Where to begin? There are so many ways to enjoy yourself on a beach in Edmonds, that it’s hard to know where to begin! Do you take a walk (there’s a nearly three-mile paved walkway with perfect water views 99.99% of the time)? Or what about dropping a crab pot, a squid jig, or casting a lure off the 944-foot fishing pier? Or cool your jets, dig your toes in the sand, and chillax with a good book. Maybe get a little carried away and build a sand castle worthy of the annual competition.
Get ready for fabulous views of the Olympics, sandy beaches, shorebirds, and seals, and your next best chance to clear your head. Let’s go from south to north and give you an idea of the fabulous ways you can spend a day on the beach in Edmonds.
Off Leash Area
Edmonds peeps love their dogs. So they banded together to create the spacious off-leash park on the beach and they volunteer to keep it clean. Because dogs love the beach, just like we do. So bring the pooch and let them kick up some sand. It comes with a beach front, water station, and agility and treed areas. Do us all a favor, though, and clean up after your best friend.
Marina Beach Park
Views. Views. Views. Take in the marina, the Olympics, the dogs playing nearby, and relax. This is a great place to bring the kids, as well, because it includes a playground. There is also a volleyball sand court and net. Have fun!
Edmonds Marina
This 650-slip, full-service marina is a great way to arrive in Edmonds. It’s the jumping-off point for half-day whale-watching tours with Puget Sound Express, and it’s a great place to join the Freedom Boat Club and have access to any number of boats. Best of all, when you pull back to the dock, you don’t have to do any of the cleaning or maintenance — it’s all done for you! There are also restaurants here, including Arnie’s and Anthony’s Homeport. Maybe it’s a good day to treat yourself to lunch.
Edmonds Public Fishing Pier
At 944 feet long, this L-shaped pier is very popular with fishermen. In the fall and winter, they jig for squid who are attracted to the pier lights. Much of the year, there is crabbing and salmon fishing. (Always check WDFW regs.)
Olympic Beach
At the foot of the pier is Olympic Beach. Here, you’ll find the the Visitor Station, open weekends, noon-5 p.m., from Memorial Day through Labor Day weekend. The station is staffed by Ranger-Naturalists and Volunteer Beach Docents. There is also a touch tank, stocked full of local marine life! The marine sanctuary begins here and continues north of the ferry. There are pathways along the waterfront, picnic tables, a viewing scope, and a boat launch to let your kayak into the water.
Brackett's Landing South
From the visitor station to Brackett’s Landing, public art pieces start popping up all over the place: a family watching seals, sea stars climbing the wall, kids playing with a dinghy.
The wide, sandy beach is calling your name to slow down and relax. It’s a fabulous place to find a bench, lean back, and watch the sun set over the Olympics.
Brackett's Landing North
Find the viewing scope at the end of the overlook and take in the view. Awesome, isn’t it?
Watch the ships heading through Puget Sound, the ferry making its way back from Kingston, the kayakers, the shore birds, and even, sometimes, you’ll see whales.
This is also where divers slide into the water to take in all the amazing wild life just below the surface in the Marine Sanctuary and Underwater Park. The park is 27 acres of tide and bottom lands. About half of that includes developed features and trails specifically for divers. This asset draws about 25,000 scuba drivers every year, making it the most popular of 10 underwater parks that make up Washington’s underwater park system.
Haines Wharf Park
This park is small, with a bit of a steep climb to access it from the small parking lot. An old wharf and warehouse built for sport fishing after WWII is inaccessible, but the small pocket park provides beach access to dip your toes in the water, while the kids play on the playground. You won’t be disappointed with the spectacular views of boats, big and small, and the sunsets that are unrivaled in beauty.
We’re not going to set the schedule for you. There are too many ways to enjoy the waterfront. Grab a picnic lunch downtown (The Cheesemonger and Red Twig Café are great choices. But these days, every restaurant has some take-out options.) Head to the beach and enjoy yourself. Days like this shouldn’t have an agenda.
Photo credits:
Banner image aerial and boy jigging for squid by @Discoveringthehighlife (website)
Fisherman by Ellen Hiatt
All others by Janine Harles
