Summer's winding down in Seattle — but a few golden days remain.

Why it matters: The city's glorious summers help offset gray, wet winters — so it's worth savoring the last stretch.

Here are a few of the things on our to-do list before fall hits, from paddling adventures to shady hikes.

Hit up an island

You don't have to plan a multiday excursion to the San Juans to experience local island vibes. Try boarding the ferry to Bainbridge Island on foot and wandering the cute downtown, sampling pizza, chocolate and wine.

• If you have a car, ferry from Mukilteo to Clinton and enjoy a seafood lunch in Langley. You'll get a taste of Whidbey Island without having to stay overnight.
• Alternatively, you can spend a day exploring Vashon Island, visiting the Point Robinson lighthouse and sampling local beer and cider.

Head to the beach

Seattle's urban beaches offer sun and sand without the need for a road trip.

• For low-key relaxation through Labor Day, try the shores of Lake Washington at Seward Park, Madison Park Beach or Matthews Beach Park (check bacteria levels first).
• Or, if you're up for it, join the throngs at Alki Beach and Golden Gardens, which offer fire pits and beach volleyball through Sept. 22.

Get out on the water

Glide along the water by kayak or paddleboard and feel sorry for all those people stuck on the freeway. Rentals are available on Lake Union and Lake Washington, as well as along Alki Beach and Shilshole Bay.

• For a kid-friendly adventure, try Emerald City Pirates' treasure cruise or the Seattle Ice Cream Cruise, both of which depart from Lake Union Park.

Find a patio

If you're not feeling outdoorsy, but want to take in water views, there's a deck for that.

• Try the patios at Gas Works Brewing. Westward, Saint Bread on the north side of Lake Union; Ray's Cafe in Ballard; Marination Ma Kai in West Seattle; or the Stonehouse Cafe in South Seattle.

Hike in the shade

Some of us aren't built for the heat, but short, shady hikes on the Asahel Curtis Nature Trail and in Frink Park are manageable even when the sun is blazing.

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Smoke from the Bear Gulch Fire pushed into Seattle yesterday, and the haze may stick around today.

Why it matters: Air quality was listed as moderate in much of the Seattle region yesterday morning — safe for most people but risky for those with asthma, heart disease or other sensitivities, according to AirNow.

State of play: Northwesterly winds are funneling smoke from the Bear Gulch fire near Lake Cushman — now at 8,826 acres and 13% contained — into the city, National Weather Service meteorologist Melissa Gonzalez-Fuentes tells Axios.

• High pressure is trapping the haze near the surface, she says, and the smoke is causing red sunrises and sunsets.

What's next: Expect similar conditions today with shifting winds and a small chance of showers tomorrow, per Gonzalez-Fuentes.

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🛍️ IKEA will open a planning and pickup store at Redmond Town Center this winter that will differ from its Renton site, offering design consultations but no food. (KING 5)

🏘️ Several affordable housing owners indicate they plan to sell buildings as rising costs and falling rent collections strain finances. (Seattle Times)

🎮 Seattle gaming startup Rec Room — once valued at $3.5 billion — is cutting about half its staff. (GeekWire)

🚙 Washington-based retailer Car Toys filed for bankruptcy and plans to sell its 35 stores. (MyNorthwest)

💰 Uber Eats will pay more than 16,000 drivers $15 million in a settlement related to alleged violations of Seattle's gig worker laws. (Seattle Times)

As grocery bills keep climbing, a few brands are clinging to nostalgia-priced staples — like Costco's $1.50 hot dog combo and AriZona's 99¢ can of iced tea.

Why it matters: These inflation-proof items are more than just cheap eats — they're deliberate brand strategies.

The big picture: Food prices increased by 23.6% from 2020 to 2024, outpacing overall inflation of 21.2% during that period, according to the U.S. Economic Research Service. But some companies are keeping items inflation-proof.

Case in point: Costco's combo meal has been $1.50 since the Issaquah-based company first placed it on the food court menu in 1985.

• The wholesale club's combo meal and rotisserie chicken are "loss leaders" — examples of products with thin or even negative margins designed to lure customers inside.
• The idea is that shoppers will splurge on other, higher-margin items once they're in the door.

Zoom out: In a similar vein, Olive Garden is putting its Never Ending Pasta Bowl back on the menu at $13.99 — unchanged for the fourth straight year.

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Another day, another guessing game! We have a feeling some of you may instantly recognize where we were in Seattle when we shot this photo.

• If not, here's a clue, in poem form:

Pints and spotlit scenes,

Crowds once filled the smoky air—

Now the doors are closed.

Just hit reply or email us to submit your guess!