Tacoma-south Puget Sound

[CharlieN]

I am planning a boating trip to the south Puget sound/Tacoma area this summer for a couple weeks sometime around Labor Day.
I need a place to launch the boat/store the trailer and a marina stay for 4-6 days then some places to visit in the area.
I have been looking at Waggoners and it would seem the launch at Point Defiance and the Marina there would be a pretty good choice.
Could some of the members that are from that area have any other suggestions for launching and places to visit, explore. Labor Day would fall right in the middle of the two weeks we would have so a good place to make reservations and stay put would be a good idea.
Any suggestion- recommendations would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Charlie N
268 Searay

 

[Bob & Sue]

Hi,
Point Defiance would be a good place to launch as far as the marina it's in a rustic old town of Ruston with the Pt. Defiance Zoo & park not sure about trailer parking for 2 weeks. I would give Delin Docks Marina or Dock street marina they are in the Foss Waterway about 5 miles from Pt. Defiance. They are right in the heart of Tacoma with plenty of restaurants, museums art, glass, history & one of the West Coasts largest auto museums. I'm on my out right now can give you some more ideas on where to cruise later today. Dock street is a transient moorage so I would call now for reservations both marinas are owned by the same company.

http://delindocksmarina.com/

http://dockstreetmarina.com/

 

[The Bill Collector]

Olympia (farthest south you can go), Anderson Island Oro Bay, Jarrell's Cove, LongBranch, Fair Harbor Marina, Gig Harbor, Quartermaster Harbor, Des Moines Marina, Bell Harbor Marina (downtown Seattle), Bremerton, Paulsbo, Blake Island Marina...........Plus all around Tacoma.

 

[CharlieN]

Bob - Mark:

Thanks for the suggestions. I will look in the all those places
CharlieN
268 Searay

 

[Bob & Sue]

Just read my first post guess I was in a hurry need to proof read posts a little better. Here's a link to most all the marinas on Puget Sound with a lot of other info. If you have time the Bell Harbor Marina is right in the heart of Seattle and is well worth the trip, plus Marks suggestions. Have any questions just send a PM. There's a lot of water to explore up here, I see something new every time out. That is the Glass museum in Tacoma in my sig picture just to the left upper corner.

http://www.pugetsoundmagazine.com/dir/boaters/marinas.php#southSound

 

[northern]

This is link to Washington Marine Parks. They are very nice parks and are well worth stopping at some. Some have docks. If you get to the docks by 1PM the time of year you are going you should get a spot.
http://www.parks.wa.gov/648/Moorage
We spend September in the area and south of Tacoma is normally not too many people.
North of Tacoma to Seattle you can get some big winds and waves. Stay out of the commercial shipping channels as some of the freighters can be going 20 knots and make big waves. Not a good idea to cut in front of them. If you go behind them expect 6 foot waves.
If you go to Olympia the Marinas are mostly owned by the city. The one on the north end has showers but is far from the city centre. You can go to the city centre in your boat and is a short walk to the State Building.

 

[CharlieN]

Northern:
Lots of good info on the Washington Marine Parks website.
Bob:
Still looking at the Mag website.
Thanks,
Charlie N
268 SeaRay

 

[The Bill Collector]

http://digital.turn-page.com/i/520161-june-2015/31

good stuff.....

 

[Tacoma290]

Here is my list of the 4 favorite places:
Gig Harbor: Great little town. Can tie at the public dock (though most likely no room on the Holiday weekend), or stay at a marina (nothing but good things about Arabella's). About 30 minute cruise from Tacoma.
Blake Island: One the best state parks, with great evening views of the city of Seattle. Nice escape from marinas. About 1-hour cruise from Tacoma.
Bell Harbor: We usually combine a night at Blake with a follow-up night at Bell Harbor. The marina is near downtown Seattle. Pikes Place and the Ballparks are within walking distance for us. 20 minutes from Blake or 1 hour cruise from Tacoma.
Tacoma: The guys are right that you should stay at Delin Docks Marina or Dock street Marina. Can walk to the Glass and History Museum and have dinner at the Swiss or Melting Pot. 20 minutes from Pt Defiance.

If you want to venture further out, south of Tacoma has less people and more nature. We go from Jerrels Cove further south as a nice stop on the way to Olympia.

Enjoy our little part of the world!