Mid-sound destinations

[Randygh]

The Admiral and I are heading to the wetside this upcoming weekend for a week's vacation. I'd like to leave Friday after work, drive to Everett or Edmonds, stay overnight in the boat on the trailer then sling it in Sat AM. We took the Tolly to Edmonds several yrs ago. The marina is nice but traffic was a pain in the arse. We've never slung in at Everett. If we leave Friday, we'll miss most of the heavy traffic going down to the Everett marinas. Is there a safe spot in the parking area where we can say overnight? I'll take my .40 Glock, but prefer not to be disturbed while sleeping :argh What is the best route to the marina area from Hwy 2?

We've been to Port Townsend and Port Ludlow. The Admiral would like to go back to PT for several nights, so we'll head out Sat AM for several days at PT, but I'd like some ideas about other venues. This is going to be a leasurely vacation, sleeping, eating, reading and checking out shopping within walking distance of the marinas. With the price of fuel, I was thinking about Poulsbo, Bremerton, Port Hadley or other areas in the mid-sound vacinity. Any advice as to marinas with good docks, clean showers, good nearby greasy spoons and shopping are appreciated. Since we won't be heading up to Bellingham and doing some crabbing, can anyone recommend a place were we can purchase some live or freshly cooked crab/shrimp/steamer clams??

[SomeSailor]

Everett locks the place down at 11:00 during the summer. Gates close and no one can bother you or your vehicle. You can keep the boat at the docks there, or another place is across at Jetty Island (100 yards from the ramps).

Easiest way is to come down US2. Take I-5 NORTH, but stay in the right lane. You're gonna get off on the first exit (MARINE VIEW DRIVE). It'll take you up through the north side of Everett and the Marina from Marine View Drive. You miss all the hills and traffic of downtown.

Even if you sling in (why not use one of the 13 ramps?) you can drive truck and trailer down to the ramps a few blocks down and leave the vehicle there for the $5 launch fee. It's secure and manned 24/7 with patrols after the gate closes. Never had an issue there.

As far as places to go. Langely is a good place to beat around and get a great pizza with an even better view of the sound from the outside seating. Coupeville is just up the water as well. If you wanna see some close in stuff, spend the day up at Kayak Pt. You can park the boat and dinghy onto the beach and eat lunch or check out the park.

Port Ludlow is down around the bend into the near end of Hood Canal. Or up and around to the Pt Townsend or Laconner. All are 1 hour trips or so. Gimme a shout when you're coming through. I'll buy ya a coffee.

[beyond kelp]

Kingston? Easy parking and laid back- There is a pretty good restaurant or two close and pizza and calzone up the hill a half mile. Try the raspberry white chocolate cheesecake at the restaurant three blocks up on the left. After the crab cakes... :)

[SomeSailor]

Kingston's on the wrong side of the Sound for parking unless you're up for the $68 one-way fare.

[Go Aweigh2452]

Randy, if you swing in either Port Orchard or Bremerton or Gig Harbor, give us a call. Dinner is on us this time around. 253-857-4756.

[beyond kelp]

Sorry Mikey, I meant docking- Langley is a bit tight compared to Kston, unless you are 30 ft plus and you can tie to the gravy floats. Ben Reams, the old harbormaster, used to ask me to thread the needle and go into the spots in the back just for laughs. Tight squeeze but doable before the cocktail hour. Both spots are pleasant locations to park the "Mobile Motel Room" for some Rest and Relaxation.

Randy,

It sounds like you want to sling the boat, rather than put the trailer in the water. If so, in Everett , talk to Bayside Marine in the North Marina area.

Follow SS' instructions to get to Marine View Drive. Go one or two streets past the entrance to the Everett boat launch and go into the north marina complex. Bayside is by the Travel-Lift area. I don't think the marina's travel lift will take a boat off a trailer but I know Bayside's private one will.

Another alternative is to put the boat in the water at Dagmar's but here you'll have to do it on a ramp. Dagmars is safe and they'll probably let you spend the night in their parking lot. For Dagmars, follow SS' directions onto Marine View Drive. After a mile or two, there will be a sign that says, "Marysville." Turn left here. It will take you north, on a bridge over the Snohomish River. After the bridge, take the first left, first left again, right at the T, and right into Dagmar's. After you turn into Dagmar's, the office will be about 1/8 of a mile on the right, just past the ramps.

Raul

[SomeSailor]

Boating777 brought his 3055 up from Lake Meade and launched on the travelift there at the marina. They even had an area for trailer storage, but if you just take it down to the ramp and pay the $5 launch fee, it's much cheaper for storage. :)


Laconner is an easy short trip and has lots to see, as does Coupeville and Langley. They make a GREAT pesto pizza at the hillside pizza place and on a sunny day the view from the tables outside is spectacular. Nice thing is it's only abot 7 miles across from Everett. Parking for your boat would be no problem and the walk up the hill is about a block. Neat little town.

[bradvo]

Randy, I second what SS says about Langley, nice spot and many times a great place to meet folks. After reading your first post about the Glock and having read Seapuppys post about his gun hopefully the two of you do not bump boats . Could be a noisy evening. :lol:
The Poulsbo run would also be fun, many shops and great restaraunts.
If your the gambling type while in Poulsbo a shuttle can be called to pick you guys up for a trip to the Casino.
Brad

Mike, that's good to know. I was told that the marina's travelift would not sling boats off trailers. If they do, that provides two choices: the marina's and Bayside Marine's.

Raul

[3788sam]

Well it looks like we'll be passing each other again on Hwy 2.
If you make it down to the ramp before they close-why not head the Everett guess dock and spend the night on the water?
Even if you launch in the dark its a easy trip to the guess docks. Few restaurants/bars and or Susi right there. Showers and bathrooms close by and you can just shove off Sat. morning.

[SomeSailor]

Mike, that's good to know. I was told that the marina's travelift would not sling boats off trailers. If they do, that provides two choices: the marina's and Bayside Marine's.

Here's the: 2005 Port of Everett Rate Chart (http://www.portofeverett.com/pdf/Service%20Fee.pdf)

Even if they don't Bayside is just next door. I'd guess their rates are about the same. Ramp is a LOT cheaper (and they have fresh water to washdown) :)

[Randygh]

Raul--Thanks for the info about Bayside Marine. I just called and spoke to Dave. Nice guy. We'll sling in Saturday morning. $30.00 round trip. Very reasonable. I won't put my trailer in salt water and it's easier to sling in/out than use a ramp. Guess I'm getting lazy as I mature. :D
I'll take Mike's advice and stay in the launch area parking lot Friday night.

My office manager, who just happens to be my boat's admiral, says we won't be taking a full week off work, so we'll spend 2 nights at Port Townsend and 2 nights at Poulsbo or Port Orchard. Short 5 day trip, coming back home Wed night. Bummer :cry:

[SomeSailor]

What time do you think you'll be in the area Randy? Would be nice to stop by and say "Hi". You guys slipped out of Friday Harbor before I had a chance to talk much. Thought you were heading out for a day cruise and when you hadn't returned everyone said "Oh yeah... he left.." :)

For $30 launch, thats a pretty sweet deal. Make sure you bring a fishin' rod as the Silvers will be pretty heavy about then.

[Go Aweigh2452]

Randy, our offer for dinner stands at either Port Orchard or Poulsbo...

[Randygh]

Mike--I hope to be in Everett 2100-2130 hrs. I want to leave EAT by 1800 and make the trip in 3 hrs.

Doug--I made reservations today for Mon and Tues nights at Poulsbo marina. We'll give you a call to get together for dinner.

[kirkster5]

Randy:

As a member of the Port Orchard Marine Advisory Council let me extend an invitation to enjoy our Marina. It is First class with great facilities and easy access to the downtown area with plenty of restaurants(Bars to Linens) and Antique shops. If you are a golfer check out our Surf and Turf program which provides discount rates on golf and Morage with transportation to Trophy lake golf and casting, McCormick woods and Gold Mt. courses. Enough with the promotional crap come see us and give me a visit on C-Dock (36' Inflate DC MY "JADA") I'll be the one trying to finish off all of my spring projects before winter arrives.

Kirk Kala mar

P.S. does anyone know if they are planning on re-opening the crabbing this year in area 10??

[Randygh]

Kirk--Thanks for the invite. Next cruise to mid-sound region we'll be sure to stop at Port Orchard. We don't play cow pasture pool, but we'll certainly enjoy the shopping and eating. :D

[Randygh]

We got back today from a 5 day mini cruise from Everett to Pt. Townsend for 2 nights then Poulsbo for 2 nights. We stayed Friday overnight in the parking lot of the Everett boat launch and slung in at Bayside Marine Sat AM. Good guys at Bayside. We had great weather and smooth water until the trip from Poulsbo to Everett today. Alittle sloppy. I didn' use my radar but practiced with it all the way from Everett to PT.

Poulsbo is a neat little town with numerous small shops and great bakeries. Poulsbo marina isn't expensive, $15.00/night including power for 26' boat. Clean showers. Nice people, great docks. We had a delightful dinner last night with Doug and Leah. Great food. Thanks Doug and Leah!!!

Back to work tomorrow. :D

[beyond kelp]

Where was the great food for the record?

[Go Aweigh2452]

For the record... Bayside Broiler is next to the Marina and on the upper deck overlooking Liberty Bay. Great for dinner...Has upper outside deck and inside is dark but warm wood interior... They have great steaks and the salmon is great too. A good choice is the stuffed King salmon glazed with an extremely light crust that makes the outside crisp and inside tender. Prices are about what you'd expect at a very nice place ($$-$$$).

For lunch or inexpensive dinner... I HIGHLY suggest JJ's (also across the parking lot of the marina). Excellent fish and chips and good micro brews on tap. Prices are very resonable ($). Nice warm sour dough bread with meals... ummmmm!

This is the original JJ's that has a second place at the Port Orchard Marina. The one at Poulsbo is better in my opinion.

Fro breakfast, Poulsbo has 3 bakeries on Main street. The best (in my opinion) is the middle one (also biggest). Don't recall the name but I think Randy will attest to the breads and rolls and Norwegian style sweets.

(The Italian place next to JJ's is also good as well as the Hawaiian place on the other side of JJ's)... Yes, genuine Hawaiian...

[SomeSailor]

Doug, as much as you like food, it's amazing you don't weigh 400 pounds :D

There's a Hawaii cafe here in Everett. It's so funny since they're all from Ewa Beach and when you ask them where they're from they are so shocked to hear you know about the little place.

Nothin' like some portagee sausage and eggs or the spam and rice or huli-huli chicken for lunch... :D