Driving to Golden Gardens on a sunny weekend afternoon can be a nightmare: Traffic slows to a crawl, parking is scarce, and you have to navigate an army of paddleboard renters who seemingly take forever to lug their unwieldy boards across the street. But you can avoid the whole thing by parking up on the bluff and then winding your way down one of two public stairwells. 1) Drive to where NorthWest 64th Street dead-ends. A small road, appearing to be a private drive (don't worry, it's not) veers off to the right, leading to a staircase covered by a canopy of greenery. The steps drop you off by Shilshole, leaving you with an easy walk past the yachts to your destination. 2) Park at NorthWest 85th Street for another staircase alternative that winds past the dog run. You'll arrive refreshed and ready for a snow cone. ?Laura Onstot