Once a Native American Village and a little neighborhood called Little Germany, this lakeside neighborhood is now a thriving mixed community in northeast Seattle that is home to single and multifamily dwellings as well as a large number of businesses. Lake City draws a lot of locals to the area because of the Burke Gilman Trail and is heavily populated with commercial businesses along the main road, Lake City Way. There is access to pet stores, grooming and vets, but given the amount of traffic through the area, you will find that you will have better luck avoiding the commercial areas while on foot.
The area is a mix of both new and old and you will find much of Little Germany alive and well in the area with great coffee shops and bakeries, but you can also find your favorite coffee shop before heading out for a long walk with your pooch.
Lake City Way is a large busy 5-lane highway that cuts through Lake City running north and south. While it is possible to cross the highway, it is a busy road, so if you are looking for places to wander free of traffic, you will find that there are residential neighborhoods to both sides that are better options for walking.
The neighborhood has a number of small ridges running through it, so expect a lot of hills in pretty much any direction you decide to walk. There are some flatter areas running north to south between Lake City Way and Sand Point Way as well as some flatter terrain in the northwest corner of Lake City. There is also a trail that runs north and south along Lake Washington that goes on for many miles and interconnects with other trails, giving you almost limitless access to a safe place to walk.
While you will not find a lot of parks in the area, you have access to the trail system in Lake City that more than makes up for it. The trails run along the lake with green spaces on both sides for your pooch to enjoy. The Burke Gilman Trail runs north and south along Lake Washington and then branches off at both ends to intersect with other trails. At the north end, it connects with Sammamish River Trail in Bothell and it runs along the south border of the University of Washington.
Most of the greenways inside of Lake City are playfields, but there is a little park at the north end called Little Brook Park. There is also the Eastside Off-leash Dog Area.
All the way to the south, you will find Matthews Beach Park which has a swimming area and some walking paths. There are also plenty of trees and some large grassy areas for you to enjoy.