Growing up as a kid in West Seattle, I never realized how much my neighborhood had to offer. Sure it had parks, beaches, restaurants and schools. But didn't every town?

It was only after moving away for four years of college and a couple years abroad exploring the rest of the planet that I came back to truly discover my hometown. And when I did, I found opportunities abound.

All of the sudden (it seemed), West Seattle had grown a farmer's market, unveiled a playhouse, launched kayak treks on Alki, opened it's very own brewery, and a whole lot more. But at the same time, the Westside still had a small town feel with its long-time favorites like Husky ice cream, tunes at Easy Street Records, saltwater swims at Colman Pool, and 'round the peninsula bike rides with awesome views of the Olympics, Mount Rainier, and the "big city" right next door (just to name a few).

So what was a freelance writer to do, but research and proclaim these new discoveries and rediscoveries of our vibrant little community to the world? After all, did anyone realize all the wonderful things that were happening here in this unique Seattle neighborhood? And do West Seattleites even know just how lucky we are to have so much cool stuff going on here?

I thought to myself, "There must be a hundred things to do in West Seattle!" So I started to writing a column of a similar name in the West Seattle Herald each week highlighting all kinds of activities I found (or found me) along the way. Which I later turned into a collection of 101 stories I featured in Seattle's first ever neighborhood guidebook-West Seattle 101.

And in fact, once I began to write about West Seattle and all its offerings, I realized there are actually more like 501 things to do! But I had to start somewhere, while also limiting my total number of stories to write (otherwise, I never would have finished).

So here is a good start of 101 things you can do to explore your neighborhood. While this list is not exhaustive, nor is it a suggested rating of "the best of," it will at least get you started on discovering the neighborhood you call home-whether you've lived here 60 years or just moved in yesterday.

Your "101 Things to Do" Checklist*:

Recreation

1. Sea Kayak with Alki Kayak Tours

2. Learn to SCUBA Dive

3. Build a Beach Bonfire on Alki

4. Fly Fish Westside Waters

5. Greet the Argosy Christmas Ship

6. Play Disc Golf at Lake Wood Park

7. Go on the Garden Tour

8. Dive into Colman Pool www.seattle.gov/parks/Aquatics/colman.htm

9. Discover Coho at Fauntleroy Creek

10. Picnic in our Parks

11. Storm Watch

12. Go Geocaching

13. Salmon Fish at Seacrest Marina

14. Birdwatch in Schmitz Park

15. Stargaze at Constellation Park

16. Visit the Westcrest Dog Park

17. See Seafair Pirate's Land at Alki

18. Rockclimb Indoors at Allstar

19. Kite Surf on Alki

20. Ride the Westside Scenic Bike Loop

21. Go on a Walkabout

22. Skim Board at Anchor Park

23. Beach Cruise from Coastal

24. Visit the SSCC Chinese Garden

25. Trail Run at Lincoln Park

26. Attend Rotary Kid's Parade

27. Go Four Wheelin' on Alki

Dining & Drinks

28. West 5 Lounge

29. Buddha Ruksa Thai

30. Cactus on Alki

31. Alki Homestead

32. Kokoras Greek Grill

33. Bakery Nouveau

34. Endolyne Joe's

35. Blackbird Bistro

36. Matador

37. Salvadorean Bakery

38. Salty's Brunch

39. Celtic Swell

40. Maharaja of India

41. Elliott Bay Brewery

42. Luna Park Cafe

43. Pegasus Pizza

44. Mashiko Sushi

45. Husky Deli

46. La Rustica

47. JaK's Grill

48. Pacific Rim Brewery

49. Beveridge Place Pub

50. West Seattle Cellars

51. Cupcake Royale & Cafe Verite

Arts & Entertainment

52. Tune in at Easy Street Records

53. Hear Live Music at C&P Coffee

54. Late Nite Improv at ArtsWest

55. Go Glow Bowling

56. Blues Night at Alki Tavern

57. Stay & Play at Westside B&Bs

58. Youngstown Cultural Arts Center

59. Experience Vaudeville at Kenyon Hall

60. Alki Bathhouse Art Studio

61. Water Taxi to Mariners Games

62. Dinner and a Movie in Admiral

63. Check Out Christmas Lights

64. Visit the Farmer's Market

65. Go Antiquing

66. Do the ArtWalk

67. Attend the Fauntleroy Festival

68. Cooking Parties at Culinary Communion

69. Go Thrift Shopping

70. Try Swing Dancing

71. Go Trick or Treating with the Kids

72. Go on a Megawatt Field Trips

73. See Movies on the Wall at Outdoor Cinema

74. Get Crafty at Basic Green Box

75. Attend West Seattle Summer Fest

76. See Rock Shows at Skylark

Enrichment

77. Group Cycle at the Y

78. History at Log House Museum

79. Cook with NuCulinary

80. Learn to Frame Art

81. Tour Our Historical Murals

82. Camp Long Night Hikes

83. Head-to-Toe Day Spa

84. Yoga in the Garden

85. Walker Rock Garden

86. Massage with a View

87. Try Glass Blowing

88. Tai Chi on the Beach

89. Train for a Triathlon

90. Homes with History Tour

91. Get Intense at X Gym

92. Tae Kwon Do with Kids

93. School of Fish at Seattle Fish

94. West Seattle Acupuncture

95. Bee Waxed Spa

96. Bikrim Hot Yoga

97. Lincoln Park Pea Patch

98. Talk It Up at Toastmasters

99. Wild Reiki for Pets

100. Adventure at Capers

101. Silver Table Cooking for Kids

*For in-depth info on the 101 activities above, pick up a copy of West Seattle 101 (available at local retailers such as Capers, Square One Books, Barnes & Noble, Metropolitan Market, or visit: www.westseattle101.com).