Seattle's best neighborhoods with marina access - Lake Union?

markrinker

markrinker

New Member
Jul 19, 2011
325
Lake Union - Seattle, WA
Boat Info
2000 410DA
Engines
Caterpillar 3126
My wife and I are relocating to Seattle this fall. She is a Microsoft employee and will be working at the HQ in Redmond. We are planning to find a condo and would like to be very close to our marina so we can spend alot of time aboard. Our plan is lots of cruising in the San Juans, so quick access to where we intend to spend the most time in is important.

Neighborhoods? We are new empty nester introvert/hippy/eclectic types, left of center politically and are looking for a HUGE change from years of suburbia raising kids. We are not interested in spending money to spend money, or to hang out with the 'in' crowd. We prefer to be among boaters that boat over boaters that entertain. We plan to put on lots of miles and many weekends on the hook.

All suggestions will be investigated! Thanks in advance!
 
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Good luck in your new home! Know Redmond quite well although am sure it's changed since we lived in Kirkland many years ago, our children went to the Overlake School there. Beautiful part of the world albeit a bit damp. Kirkland (famous for being Costo's HQ) may be well worth a look from memory had a nice waterfront on Lake Washington with condos nearby. Boating in the San Juans, weather permitting is just wonderful. Enjoy!
 
Fresh water or salt? If fresh, I'd say Kirkland/Juanita, Newcastle/Kennydale, Mercer Island, or Sand Point. If salt, Mukilteo would suit you fine, otherwise Richmond Beach. All are relatively expensive.

If you have money and don't want the ability to go from fresh to salt water, Lake Sammamish is the place for you. Real close to M$ (this is local short-hand for Microsoft) on the north end, and nice area on the south (Bellevue and Issaquah).

You're headed to the left-ist place in WA. Sounds like it'd be a great fit for you.

Oh, and don't you love our city names? You'll feel like you're speaking a different language. You should hear the navigation systems butcher them...:grin:
 
So Lake Washington is freshwater, Union is salt/brackish? I would prefer to slip in as clean, fresh water as possible (spoiled by Lake Superior) but plan to spend alot of time initially running back and forth to the San Juans so access is important, and don't want to spend alot of uneccessary time locking through to get there and back. Maybe we are starting initally on the Sound and after the 'new' wears off we end up on Lake Washington with only a few trips per year out of the fresh to salt....who knows...we are sure excited for the new scenery.
 
I'd moor in Everett. You're in the salt water already and if you plan to cruise he San Juans you'll save 3-4 hours of running through the locks.
If you get a condo in Redmond, Kirkland, Woodinville or Bothell/Mill creek you're 30-40 drive to Everett, get on the boat then only 3 hours at 18-20 knots to the San Juan's.
 
Nehalennia said:
I'd moor in Everett. You're in the salt water already and if you plan to cruise he San Juans you'll save 3-4 hours of running through the locks.
If you get a condo in Redmond, Kirkland, Woodinville or Bothell/Mill creek you're 30-40 drive to Everett, get on the boat then only 3 hours at 18-20 knots to the San Juan's.
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What's the traffic like nowadays say on a Friday evening going to Everett from the Kirkland area? Our memory of it was that it was bumper to bumper and took quite awhile as a lot of folk lived in Everett and comuted down to Boeing in Renton etc.,. That resulted in heavy traffic moving back north to home and Fridays seemed to be the worst night back in the mid 1990's. They staggered the morning starting work time but on Fridays everyone was eager to leave and get home at the same time.
 
BritLady said:
What's the traffic like nowadays say on a Friday evening going to Everett from the Kirkland area? Our memory of it was that it was bumper to bumper and took quite awhile as a lot of folk lived in Everett and comuted down to Boeing in Renton etc.,. That resulted in heavy traffic moving back north to home and Fridays seemed to be the worst night back in the mid 1990's. They staggered the morning starting work time but on Fridays everyone was eager to leave and get home at the same time.
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The traffic is still a little sluggish before Everett, but much better now that the freeway work is done and the new lanes are established. I still think boating out of Everett offers ton more options than something in Lake Washington/Union or the ship canal.

Best of Luck Mark in your choice. Either way you'll love boating here.
 
You could always try somewhere like Elliott Bay or Shilshole Marina puts you in the middle of everything the cost is a little higher but you can go any direction from there about the same cost as anything on either lake.
 
Nehalennia said:
The traffic is still a little sluggish before Everett, but much better now that the freeway work is done and the new lanes are established. I still think boating out of Everett offers ton more options than something in Lake Washington/Union or the ship canal.

Best of Luck Mark in your choice. Either way you'll love boating here.
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Pleased to hear the traffic is better nowadays it really was a PITA back in the 1990's. It truly is a beautiful area everywhere in the Seattle region it's such a shame thet boating season couldn't be a bit longer for everyone up there. Am sure you will enjoy wherever you go Bob and Sue's idea of in the middle sounds good so you can get either way. Enjoy, you'll love it I'm sure:)
 
BritLady said:
Pleased to hear the traffic is better nowadays it really was a PITA back in the 1990's. It truly is a beautiful area everywhere in the Seattle region it's such a shame thet boating season couldn't be a bit longer for everyone up there. Am sure you will enjoy wherever you go Bob and Sue's idea of in the middle sounds good so you can get either way. Enjoy, you'll love it I'm sure:)
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Boating is year 'round, you just have to be prepared for more moist conditions but some of the calmest nicest days can be in the fall, winter and spring months.
 
Nehalennia said:
Boating is year 'round, you just have to be prepared for more moist conditions but some of the calmest nicest days can be in the fall, winter and spring months.
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Definitely agree with Todd we've had some of the best times on the water in the middle of winter very few boats and beautiful views.

DSCN0188.jpg
 
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Mark, I am surrounded by Microsoft, do you happen to know which campus your wife will be working at?

In any case, if you want to avoid the highways, as much as possible, which isn't a terrible idea here, because even though the weather is relatively very mild, it is fickle, and being able to "meet at the boat" in an hour or less, from the "phone call", makes it possible to capture more of those "gems" of nice weather and unmatched scenery, on your boat, and not "inching along" the pavement in your car. For that experience; I would suggest living and mooring, with access (through the locks) to the salt water, in Kirkland, Bellevue, or Seattle (Lake Union area).

That is what we do, mostly, because we've decided, for now at least, that we really despise the roadways, particularly, on Friday and Sunday, afternoons. The traffic here, during peak, from central Seattle and outward, is frankly a PITA. If you have the option of moving about at your convenience it isn't so bad.

But that is only one of many boating options when you live here. IMHO....when the weather is nice here, this place is unmatched for water and natural beauty.

If you want to start out in salt water, Todd and others have made good suggestions. With Microsoft in mind, I would add Edmonds to that list of places to live and moor. Des Moines, to the south of Seattle, has a nice salt water marina, and is probably more reasonable in cost. All of Southern Puget Sound (salt water) is equally as enjoyable and scenic as anywhere. There are endless, harbors, coves and "hook" spots.

Your choices will really be determined by your needs and choices of "land mobility".

If you truly want to concentrate on the San Juan Islands, many boaters do, keep your boat in Annacortes.

Get on Google Earth and you will see the choices and styles, of enjoying the water, are really plentiful and varied. You can drive two hours, over the "mountains", and, to the east of here, and experience an entirely different climate and culture. The Columbia River, (as "GFC" will attest) and, numerous good sized lakes experience a very hot and dry climate from spring until fall.

You can really live, in a house boat, on the water here also. I would suggest renting, in any case, and really checking it all out before committing long term to anything. The choices are infinite, the weather can cause both, instant, "head first" seduction, or, suicide, (there can be infinite "shades of grey" here), it can take some definite "getting used to" for some.

But if you like it, for the industrialized temperate rain forest that it is, all others pale in comparison.

Good luck in your move, enjoy.
 
Great thoughts. I have delivered many boats from the Great Lakes region to Seattle and into BC Canada so am painfully familiar with the traffic snarls. I think the best way for us to start is close to work, close to the boat, and deal with the distance and locking through for the long weekends planned into the San Juans.

We plan to make a list of marinas to visit later this month, and take a walking tour of many. Covered slippage is preferred - anyone familiar with http://www.stimsonmarina.com/ ?
 
markrinker said:
Great thoughts. I have delivered many boats from the Great Lakes region to Seattle and into BC Canada so am painfully familiar with the traffic snarls. I think the best way for us to start is close to work, close to the boat, and deal with the distance and locking through for the long weekends planned into the San Juans.


We plan to make a list of marinas to visit later this month, and take a walking tour of many. Covered slippage is preferred - anyone familiar with http://www.stimsonmarina.com/ ?
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I think you are on the right track.........Stimson Marina is in the Ballard area of Seattle, (a reputed, "quiet drinking village with a condo problem") the marina is just a stones throw from the locks, never moored there, but it has always appeared to be a good (well maintained) marina, I don't think you would be disappointed with Stimson...or Ballard, although they do eat lutefisk in Ballard.....while you are there, make sure you go to the Jolly Roger, try the Seattle Lager, the Jolly is a good micro brewery with an excellent menu.....one of my favorites for great beer and food....
 
Nehalennia said:
The traffic is still a little sluggish before Everett, but much better now that the freeway work is done and the new lanes are established. I still think boating out of Everett offers ton more options than something in Lake Washington/Union or the ship canal.

Best of Luck Mark in your choice. Either way you'll love boating here.
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Great input. I see your point and will take time to drive to Everett and investigate slippage before we make any decisions. We are SUPER excited for this move, after 25yrs in Minnesnowta. (We get plenty of grey skies here, too.)
 
Bob & Sue said:
Definitely agree with Todd we've had some of the best times on the water in the middle of winter very few boats and beautiful views.

DSCN0188.jpg
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That was my memory of living in the Seattle area too, very few boats out in the winter (just the hardy ones) but certainly beautiful views. Still sounds as if the traffic is still a PITA according to D-Sill-D, thought it may have improved a lot over the years. Stimson sounds like a good idea but wherever you go you will love it, it's a beautiful area shame it rains so but it doesn't rain as much as the UK:) And, from memory they generally used to only get about a week or so of snow, so expect it will be a great change from MN. Good luck! Keep us posted where you end up:)
 
I watch the morning a lot for weather reports plus NOAA for wind we decide in the morning if were still going out it can be a real crap shoot but when you hit the nice days you can't beat the PNW while watching the news it's not unusual for the Everett to Bellevue commute to be 50 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes Bellevue to Bothell can be an easy 40 minutes. Same kind of times going South on 405 or across the bridges to Seattle plus 520 now has a toll of $3.50 to cross each way to build a new bridge. We're looking for a new area to move closer to the water also and can't decide because of traffic or which area to live in I've lived here all my life so has my wife and neither of us can decide where we like.
 
Bob & Sue said:
I watch the morning a lot for weather reports plus NOAA for wind we decide in the morning if were still going out it can be a real crap shoot but when you hit the nice days you can't beat the PNW while watching the news it's not unusual for the Everett to Bellevue commute to be 50 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes Bellevue to Bothell can be an easy 40 minutes. Same kind of times going South on 405 or across the bridges to Seattle plus 520 now has a toll of $3.50 to cross each way to build a new bridge. We're looking for a new area to move closer to the water also and can't decide because of traffic or which area to live in I've lived here all my life so has my wife and neither of us can decide where we like.
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We still have friends in the PNW and when they retired they moved from Kirkland to near Annacortes to allow them to boat in the San Juans which is just beautiful. If we still lived there we would prefer a middle ground so that we could get whichever way we wanted. That said, whatever way you go you can't beat the scenery anywhere in the US IMHO:) $3.50 toll that's about as bad as the Severn bridge in the UK which is 5 GBP! The one thing that took me ages to get used to was that when you finally got to join the I5 you joined it in the fast lane! Really hairy, especially as we had just moved there from the UK I hated it for quite awhile made me really nervous at first. Got used to it eventually but took some time:)
 
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