5 Inexpensive Ways to Enjoy the Water in Seattle
The Center for Wooden Boats offers excellent opportunities to enjoy the Water in Seattle
Late spring ushers in a wonderful time in the Northwest. Grey skies gradually give way to magnificent sunny afternoons paired with low humidity and lush green landscapes. It is a breath of fresh air which convinces more than a few locals to take a step back from whichever bridge or cliff they may have been contemplating after dealing with endless dismal afternoons for the past several months.
And, for this long time resident, nothing refreshes the senses more than getting out on the crisp Seattle area waters. Too expensive you say? Well, it doesn’t need to be. There are plenty of inexpensive ways to get your outdoor boating fix in one of the most beautiful cities in the country. Here are five refreshing options which won’t bust your wallet.
1. Ferries: The Washington State Ferry System has routes running all across Puget Sound and to the San Juan Islands. Several routes leave from downtown Seattle to various ports of call. One of my favorite lazy weekend activities is to board the Seattle to Bainbridge Island Ferry leaving from Pier 50. You can walk on for under $7.00 per person round trip and walk to the lovely town of Winslow. Alternatively, you can drive on for under $30.00 and then take a scenic drive around the Island. While traveling on the ferry, take advantage of stunning views of the water, mountains, city, wildlife, and other boaters as you travel across the sound.
Sea Kayaking in Seattle can be refreshing
2. Sea Kayaks: If you want to get more up close and personal with the water, and get a healthy workout while you are at it, you can rent sea kayaks from any of a number of local spots around Seattle and the Puget Sound. One trip I took with my wife we saw seals, bald eagles, water fowl and, at shallower depths, purple starfish and other Pacific marine species. For local sea kayaking options, a great place to start is with this link.
3. Canoes: One of my favorite afternoons in recent years was spent canoeing the Aboretum on Lake Washington. My wife and I surprised my parents by taking them there for their wedding anniversary. My father proposed to my mother on a canoe trip on the lake 40 years earlier. It was an awesome experience. Very serene and scenic for such an urban setting. You can rent a canoe at the University of Washington Waterfront Activities Center for a mere $7.50 an hour. Lifejackets are included.
The Elliot Bay Water Taxi
4. Water Taxi: The Elliot Bay Water Taxi travels between downtown Seattle (Pier 55) and West Seattle. It leaves on the hour and half hour at each location for a 20 minute trip across Elliot Bay. The Water Taxi is an ideal way to travel on a spring or summer day between downtown Seattle and it’s largest neighborhood West Seattle. The fare is inexpensive: $3.00 each way, or a $5.00 day pass which would allow you to travel back and forth as often as you like. On a clear day, the views of the city and Olympic Mountains are amazing. However, the thing I enjoy most about riding the water taxi is taking the opportunity to walk to the bow of the boat and let the wind whip your hair as you travel mere yards above the crisp waters of Elliot Bay. You may never get off.
5. Sailing: If you don’t own a sailboat (despite the perception, most of us in Seattle don’t) short of befriending someone who does, you may think there is no inexpensive way to take advantage of boating using only the power of the wind. Not true. Check out The Center for Wooden Boats on Seattle’s Lake Union. There are plenty of opportunities to ride along with an experienced sailor by volunteering to help work the boat. If you are interested in an afternoon sail without the responsibility, the Center offers free family sailing trips on Sunday afternoons. First come basis so arrive early.
Sailing in Seattle
That’s all for now. Have a happy spring, and be sure to enjoy the waters around the Seattle area.
Ready to pack your bags? Here is a great resource for flights to Seattle.
Photo credit: Center for Wooden Boats from cwg.org; Sea Kayaking from gonorthwest.com; Elliot Bay Water Taxi from Wikimeia Commons by Joe Mabel; Sailing in Seattle by Dan Hershman
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6 Responses
Lovely! There’s always something so dramatic about seeing a sailboat against a city skyline.
Thanks Laura. On a sunny day, there can be hundreds of sailboats doting the waters of the Sound near the city. There is nothing quite like being on a boat powered only by the wind.
[...] spent the Sunday out and about in our new city, Seattle, technically we are in Issaquah, but Seattle is close enough for quick outings, so we’re [...]
My family and I visited LA over New Year 2009 and was surprised the weather was quite warm. Coming from a Northern European Climate our winters tend to be wet and cold as opposed to snowy and very cold.
I know Seattle is quite a way north from LA but as it is next to the coast does it get a milder winter than most?
B&B in Blackpool – Seattle winters tend towards those you described in Northern Europe. Wet and cold. Spring and Summer are terrific and beautiful though.
Thanks for the reply James. Am I right in assuming you are based close to the Seattle area? Your blog suggests that you write about numerous travel subjects and destinations which I will now follow with interest.
It has long been an ambition of mine to travel to the NW of the USA around Washington state combining it with a tour of Canada over the border. My mother went to Vancouver a couple of years ago and said it was beautiful