When my travel planning clients ask about the best Seattle water activities, they’re always surprised when I start rattling off options. I suppose that, for a city with a rainy reputation, most people don’t realize how many opportunities there are to get out on the water.
Seattle is perfectly situated on the Puget Sound, and there are several lakes in the city limits. Coupled with long, warm summer days and mild winters, you’ll always see someone out on the water.
Whether you’re looking to wade through the waves or relax on a boat, there are plenty of things to do on the water in Seattle. Use this guide to learn about the different types of water activities, available tours, and where you can rent equipment.
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Seattle Water Activities
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Kayaking
My absolute favorite summer activity in Seattle is kayaking on Lake Union. I love it because you get an unfettered view of Gas Works Park and the city skyline, plus the chance to peep into all the cool house boats lining the shore. Just keep in mind that the weather can always take a turn, so bring water, sunscreen, and a hat before you head out.
Where to rent gear: NWOC on the water’s edge rents single, double, and triple kayaks for ~$23-40 per hour. If you’re closer to the U-District, rent them from Aqua Verde for a similar price or UW’s Waterfront Activities Center.
Prefer to have a guided tour? Take this two-hour guided tour of Puget Sound.
Standup paddle boarding
Going stand-up paddle boarding (SUP) was at the top of my Seattle bucket list. The first time I tried it, I was completely petrified, but after falling once or twice, you get used to it. Now it’s one of my favorite water activities.
Where to go: Both Lake Union and Green Lake have great paddle boarding, and I usually rent my gear at the NWOC, Aqua Verde, or Green Lake Boat House for ~$23-30/hour.
Pro tip: Don’t like paddle boarding? Green Lake Boat House also has kayaks, row boats, and multi-person pedal boats.
Electric boat
If you’re looking to entertain a group, the Electric Boat Company allows you to rent electric boats for up to 6-12 passengers to cruise around Lake Union. Their boats are easy to operate and don’t require a boating license.
Their boats range from ~$99-189 per hour, and each is heated and can be covered, allowing you to cruise the lake rain or shine. You can bring food and wine onboard or tack on their catering services, and if you’re up for it, you can even take a guided tour or scavenger hunt.
Pro tip: If you want to swim, make sure to get the boat rental option with stairs into the water. Most of their boats are for leisurely time on the water instead of in.
Hot tub boat
If you’re visiting Seattle in the colder months but still want a water experience, you can rent a hot tub boat. It’s the most relaxing way to explore Lake Union, and you won’t mind the clouds one bit.
Each boat holds up to 6 people and costs ~$400 for 2 hours. When you board, there’s a cooler of water bottles and Bluetooth speakers available by request. You can even add Epsom salts or rose petals for a more romantic experience.
Jet skiing
I’m not a big jet skier nowadays, but I used to do it all the time growing up on the Jersey shore. It’s not as big of a sport in Seattle, but I often see groups of people on Lake Washington in the peak summer months.
Where to rent gear: Waterfront Adventures rents for ~$99 per hour and $129 on weekends and holidays, while Ohana Kai Watersports rents for half days (~$595 or $795 on weekends) or full days (~$695 or $895 on weekends).
Wakeboarding
Lake Washington is the second largest natural lake in Washington, and every summer, all the wakeboarders rush to get outside and ride the waves.
Where to rent gear: If you’re well-versed in wakeboarding, Waterfront Adventures rents wakeboard boats with drivers included for ~$299 per hour or ~$338 on weekends and holidays. They also offer classes through Northwest Wake Academy if you’ve always wanted to learn.
Sailing
Being on the water, it only makes sense that one of the most romantic things to do in Seattle is to actually get out there and take in the view of the city skyline and Olympic Mountains.
Where to go: There is some sailing on Lake Union and Lake Washington, though I think the best view is from the Puget Sound. It’s also where most classes and tours offer their experiences.
If you’re looking for a guided experience or maybe to take a sailing lesson, you can go on one of these tours:
- Private Sailing Adventure on the Puget Sound
- Evening Colors Sunset Sail Tour in Seattle
- 2-Hour Seattle Sailing Harbor Tour
- Intro to Sailing Lesson
Boat cruise
For those of us looking to skip the manual labor of a kayak, your best bet is to take a boat cruise. Some boats are quite large and you’ll have to share the space with other travelers, but you’ll be rewarded with the same beautiful view, just without all the work.
Where to go: The Puget Sound, Lake Washington, and Lake Union are where you’ll find most of the cruises, and a few even go back and forth between the Sound and Lake Union.
There are quite a few rental companies that offer sailing services, like Argosy Cruises and Soundview Sunset Cruises, or you can sign up for one of these private tours:
Whale watching tour
If you’re in Seattle from mid-June to early September, you can’t miss the chance to go whale watching. I mean, you can technically go year-round, but your odds of catching the orcas or humpbacks are significantly higher during the summer months.
I wrote a whole article about kayaking with orcas, but let me give you the gist of it: you likely won’t see whales from a kayak. That’s because you can cover more ground to find pods from a motorized boat. Plus it helps you keep a safer distance. So while it is also my dream to see a whale while kayaking, your best bet is to go on a tour.
Where to go: If you have the time, I suggest taking a day trip to San Juan Island or Orcas Island to see a bunch of whales in the Salish Sea. If you’d rather stay on mainland, you can still go whale watching on the Puget Sound, but you’re more likely to see them up near the San Juan Islands.
Here are some whale-watching tours to consider:
- Whale Watching from Friday Harbor
- Half Day Whale Watching from Anacortes
- Orcas Island Whale Watching
Fishing/crabbing
Washington has one of the richest fishing and crabbing seasons in the country. The saltwater from the Salish Sea combined with the Puget Sound estuary means you get a high diversity of fish like salmon, lingcod, steelhead, and rockfish. It’s basically a seafood lovers paradise.
Where to go: If you’re new to fishing or crabbing, you’ll want to go with a guide. Cut Plug Charter leads salmon and lingcod trips from the Puget Sound starting at ~$275 pp or $1,000 for a group half-day. Wild Knot Salmon Guides is another salmon fishing option for ~$350 pp or ~$1,150 for a private charter.
San Juan Adventures leads shrimp, lingcod, and crab charters out of Anacortes, starting at ~$1,305 for groups of 4. It’s the perfect excuse for exploring all the fun things to do in Anacortes when you’re done fishing!
What you’ll need: Permits! If you go with a guide, they’ll provide all the licensing. If you’re on your own, you’ll need to familiarize yourself with what species are okay to fish and make sure you have the proper licenses. Read this guide for crab season, and sign up for your permits here.
Pro tip: Wild Salmon Seafood Market will filet, pack, and ship your fresh catch. They’re one of my go-to fishmongers in Seattle, so they know their fish. B & E Meats will filet or even smoke your fish and ship it. Contact both of them ahead of time to arrange.
Ferry ride
I’ll never tire of taking a quick ferry ride to take a spontaneous day trip from Seattle. Not only is it fun, but it lets you connect to areas of Washington isolated by water.
Washington State Ferries runs the largest operation in the US. Passenger tickets start at ~$10 per person, but it quickly adds up if you want to take your vehicle onto the ferry. Routes to the San Juan Islands and Coupeville/Port Townsend require vehicle reservations, which can be difficult to come by in summer. However, it’s a small price to pay to see some of the most beautiful destinations in the state.
Where to go: From Seattle, you can reach my favorite islands near Seattle like Vashon and Bainbridge. Or head to Vancouver Island to explore all the unique things to do in Victoria via the FRS Clipper. You can head to towns like Poulsbo or Port Townsend on the peninsula by taking the ferry from Edmonds. Just north of Seattle you can get to Whidbey via Mukilteo or Lopez Island via Anacortes.
Oyster/geoduck foraging
If you’re looking for water activities near Seattle come fall or winter, you should definitely go clamming or oyster hunting. It’s shockingly easy, like, you literally just walk and pick them up. It’s that easy.
Washington has some of the best oysters in the country, and it’s one of the few places you can find the infamous, albeit awkward-looking geoduck.
Where to go: You can find oysters and clams (and yes, geoducks) along the Puget Sound and especially in the Hood Canal.
What you’ll need: A shellfish license, which is ~$15 for residents and $34 for non-residents. You’ll also want to double-check that the beach you’re going to is open for harvest, which you can do here. For geoducks specifically, make sure to read this.
Tour options: You don’t really need a tour to go clamming. Watching a few videos on YouTube should suffice. However, if you want a tour, you can sign up for the Oyster and Clam ShinDIG and guarantee you’ll come home with at least 18 oysters and 40 clams. Langdon Cook also often hosts geoduck and shellfish excursions.
Swimming
Come summertime, one of the most fun and accessible water activities in Seattle is to experience the local beaches and public pools. There are quite a few spread out through Seattle’s neighborhoods, and each has their own amenities and strong suits.
Where to go: If you’re looking for beaches, Alki Beach in West Seattle and Golden Gardens in Ballard are the most popular. If you don’t mind straying off course, I like Point Shilshole Beach in Ballard, especially for catching the sunset.
As for pools, Seattle has eight indoor and two outdoor public pools. Each has unique amenities like saunas, rope swings, hot tubs, and lazy rivers. You can find a full rundown of each pool here.
If you’re with little ones and not looking to don a bathing suit, you can take them to one of Seattle’s sprayparks or wading pools.
Waterparks
Wild Waves and the Great Wolf Lodge Water Park are the two closest water parks to Seattle, and they’re worth a visit if you need a quick weekend away with the kids. Wild Waves is closer and has more water activities, but it’s open seasonally and gets bigger crowds. If you want to get away in the winter, the indoor waterpark at Great Wolf is the way to go.
More things to do in Seattle
After you try Seattle water activities, here more ideas:
