From our friends at www.everyonestravelclub.com
Looking to paddle in Seattle? Everyone's Travel Club is here for you and we've put together a quick Seattle paddling top ten! Whether you plan to stand up paddleboard, canoe, or kayak, these destinations are sure to please. Need more info? All of the linked words in the paragraphs below take you directly to an ETC post or video related to the destination. Enjoy!
~Paul ETC-Perfect Paddles Travel Brief-
Best Time of Year to Visit:
July and August are the most reliably rainless months, and consequently, this is the most popular time to visit. It is during these months that the sun is seen most often and rain is almost unheard of (though not unknown). (www.frommers.com)
Average Temperature:
Summers in western Washington are fresh and relatively dry, while they are warmer in the east. The average high temperatures peak at 78°F (25.6°C) in July, while day temperatures reach 105°F (40.6°C) to 115°F (46.1°C) in many places in the east. (www.weather-us.com)
SUP Environments to Paddle In
Rivers
Lakes
Bay
Ocean
SUP Activity Highlights:
Excursions
Tours
White-water River SUP
SUP Yoga
Wildlife Paddles:
Washington is truly a wild place. And one of the best ways to experience the vast array of wildlife is on an eco-tour or excursion! On any given day, paddlers can spot grizzly bears, deer, black bears, raccoons, and all types of birds including eagles. To get in on a wildlife paddle, use our Locations/Activities guide HERE!
River Paddles:
One of the best ways to see the beauty of Washington is by gliding along its many rivers! See the lush forests from the water. To get in on this experience, we suggest checking out our great friends at Wildwater River Guides!
Perfect Paddles Deals to Get Your Ready for Your Trip:
RHEOS (Floating) Sunglasses- 15% off with Member Benefits
Duk Gear- 20% off a waterproof cell phone case with Member Benefits
Check out more of our gear options HERE!
Interested in any of these extra activities? Be sure to head HERE to find a list of paddle pros in the area and what they offer!
Additional Attractions:
Washington State is known for its lush green forests. It's the perfect place to explore the natural world!
Olympic National Park: Olympic National Park is on Washington's Olympic Peninsula in the Pacific Northwest. The park sprawls across several different ecosystems, from the dramatic peaks of the Olympic Mountains to old-growth forests. The summit of glacier-clad Mt. Olympus is popular with climbers, and hiking and backpacking trails cut through the park's rainforests and along its Pacific coastline.
Space Needle: Iconic, 605-ft.-tall spire at the Seattle Center, with an observation deck & a rotating restaurant.
Mount Rainier: Mount Rainier, also known as Tahoma or Tacoma, is a large active stratovolcano in the Cascade Range of the Pacific Northwest, located in Mount Rainier National Park about 59 miles south-southeast of Seattle.
Pike Place Market: Pike Place Market—the 108-year-old farmers' market and Seattle tourist attraction which draws in more than 10 million visitors annually—is justly famous for its fishmongers, produce stalls, craft stands and specialty food shops, but there's so much more to the Market than meets the eye.
Chihuly Garden and Glass: Chihuly Garden and Glass is an exhibit in the Seattle Center showcasing the studio glass of Dale Chihuly. It opened in May 2012 at the former site of the defunct Fun Forest amusement park.
Museum of Pop Culture: The Museum of Pop Culture or MoPOP is a nonprofit museum in Seattle, Washington, dedicated to contemporary popular culture. It was founded by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen in 2000 as the Experience Music ProjectFor reference, be sure to check out our Perfect Paddles Activities map! For Washington, you will find it below:
Perfect Paddles Shops/Outfitters Near the Locations:
1. Northwest Outdoor Center, Seattle
2. SUP Yoga Seattle, Seattle
3. What's SUP, Bothell
4. Northwest Paddle Surfers, Kirkland
5. Salmon Bay Paddle, Seattle (Buddy Deal)
Buddy Deals: Don’t forget to take advantage of our fantastic Buddy Deals for exclusive discounts for our members! To become a member head HERE.1. Arboretum
Arboretum paddlingIf you have only a few days to paddle in Seattle, the most bang for your buck is exploring the Washington Park Arboretum near Seattle's University District (go Huskies!). In this still-water wildlife refuge, you'll paddle through narrow, peaceful waterways, trees overhead, and feel like you're in the jungle. It's the urban Everglades. Need a boat? Rent it from the UW WAC boathouse nearby.2. Shilshole Bay/Golden Gardens
A golden sunset at Shilshole MarinaA Shilshole Bay paddle surrounds you with some of the best parts of Seattle - mountains, beach, the Puget Sound, sailboats, sea-life, and a great neighborhood nearby. Golden Gardens is the place to be for beachgoers once the sun finally comes out in the summer. Sailboats fill the docks at Shilshole Marina. After a paddle exploring sea-life close-up at low tide, head into the nearby hood (called Ballard) for food, shopping, concerts, and sight-seeing. Use the public parking and boat ramp at the North end of the marina to launch. Check the tides/weather before you go and watch out for boat traffic. Make sure to spy dead Leif and the sea serpent chillin' on the breakwater!3. Lake Union
Gasworks Park on Lake UnionTour some Sleepless in Seattle houseboats and enjoy great city views. Pull your boat up on the dock at Ivar's Seafood house for some local seafood. Watch seaplanes land and take off, heading to the San Juan Islands and beyond. Parking can be tricky at the south end of the lake, although there is a great launch site. We prefer the sunnyside boat ramp on the north end. Need a boat? Aqua Verde Cafe & Paddle Club is the place to rent kayaks (and eat burritos) in this area.
4. Lake Washington, North
Landing across the pond at St Edward ParkNothing beats the feel of paddling on Lake Washington. After trips in the saltwater, the no-tides freshwater here is always a welcoming change. On the north end of the lake, Matthews Beach Park is a great place to launch with Sand Point to the south and St. Edward Park across the lake to the East. Like we said, no tides to worry about here, just watch out for wind & boat traffic and bring your bathing suit in the summer.5. Lake Washington, South
Our favorite place to paddle and launch in the south is Andrews Bay, right next to Seward Park. A favorite anchorage for sailboats overnighting on the lake, Andrews Bay is the perfect launch site with concrete steps right down to the water. From there, paddle around the sizable old-growth forest park peninsula that is Seward Park. When you get to the other side to take out - you're pretty much back where you started!6. Alki Beach/West Seattle
A view towards Alki & downtown from the lighthouseTalk about city views. Launch near Salty's seafood restaurant (maybe hit their great happy hour first). Paddling north from there, turn the corner and cruise the Southern California- like Alki Beach. Restaurants, boat rental places, and shopping line the street, often crowded with skateboarders, beachgoers, and rollerbladers. For a longer paddle, keep going and you'll pass the Alki Point Lighthouse and eventually hit the heavily wooded Lincoln Park to the south. Watch the tides/weather and don't let the summer vibe cloud common sense - the water you're paddling in is chilly all year!7. The Ship Canal - Fremont/U-District
Checking out houseboats, paddling to the Montlake CutThe Lake Washington ship canal connects the freshwater lakes of Lake Washington and Lake Union to the saltwater Puget Sound. The Fremont/U District portion takes you through the historic Montlake Cut, the finish-line for the nationally known Husky crew teams. It also gives you access to the Arboretum (to the east), Ivar's Seafood restaurant, downtown views on Lake Union, Gasworks Park on the north end of the lake, and you're close to the self- proclaimed "Center of the Universe" - the quirky village-like neighborhood of Fremont. A good launch site for a full-day paddle is the 14th Ave boat ramp in Ballard, kinda between the Ballard Fred Meyer and Trader Joe's. Park for free, launch, and head east.8. The Ship Canal - Ballard/Fishermen's Terminal
Kayaks resting on the public dock while we eat breakfast nearby!Launching from the 14th Ave. boat ramp and heading west take you towards the Fishermen's Terminal and the Ballard Locks. Paddle next to giants at the Terminal - some of the fishing boats and their crews here are the stars of the popular television show "Deadliest Catch". Pullover at the public dock on the west end of the marina and enjoy breakfast at the popular Bay Cafe. Leave the Terminal heading west a little more and you'll get a view of boats leaving and entering the freshwater through the Ballard Locks. Don't get too close, it's a busy place for boats of all sizes. Want to kayak to a spa? Try the "Habitude launch site" nearby.9. Discovery Park
The Beach at Discovery ParkThe largest city park in Seattle also happens to be surrounded by water. If you are lucky enough to score a parking spot close to the West Point lighthouse, you can launch from there. Carrying an inflatable? Hike through the woods to multiple beaches. A better idea? Launch from the Point Shilshole "surfer beach" - across the water on the Ballard side, just south of the Shilshole Marina and across from Paseo (great Caribbean sandwiches).
10. Greenlake
Journey to Seattle's central park to soak up the rays (in the summer at least!) and paddle a few laps around Greenlake. Parking, equipment rental in the summer, and possible launch sites are on almost all sides of the lake. Look for some more secluded spots on the west side of the lake where there is also a nice kayak dock at the rowing center (and parking close to launch).No Records Found
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- Address: 2100 Westlake Ave N
Seattle
Washington
98109
United StatesAddress: 2100 Westlake Ave N
Seattle
Washington
98109
United States - Address: 5103 S Avon St
Seattle
Washington
98178
United StatesCertification: PSUPA- Certified InstructorAddress: 5103 S Avon St
Seattle
Washington
98178
United StatesCertification: PSUPA- Certified Instructor - Address: 351-399 Spring St
Seattle
Washington
98154
United StatesCertification: PSUPAAddress: 351-399 Spring St
Seattle
Washington
98154
United StatesCertification: PSUPA - Lead Instructor: Rob CaseyAddress: 8017 29th Ave NW
Seattle
Washington
98117
United StatesCertification: PSUPA, Wilderness First Aid, CPR/First AidRecommendation: Beginner to Advanced options - Coastal Tours of the Sound and Freighter wake surfingMember Deal: Save $10+ on select servicesLead Instructor: Rob CaseyAddress: 8017 29th Ave NW
Seattle
Washington
98117
United StatesCertification: PSUPA, Wilderness First Aid, CPR/First AidRecommendation: Beginner to Advanced options - Coastal Tours of the Sound and Freighter wake surfingMember Deal: Save $10+ on select services - Address: 7351 East Green Lake Dr N
Seattle
Washington
98115
United StatesCertification: PSUPA- Certified InstructorAddress: 7351 East Green Lake Dr N
Seattle
Washington
98115
United StatesCertification: PSUPA- Certified Instructor
Seattle
Washington
98101
United States
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