Edmonds isn’t just a cute beach town on the shores of the Salish Sea. It is that, of course, but it’s also full of beach-front characters who give it depth and many, many stories to tell. Here, we’ll tell you about three of them: about the man who makes bubbles, the guy who swims with a whale, and the dude who takes our water’s temperature. 

When you visit, you may see one of them, and you’ll probably want to plan to come back (or stay awhile) if you miss them. They make Edmonds not only one of the best places to explore, but also to witness. 

So, without any further ado, let’s get to know our Edmonds waterfront characters. 

The Bubble Man

If you visit Olympic Beach in Edmonds (the one to the left of the ferry—the navigationally inclined would call that south) near sunset, you might see gigantic, iridescent bubbles floating into the air, the sky and mountains aflame with the setting sun. You’ll hear children shriek with delight as they chase these shimmering orbs, their parents (possibly you among them) watching in wonder. This is the work of Gary Larson, affectionately known as "The Bubble Man."

A born entertainer, Larson spent 35 years as a stand-up comedian, performing under the name Elliot Maxx on cruise ships. He's the only person to win the Seattle International Comedy Competition—twice. He’s shared stages with musical legends like Ray Charles and Tony Bennett.

Retirement wasn't kind to Larson initially. He found himself slipping into depression until he saw someone blowing bubbles at Seattle’s Carkeek Park and decided to try it himself. He's been creating bubble magic near the Edmonds fishing pier ever since. What’s even more impressive? His special soap mixture allows him to create bubbles up to 10-12 feet across.

"I started small, hanging out at the beach, making bubbles with a drinking straw attached to string," Larson told us in an article devoted to him in 2021. "The kids started flocking around. The first time I did it, 20 kids came running down the beach, popping bubbles, and we were having a great time."

While bubbles occupy his evenings, Larson discovered another calling in retirement: creating crossword puzzles for the New York Times and Wall Street Journal.

Larson refuses to put out a tip jar for his performances. "If you like what you do, you'll never work a day in your life," he says. "I can't do that, because then it won't be fun anymore."

Instead, he brings simple, magical joy to visitors and locals alike—no admission fee required.

The Inflatable Orca Guy

If you’re visiting Olympic Beach earlier in the day, you might spot a swimmer gliding through the Puget Sound waters with a surprising companion: a large inflatable orca that appears to be in hot pursuit. This is Lyle Smith, an Edmonds native whose parents moved to town after his father's service in the U.S. Navy many decades ago. 

Smith began his unusual swimming routine in 2023 after being inspired by another regular swimmer at the beach. "I told her that you're my inspiration to try to swim every day," Smith shared.

What makes Smith's dedication particularly impressive is that he continues his swims year-round, undeterred by the Pacific Northwest's chilly winter temperatures. "The water temperature doesn't change much throughout the year, but the air temperature does," he explains. "It's not a problem. I've always been able to handle the cold." Talk about a cold plunge!

His swimming regimen began as a personal commitment to health following multiple joint replacements that had previously limited his mobility. Look for him most mornings near the fishing pier, his inflatable orca friend trailing faithfully behind. But he doesn’t stray far from the waters. When he’s not swimming, you can find Smith playing guitar near the beach.

The Beach Water Temperature-Taker Dude

If you spend any time at the Edmonds waterfront, you'll likely spot a man with long gray hair and a walrus mustache striding purposefully along the beach. Often barefoot and wearing just jean shorts (the kids call them “jorts.” Do the kids still call them “jorts?”). During the summer, he stops at specific locations to dip a thermometer into the water. This is Bill Lindsay, affectionately known to locals as the "Edmonds Beach Water Temperature-Taker Dude."

Since 1994, Lindsay has followed the same daily routine: a 2.5-mile walk along the beach, stopping at exactly 12 spots to measure water temperature. He starts at the jetty near Brackett's Landing and continues along the shoreline, carefully recording each reading in a diary he keeps in his car.

"I work this beach. It's my daily routine. It's like a summer vacation every day," Lindsay explained.

A former Navy officer with a degree in mechanical engineering, Lindsay found—and stoked—his passion for water during summers spent on the Jersey Shore. After moving to the Pacific Northwest in 1973 and working for Boeing for 38 years, he turned his analytical mind to tracking Puget Sound's temperatures.

There's science behind his dedication. "The water temperature varies by several degrees depending on where you are along the beach, and it's different from day to day," he notes. We imagine he and Orca Guy probably chat since their interests inform each other, but we have yet to confirm. 

The patterns Lindsay finds help him predict weather changes and even inform what plants will thrive in his rooftop garden.

But the best part of his routine? The people he meets. "Every time I'm down here, there are people to talk to," Lindsay says. He's achieved local celebrity status and is well-known around town.

Look for Lindsay most weekdays around 3 p.m., and don't be shy about asking for the day's temperature readings—he's always happy to share his knowledge and maybe teach you something new about Edmonds' waters.

BONUS: Fishing Pier Regulars

If you come to Edmonds even semi-regularly, you'll start to see familiar faces at the Edmonds Fishing Pier. This 944-foot structure jutting into Puget Sound has been drawing anglers since 1975, creating its own unique community on the water.

During morning and daylight hours, you'll find dedicated salmon fishermen who know exactly which spots yield the best catch. Many are members of the Puget Sound Anglers Sno-King Chapter, a group that's been raising salmon in net pens off the pier since 2017. Each year, they release thousands of young coho salmon that imprint on the area and return as adults, creating a sustainable fishery right off the pier.

As evening falls in late autumn through winter, the pier transforms when the squidders arrive with their specialized gear. Armed with glow-in-the-dark lures and powerful lights, they create an otherworldly scene as they pull in squid with rhythmic precision. 

Then there are the crabbers, who arrive with their distinctive pot traps baited with chicken, tuna, or other sea bug-loving treats. They'll drop their pots to the sound floor, then wait hours before pulling up a (hopefully) heavy trap filled with Dungeness or Red Rock crabs.

The pier is deliberately accessible to everyone—no boat needed, and open year-round. You'll see elderly fishermen who've been coming for decades, parents teaching children to cast their first line, and tourists trying their luck alongside locals. Maybe you’ll want to add yourself to its regulars, too? 

If you spot—or hang—with any of these waterfront characters, take us along! Tag us in your social media posts from the shores. We’re @exploreedmondswa on Instagram and Facebook.