With its parades, Blue Angel performances, concert, fireworks, and hydroplane races, it’s the time of year when Seattle gets to strut its stuff.  Now let’s just hope that the weather cooperates!

Here’s the info you’ll need to decide if you’ll venture out for the activities, are just enjoy the show from the comfort of your own home.

My favorite of all the events is the air show featuring the U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels.  I was downtown on Thursday and saw a little of their practice.  They’re noisy, distracting, and fascinating to watch as they perform their precision aerobatics.

Equally noisy, and equally as dangerous, is the noise and drama in the water with the annual Hydroplane races on Lake Washington.  I much prefer to watch the races at home, but heading down for the time trials (much fewer people around) can be fun.

There will be lots of road closures, detours, and tons of traffic as a couple hundred thousand people flock to the events.  Keep your cool and check traffic reports to avoid what you can.  Bridge closures will be in effect (due to safety requirements of the Blue Angels), so check the floating bridge closure schedule when making plans to cross the lake.

If you have friends who live along the lake, try to get invited over for dinner.  If you have friends with a boat, now is the time to offer to crew.

Admission for the various events range from free to pricey, depending on your seating preference.

Photo credit:  flickr:  Blue Angels;   hydroplane

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Post from: The Seattle Traveler

Details:  The summer weather has arrived here in Seattle, and despite a few clouds in the sky, it’s warm and pleasant out.  This photo provides a little peek at Lake Washington from the Montlake area.

Photo credit: Personal collection

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Post from: The Seattle Traveler