CharlieN
Member
- Nov 15, 2006
- 74
- Boat Info
- 1989 Sundancer 268
2001 Dodge Diesel
- Engines
- 502 Mercruiser w/ Bravo 1
Northwest trip for Aug
I solicited advice from the group on places to go in the south Puget Sound a while ago and we made the trip around the Labor Day time frame and thought I would recap the places we ended up going. You local guys, I am sure know all these places and have your favorites.
We started at the Breakwater Marina in Ruston near Tacoma. Nice people to work with. We launched at the ramp next door - 6 lanes wide. Right next to the park and plenty of restaurants within easy driving distance. They were in the middle of construction at the park and launch ramp so it was a little messy.
We then spent a night and day at Blake Is state park. The weather had turned a little colder by them. Lots of wildlife roaming free. Great trails around the island.
On to Penrose St Park/Lakebay Marina. Lakebay pier had been condemned 6 weeks before so they were still in the middle of repair but we stayed anyway and bought gas from them the next day. Seemed like it has a lot of history and owners willing to do what it takes to fix it up. Hope they succeed.
On to Olympia for 2 nights at Swantown. We walked to the Farmers Market and took the free bus around town. They were getting ready for the Labor Day weekend so lots going on.
We spent the Labor Day weekend at Gig harbor at Arabellas. We really enjoyed it. Nice facility, nice people. We took their trolley around town, stopped different places, especially liked the Ace Hardware and had lunch at Tides Tavern and Net Shed 9 a different day. A place we would go back to.
Moved on to Tacoma and Dock Street Marina. Nice facility. They had some great Muesums close by. The glass sculptures on the overhead walkway were pretty cool. We retrieved our truck from Ruston to delivery our guests to the airport. The parking was pretty limited. Either free under the bridge with the homeless people or pay for a dirt lot on the other end close to the Fish Peddler Restaurant.
On to Bremmerton for a couple days. First class facility with all the amenities, nice people and during the week we were there, pretty empty. We then tried Port Orchard for a couple days. A little more rustic but still very nice. Shops closer to the Marina. Both these Marinas like leaving the gates open till 10pm for the dock fisherman. It makes it a little noisy.
Back to Ruston to retrieve and head home.
I expected to spend more time at the State Parkings moorings or on the hook. Our guests liked the convenience of shore power in the evening to charge their phones, tablets and computers. Most of the Marinas did not have reliable WiFi. Bremmerton/Orchard were the best.
The availability of fuel was somewhat limited. A lot of places don’t have fuel anymore. All the regs and permits to keep it available are not cost effective for them anymore . Olympia with the 100s of boats they have in marinas have no fuel available.
After 100 years of industrial use up and down the sound, they are finding a lot of contamination on the bottom and shores and are making big efforts to clean it up. Lets hope it doesn’t take another 100 years. Anyway here are some pictures.
I solicited advice from the group on places to go in the south Puget Sound a while ago and we made the trip around the Labor Day time frame and thought I would recap the places we ended up going. You local guys, I am sure know all these places and have your favorites.
We started at the Breakwater Marina in Ruston near Tacoma. Nice people to work with. We launched at the ramp next door - 6 lanes wide. Right next to the park and plenty of restaurants within easy driving distance. They were in the middle of construction at the park and launch ramp so it was a little messy.
We then spent a night and day at Blake Is state park. The weather had turned a little colder by them. Lots of wildlife roaming free. Great trails around the island.
On to Penrose St Park/Lakebay Marina. Lakebay pier had been condemned 6 weeks before so they were still in the middle of repair but we stayed anyway and bought gas from them the next day. Seemed like it has a lot of history and owners willing to do what it takes to fix it up. Hope they succeed.
On to Olympia for 2 nights at Swantown. We walked to the Farmers Market and took the free bus around town. They were getting ready for the Labor Day weekend so lots going on.
We spent the Labor Day weekend at Gig harbor at Arabellas. We really enjoyed it. Nice facility, nice people. We took their trolley around town, stopped different places, especially liked the Ace Hardware and had lunch at Tides Tavern and Net Shed 9 a different day. A place we would go back to.
Moved on to Tacoma and Dock Street Marina. Nice facility. They had some great Muesums close by. The glass sculptures on the overhead walkway were pretty cool. We retrieved our truck from Ruston to delivery our guests to the airport. The parking was pretty limited. Either free under the bridge with the homeless people or pay for a dirt lot on the other end close to the Fish Peddler Restaurant.
On to Bremmerton for a couple days. First class facility with all the amenities, nice people and during the week we were there, pretty empty. We then tried Port Orchard for a couple days. A little more rustic but still very nice. Shops closer to the Marina. Both these Marinas like leaving the gates open till 10pm for the dock fisherman. It makes it a little noisy.
Back to Ruston to retrieve and head home.
I expected to spend more time at the State Parkings moorings or on the hook. Our guests liked the convenience of shore power in the evening to charge their phones, tablets and computers. Most of the Marinas did not have reliable WiFi. Bremmerton/Orchard were the best.
The availability of fuel was somewhat limited. A lot of places don’t have fuel anymore. All the regs and permits to keep it available are not cost effective for them anymore . Olympia with the 100s of boats they have in marinas have no fuel available.
After 100 years of industrial use up and down the sound, they are finding a lot of contamination on the bottom and shores and are making big efforts to clean it up. Lets hope it doesn’t take another 100 years. Anyway here are some pictures.
