When cruising Puget Sound, getting away from civilization is easy, yet major cities — Olympia, Tacoma, Seattle, Everett, and Bellingham — and their amenities are always close by. Views toward Mt. Rainier, the 14,410-foot snow-capped volcano, dominate many vistas. Islands and peninsulas tend to be tree-covered or pastoral. Calmer waters are found in the south — good for year-round cruising — and the meteorological convergent zone in the north can cause weather and sea conditions to change. Marine parks, museums, many marinas, and cozy anchorages mean you’ll always have something fun to see and do while boating in Puget Sound.
Top Destinations
South Puget Sound
Olympia • Case Inlet • Carr Inlet • Tacoma Narrows
Central Puget Sound
Gig Harbor • Tacoma • Vashon Island • Seattle • Bremerton • Poulsbo • Bainbridge Island
North Puget Sound
Kingston • Admiralty Inlet • Port Ludlow • Port Townsend • Edmonds • Everett • Langley •Saratoga Passage • Coupeville
Skagit Bay to Bellingham Bay
Oak Harbor • La Conner • Deception Pass • Anacortes • Bellingham
Lummi Bay to Point Roberts
Semiahmoo Bay • Blaine • Point Roberts
Plan Out Your Trip
Puget Sound is fully covered in the latest Waggoner Cruising Guide. It provides all you need about marinas, anchorages, passages, and attractions. Plan your day’s route with the guide’s detailed planning maps. Get your copy of the Waggoner Cruising Guide book!
Plus, there’s more to help you plan a great cruise through Puget Sound. Read on…
What was the Mosquito Fleet?
In the days before roads and railways, Puget Sound residents and cargo traveled by waterways and rivers from community to community. The inlets and bays of Puget Sound made for a natural transportation route. From the 1850’s to around 1930, hundreds of steamers moved...
“#MindTheZone” Campaign – Floatplane Zone in Seattle’s Lake Union
Kenmore Air and Harbor Air have resumed service to and from Canada so the floatplane zone on Lake Union will once again be busy with planes arriving and departing along the designated operations area. A vertical line of 5 lighted buoys extending north from the Museum...
4th of July Celebrations 2022 – U.S. 246th Birthday
Towns and communities around the country will be celebrating Independence Day, a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the Declaration of Independence ratified on July 4, 1776 by the Continental Congress, proclaiming independence from Great Britain. The...
Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial
Eagle Harbor is the most visited harbor on Bainbridge Island, home to many nice marinas, a waterfront park and public boat dock, and easy walking access to many shops, restaurants, and museums. Cathleen and I have visited many times, but only recently discovered the...
Lady Washington Comes to Puget Sound
The Tall Ship Lady Washington will be open to the public for tours and evening sails at various locations in Puget Sound during April and May. Step aboard the replica of the historic Lady Washington for a self-guided tour. The ship’s crew will be aboard to answer all...
The Naval Undersea Museum in Keyport, Washington
The United States Naval Undersea Museum is located in Keyport, Washington near the very popular boating destination of Poulsbo. In fact, when you boat to Poulsbo, you pass directly in front of the Port of Keyport Marina that provides a convenient access point to the...
Blake Island Park – Improvement Project – Comment Period
The Washington State Parks Department is developing plans for improvements to the facilities at Blake Island Marine State Park in Puget Sound. A public meeting was held on April 28th to discuss improvement alternatives and collect public comment. The comment period...
Anacortes Boat & Yacht Show Featuring Trawlerfest – May 19-21
The popular annual Anacortes Boat and Yacht spring sale is scheduled for Thursday, May 19 through Saturday, May 21 at beautiful Cap Sante Marina. Come browse hundreds of new and brokerage boats of all sizes and brands. This is a great opportunity to walk the docks,...
What’s Happening at Lakebay Marina?
After the successful purchase of historic Lakebay Marina through the cooperative efforts between DNR (State Department of Natural Resources) and RBAW (Recreational Boating Association of Washington), cleanup activity has begun at Lakebay Marina. The Purchase-Sale...
Spring Boats Afloat Show – New for 2022!
The Northwest Yacht Brokers Association (NYBA) is bringing boaters and those dreaming of boating a new Spring Show scheduled for April 28 through May 1st. It’s another opportunity for folks to buy, sell, and discover all the possibilities that boating has to offer....
Washington State Parks Mooring Buoy Fee Payment
A pilot program for Marine Park mooring buoy fee payment began in 2021 at Jarrell Cove Marine State Park. With this program, boaters my pay the nightly fee by telephone. Each mooring buoy is posted with a phone number and a buoy identification number. Boaters can save...
Swinomish Channel Shoaling Update
Recent transits through the Swinomish Channel show that silting has reduced depths to seven (7) feet MLLW in areas of the channel west of Goat Island. Currents in this section run perpendicular to the channel depositing silt, making this one of the common shoaling...
Everett Marina Fast Becoming a First-Class Destination
Everett Marina is being transformed from the previous image of single-story buildings and sheds to modern restaurants, offices, classy accommodations, and lovely plazas, rapidly becoming a first-class destination. Everett is the largest public marina on the West Coast...
Purchase of Lakebay Marina in Mayo Cove is Official
Boaters have much to celebrate with the successful purchase of the Lakebay Marina property in Mayo Cove on the Key Peninsula. Plans to purchase the 18-acre property were in play for over two years, while logistics were resolved and funds secured. Thanks to the...
Large Lock Closed for Annual Maintenance – Ballard Locks
On November 9th, the large lock is scheduled to be closed to marine traffic from 6 a.m. through November 24 until 4 p.m. for annual maintenance. The small lock will be available to vessels up to 120 feet long and 26 feet wide during the large lock closure period....
