Boating the Seattle Waterways

Seattle enjoys a stunning setting surrounded by large bodies of water and backed by two snow-capped mountain ranges. Exploring the city by water gives visitors a unique perspective. You’ll pass houseboats and sailboats, view otters and porpoises and sometimes feel as if you’re far from a major city.

You can boat on the city’s Lake Union, surrounded by hilly neighborhoods and with stunning views of houseboats and the skyline. Your options here include kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, sailing and powerboating. At the Center for Wooden Boats, you can rent unique, historic boats. At the Northwest Outdoors Center, more modern watercraft is available.

If you’re looking for a bigger body of water with less traffic and views of Mount Rainier’s volcano, head to Sail Sand Point, where you can rent a variety of boats. If you know how to sail, you can rent a boat here after doing a brief free skills test.

Many other options exist for renting kayaks and stand-up paddleboards around the city. Check out companies like Urban Surf, Green Lake Boat Rentals and Washington Surf Academy for a variety of options and locations.