(upbeat acoustic music) - Hey, I'm Rick Steves, and I love to travel.

Whether enjoying the wonders of Europe or the local sites right here in my hometown of Edmonds, Washington.

Getting out and exploring brings me so much joy, and you'd be surprised how many cool places and activities are right here in our own neighborhood, and how easily you can get around these days using public transportation.

Where I live, Community Transit, the local transit provider, is better than ever at getting riders where they want to go throughout Snohomish County and beyond.

Whether you're traveling for work, school, shopping, dining, or just exploring, it's efficient, affordable, and a great way to experience our community.

I've partnered with Community Transit for a special series about the joy of travel right here in our own backyard.

Together, we'll explore our region and see how when you take public transit, the journey can be part of the fun.

Thanks for joining us for this Community Transit Destination series.

(upbeat music) Today, we're exploring Lynnwood.

Just 16 miles north of Seattle, it's the fastest growing city in Snohomish County.

Over 150,000 people visit Lynnwood each day.

How people travel shapes how communities evolve.

There's no better example of this than the Interurban Trail, which follows the path of the historic interurban trolley.

Between 1910 and 1939, people traveled by electric trolley between Seattle and Everett to enjoy the fresh air and scenic views of the rural communities up north, including Lynnwood.

Today, the trolley's former path is a paved trail where people can walk, bike, run, and enjoy the scenic sites along the way.

Visitors can see car number 55, one of the six original electric trolley cars, at Heritage Park, one of 17 picturesque parks in Lynnwood.

The Interurban Trail also connects with major transit hubs at the Lynnwood City Center and Ash Way Park and Ride.

With bike racks on every bus, it's easy to catch a bus right to the trailhead and skip riding on the streets.

This year, 85 years after the electric trolley was retired, its former path will intersect with a new and modern transit hub when the Link Light Rail Station opens at Lynnwood City Center.

The Interurban Trail also crosses paths with Alderwood Mall.

It's the largest mall in Snohomish County.

It features popular shopping spots, extensive dining options, and family friendly entertainment, including movie theaters, an arcade, and an indoor playground for the kids.

Visitors can enjoy walkable outdoor terraces and even get pampered at one of the several spas and salons.

Zip Alderwood Shuttle, another travel option in Lynnwood, can get you right to the mall's main entrance.

Zip Shuttle is an on-demand shared ride service, and you never pay more than what you'd pay for local bus fare.

Zip Shuttle also serves the Lynnwood Recreational Center, which boasts modern indoor sports and aquatic facilities, fitness classes, and more.

The three indoor pools, water slides, splash pad, and lazy river are a hit for both kids and adults.

With so many great family friendly destinations around the area, don't forget that youth 18 and younger ride free on transit.

The easiest way for families with kids or teens to get around is with an Orca card.

Orca helps riders connect to local and regional transit options, including light rail, ferries, and the Seattle monorail.

Thanks for joining me as we explore the different ways to take advantage of public transportation here in our region.

And if you haven't taken a ride on Community Transit, now's the perfect time to give it a whirl.

To learn more, head on over to ctgo.org/ridenow.

Until next time, I'm Rick Steves.

Thanks for watching and keep on traveling.

(bright upbeat music)