- Brooklyn Park, Minnesota (Wikipedia)
Brooklyn Park is a suburban city on the west bank of the Mississippi River, upstream from (north of) downtown Minneapolis in northern Hennepin County. It is the sixth-largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The population was 86,478 at the 2020 census. The city still has undeveloped land and farms, including the historic Eidem Homestead, a 1900s working farm that is a popular tourist attraction for families and school field trips. Brooklyn Park is considered both a second- and third-tier suburb of Minneapolis, because much of the land north of 85th Avenue was developed after 2000.
- Cypress Island (wa100.dnr.wa.gov)
Hop into a kayak and paddle over to Cypress Island for a true Salish Sea experience away from the crowds. The island is the largest relatively undeveloped land mass in the San Juan archipelago. With an extensive network of hiking trails and two campgrounds, much of this island is accessible to visitors. Day-use areas with names like Smugglers Cove and Secret Harbor promise a peaceful afternoon by the beach. The Washington State Department of Natural Resources has designated portions of Cypress Island as a Natural Resources Conservation Area and Natural Area Preserve, which collectively protect 6,000 acres of diverse ecosystems such as forest, wetland, grassland, shoreline, and tidelands. The unique geology here is critical to these ecosystems, so leave your kayak behind and pay attention to the rocks and soil underneath your feet as you make the 6-mile trek across the island.