Lake Washington Cruising

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hansonby

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C Dory Year
2009
C Dory Model
22 Cruiser
Hull Identification Number
WN 5550 RN
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SENIOR MOMENT
I'm going from Olympia on a 3-4 day cruise with an 8- and a 10-year-old next week, and thinking about a trip through the locks into Lake Union and then Lake Washington.

Can anyone advise me about guest moorage on Lake Washington?

I think we'll have a good time swimming and just goofing off, but I would appreciate your thoughts re "Lake Washington/Union-area fun things to do for kids?" And/or "places to go on Lake Washington?"

Thank you.

Byron
 
I don't know if any of the marina's on Lake Washington have available guest moorage but I do know you can anchor out in Andrews bay. You might give Yarrow Bay Marina a call to see if they have any guest moorage but I have a feeling you'll be hard pressed to find available guest moorage in Lake Washington or Lake Union. Others here may pipe up with better information.
 
There is guest moorage at Fishermens' Terminal, on the right soon after you leave the locks. . Give them a call. Also, there used to be moorage at the park in downtown Kirkland, just north of the yarrow Bay Marina mentioned above. . (I haven't been there,Kirkland, in a couple of years.) I'm pretty sure there is overnight moorage along the Seattle's Lake Union waterfront but I don't know about that. Coulon Park, in Renton at the south end of Lake Washington, is a nice destination. It has free daytime moorage for a couple of hours, a couple of food places and there's a playground a short walk away and a nice waterfront place to throw a ball or frizbee.Nice restrooms too. It's next to the Boeing 737 plant so if your lucky you'll see a brand new plane leave on it's first flight. There is fuel at the Newport marina just south of the I-90 bridge on the east of Mercer Island and also on the right just after you leave the ship canal and enter Lake Union.
 
I was on Lake Washington for three days for Seafair a couple weeks ago. The lake is just about the perfect temperature for swimming,

You can anchor overnight in Andrews Bay. Lakewood Moorage is nearby and might have transient space available.

Kirkland has transient moorage at both Marina Park and Carillon Point Marina. If you want to be on a dock one of these is probably your best bet. Fishermen's Terminal has lots of moorage, too.

There are day use docks at Luther Burbank Park on Mercer Island (excellent park), Coulon Park (Kidd Valley and Ivar's are right on the dock), and in Meydenbauer Bay. A number of restaurants on Lake Union also offer moorage while dining.

If you are a yacht club member you have a bunch of reciprocal options...

Although it's unlikely you'll be tied to the wall of the large lock this time of year, it's still a good idea to have 50' lock lines aboard.
 
Buy a guide, Waggoners comes to mind, but there are others. It is updated every year.
 
Ivar's Salmon House is between Lake Union and Lake Washington. It has a dock on the ship canal that usually has space. You can eat in the restaurant (lots of NW native art) or just walk around the front to a "drive up" window and get fish & chips, chowder, etc. The Chihuly glass studio used to be right there and give tours, but I don't know if that's still possible given the recent fame and acclaim. The NOAA research vessels are probably all out at sea, but there are dry docks near the NOAA dock (east side of south Lake Union) that are interesting if they have a big boat in them.

The Center for Wooden Boats on the south end of Lake Union is interesting (don't know if they have temporary guest moorage). The 1896 lumber schooner Wawona is now gone, but I think that the 1889 Arthur Foss (of Tugboat Annie fame) and the Virginia V (last of the mosquito fleet) are still at the Marine Heritage Center at south Lake Union. I don't know if they have tours like the Wawona did.

If you find a place to moor on south Lake Union, you can catch the new trolley to downtown and go right by my city abode.

Mark
 
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