Seattle actually has some nice large parks. Here are a couple possibilities.

The Arboretum has some gorgeous spots that range from forest glades to water-front parkland, with lots of places to picnic or read a book. The places by the water suffer from loud white noise from the 520 bridge, but the forest areas are really peaceful. There is also a Japanese garden, but I think you have to pay to enter it.

Seward Park and Lincoln Park have great forest trails. I believe Seward Park has some areas of old growth trees.

Discovery Park is more wind-swept in that classic Puget Sound way, and has a number of beach, cliff, and forest trails.

Getting out of the city entirely is harder, especially for a day trip.

What about taking a trip from downtown to Friday Harbor? You don't need a car while there, and a day full of seals and whales is good for you.

Hi There,

I'm happy to help, however, I need the name of the city your friend is located in - is it Seattle?

Don't know if you're bicyclists, but if you are, once you take the ferry across the sound, there are many different State Parks to stay at within fifty miles. Here are some:

Fay Bainbridge
Manchester
Illahee
Scenic Beach
Twanoh
Potlatch
Jarrell Cove
Kopachuck

Some of these rides are harder than others, but some are very accessible even for beginners. Fay Bainbridge is a pleasant 10 mile ride on Bainbridge

Also, there's Tolt McDonald County Park in the Snoqualmie Valley, a nice ride mostly on bike trails. If weekdays are an option, you can take the 6:50AM (I know, I know) Sounder south and ride to a number of bucolic wonderlands in Pierce County.

Another option would be to take a boat to Blake Island State Park, where you could spend the day hiking or stay overnight.

While dated, Harvey Manning's "Footsore" series, last updated in 1990, are a good resource. Some of the stuff he describes is now gone or off limits, but I've gotten some GREAT ideas, and Harvey is a GREAT writer. Check a Half Price Books. The Mountaineers Press has more current books that might be useful as well, but I'm allergic to paying full price for books, so I don't know...

Whidbey Island.

Whidbey isn't as "remote" as, say, the Olympic Peninsula, but it sure is purty. Natural splendor is Whidbey's middle name. It's nowhere near as built-up and gentrified as Bainbridge, but it's not quite the hinterlands either. You won't quibble, once you get here.

Start early in the day. In Seattle, catch a # 511 Community Transit bus on 4th Avenue and then transfer to a #113 at the Lynnwood station (Bay 3B). The #113 will drop you off right at the ferry dock.

I think you can also take Amtrak to Everett in the morning and then, at the train station, (easily) find the #18 Everett Transit bus, which will get you to the ferry.

(Check this info, OK? Bus numbers can change over time...)

The ferry runs from Mukilteo across to Clinton every half hour.

On the Whidbey side, for much of the day (but never on Sunday), there's FREE bus service. (The buses don't run as often as Metro buses, so be sure to grab a schedule.) Get on a bus at the ferry terminal, and then just ride around and sightsee until you figure out where you want to get off. Ask the driver for suggestions. Go to Langley or Coupeville if this is your first trip.

Maybe you should bring enough cash for a taxi in case you forget to get back to the Clinton ferry doc before the buses stop running. (You won't find a lot of marked bus stops. Best to know approx. when the bus is coming and then stand at the side of the road and flag it down. Bring a flashlight.)

Check the weather reports. It's often 10 degrees colder than Seattle, and often more rainy and windy. But there are lots of beautiful blue-sky days too.

Once you travel up to Whidbey once, and see how easy it is, you'll want to do it regularly.

You can also take the Amtrak to Bellingham (it's a beautiful ride) and walk into the parks along Chuckanut. It's a perfect day trip. When you come back you'll feel like you've been gone forever.