enough to have been here before “here” was a state. Both parks feature miles of trails that wind through tall trees and past cool streams. Lucky and sharp-eyed visitors can spot a variety of wildlife, including birds, deer, fox and even the occasional bear. So do yourself a favor and give your body a workout while giving your mind a break. Details are at http://www.kingcounty.gov/recreation/parks/trails/backcountry.aspx.

Salmon-viewing opportunities

Late summer and early fall mark the beginning of the salmon-viewing season across King County. Species such as sockeye and chinook salmon are migrating from Puget Sound and the Pacific Ocean where they’ve been feeding and growing back into the stream of their birth, where they’ll spawn and die. Watching the final stages of this epic lifecycle is an awe-inspiring experience. While the best viewing in early September might be closer to the saltwater at places such as the Ballard Locks, a walk along the Cedar River Trail east of Renton or the Sammamish River Trail between Bothell and Sammamish might reveal an occasional glimpse of returning adult salmon this time of year. Learn more about area salmon-viewing opportunities at http://www.govlink.org/watersheds/8/action/salmon-seeson/calendar.aspx.

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King County Parks - Your Big Backyard - offers more than 25,000 acres of parks and natural lands, including such regional treasures as Marymoor Park and Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park, 175 miles of regional trails and a world-class aquatic center. By cultivating strong relationships with non-profit, corporate and community partners, King County Parks enhances park amenities while reducing costs. Learn more at http://www.kingcounty.gov/parks/.