The Emerald City Wanderers
Seattle, Washington
We are a walking club which hosts non-competitive walking events for fun, fitness, and friendship. We’re a Seattle-based chapter of America’s Walking Club, a nation-wide organization which promotes walking and other fitness events. We host local walk events, mostly on or near holidays – New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, Easter, July 4th, Labor Day, and Halloween. We also offer self-guided year-round-walks in Seattle.
Join us – next event – New Year’s Eve & Day!
New Year’s Eve & New Year’s Day
Say farewell to 2025 with a New Year’s Eve walk along Alki. Enjoy sunset views of Puget Sound and city lights of downtown Seattle, as well as the holiday lights of the West Seattle neighborhoods. Return on New Year’s Day for a lovely morning walk on a different route through West Seattle. On both days, join us afterward to warm up and socialize, with snacks and hot soup at the Start Location.
Date and Time:
New Year’s Eve:
Wednesday, December 31, 2025
Registration: 3:30 pm – 6:30 pm
New Year’s Day:
Thursday January 1, 2026
Registration: 8:30 am – 11:30 am
Start Location:
St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church
3050 California Ave. SW
Seattle, WA 98116
GPS coordinates: 47.57713, -122.38662
See below for driving directions.
Routes:
New Year’s Eve: 5K rated 1A. 10K rated 2A.
New Year’s Day: 6K rated 1A. 10K rated 2A.
Driving Directions:
From I-5: For NB drivers, take exit 163, or for SB drivers, take exit 163A. Cross the West Seattle bridge and exit at Admiral Way. Go up Admiral Way a little over a mile to California Ave SW – a major intersection. Turn left on California. Go 0.3 mile, and turn left into the West Seattle High School parking lot, which is adjacent to St. John’s Church.
Comments:
Difficult for strollers. Not suitable for wheelchairs. Well behaved, leashed dogs ok. Clean-up laws apply. Consider bringing a flashlight for the New Year’s Eve event.
Challenges:
AVA: Labyrinths. Grain Elevators. New Year’s Day: Anniversaries Hurrah.
ESVA: On the Road Again (Holiday, New to Me). Others t.b.d.
Our schedule for group walks in the region:
Please note – the walk date, location, and time are subject to change. Please RSVP to the walk host, or Mike, if you are planning to attend, so that we can notify you if there are any changes. All participants shall register for the event by signing the athletic waiver, and pay $4 registration fee per walker.
Fri., Nov. 28. Opt-Out Day – Alki. Meet at 9:45 a.m. at the 7-11 on Harbor Ave (the far south end of Alki) to register. This is a physical start box walk only. Address for store: 2429 Harbor Ave SW. Then drive to the start near Salty’s restaurant. Do not leave car in the 7/11 parking lot. 5K or 10K, rated 1A. Host: FSFW walking club.
Sat., Nov. 29. Turkey Trot. Traditional Event hosted by Sound Steppers. Registration 9:00 to 10:30. Edmonds United Methodist Church. 828 Caspers St., Edmonds.
5K rated 1A, or 10K rated 2B. Go online for full details: ava.org – click on Find a Walk tab, then State, then WA, then Traditional Events are listed chronologically.
Sun., Dec. 7. Historic Snohomish. Meeting time t.b.d. Mike Nagan is host.
Haggen’s Grocery. 1301 Ave. D., Snohomish. 5K or 10K, rated 1A.
Registration at Physical Start Box or online.
Sat., Dec. 13. Olympia Holiday Walk. Traditional Event hosted by Capitol Volkssport in Olympia. Registration 10:00 to noon. Start: WA Council of Police and Sheriffs.
200 Union Ave. SE, Olympia. 5K or 10K rated 2B.
Go online for full details: ava.org – click on Find a Walk tab, then State, then WA, then Traditional Events are listed chronologically.
Sun., Dec. 14. Downtown Seattle & Waterfront. Meeting time & location t.b.d.
Diane Troyer is host. 5K or 10K, rated 2B. This walk is online registration. (The Downtown YMCA is the Physical Start Box location, but is closed Sundays. If you wish, you may register at the YMCA on another day before the event, to receive a physical stamp for your book, if you wish).
Sun., Dec. 21. New Year’s Worker Walk. Mike Nagan is host. More info to follow.
Wed. Dec. 31. New Year’s Eve Traditional Walk. See full details at top of this page.
Next Membership Meeting:
Join us for our next meeting. All are welcome!
Our December Meeting will include our annual Holiday Party. All are welcome if you RSVP. Please contact Mike.
Thursday, December 11, 2025
No-host cocktails and dinner, starting at 6:00 p.m. with dinner to follow at 7:00 p.m.
Bring a low-cost ($15 limit) wrapped gift for the anonymous gift exchange game.
Angelos
601 SW 153rd. St.
Burien, WA 98166
Then in January, our monthly meetings will resume, to be held on the second Thursday of the month.
Thursday, January 8, 2026
Arrive at 6:00 p.m. to order dinner. Meeting starts at 7:00 p.m.
Round Table Pizza
15730 1st Ave. S.
Burien, WA 98148
For questions, send a note to Mike.
Take our newest Walking Challenge:
LIGHT RAIL CHALLENGE II: Starting January 1, 2025, we’re launching the second edition of our popular Light Rail Challenge Challenge. This new Challenge offers walk opportunities all along the recently expanded Sound Transit Light Rail system. Details: Light Rail Challenge II