It is officially the first day of summer and the longest day of the year. It will only get warmer from here on out, so they tell us. Summer in Seattle is a great time to branch out of the traditional gym atmosphere. Warm weather will only make that moldy sock smell in the weight room worse, and with so many beautiful places to be outside and breathe the fresh Northwest air, why not tell your fitness club that you and it are "on a break" for the next few months.

Hike outside city limits

We are fortunate to live with many fantastic hikes so close. Mt. Baker, Mt. Si, and several others will get your heart pumping and get your smiling face out into the sunshine.

Hike Discovery Park

If you don't want to travel to your hike, try Discovery Park's sprawling woods and beaches. Power walk, jog across sand, or do outdoor calisthenics while you bird watch.

Take your dog on a date

Find a nearby dog park or off-leash area and give both of your pooches some much-needed playtime. Don't be a passive owner, though. Run, play, throw, chase right along with Fido.

Walk/Run/Skate Greenlake

We all know it's there, a scenic oasis in the middle of the city. Put on the roller blades, throw the kids in the stroller, snag the pup with a leash, and zip around Greenlake with as much energy as you can. The full circle is 2.8 miles. The dirt path is somewhere around 3 miles.

Bike

The bus is unreliable, the car destroys the ozone, but biking is fabulous for the environment and your body! Make sure to be safe and wear proper helmets and bright, reflective clothing. Some great bike trails are to be found in the greater Seattle area if you don't have a particular destination in mind. For the best trails, check out this blog.

Stairs and hills

Who has not taken the bus rather than hike up Queen Anne Hill? We've all done it. Now is the time to give your calves the opportunity to show what they're made of: pure muscle. Find a set of stairs or a steep hill near the house and decide to conquer it. Try to increase the number of times you are physically capable of going up and down by the end of the summer. There's no better way to get the heart pumping!

Swim

Believed to be a calorie-burning power house, swimming is always a great summer activity. While our weather rarely warms up enough for a dunk, if you are truly brave you can take a dunk in the 60 degree water.

Outdoor bootcamps and cardio

Several local gyms, including CrossFit and Sassy Fit hold their bootcamps out of doors. Join in on one of these, or form your own. Grab some girlfriends, commit to a time, and pick a location where you can sweat it out in the sunshine (if we ever get any).

Check out NY Healthy Living Examiner's info on why outdoor exercise is beneficial.