Know Your Stuff
P RTS OF CALL
Why should a small cabin be my first stop in Edmonds, you ask? Not only is the Ganahl-Hanley Cabin a faithfully preserved historic building that gives the curious a taste of pioneer life, but it also houses the Visitor Information Center. This volunteer-staffed source of local info is a great first stop for the new visitor straight off the boat. You can get the latest on what festivals or events are happening, as well as learn more about the local sightseeing mainstays. Visiting this charming historic log cabin may just be the quintessential Edmonds welcome and really sets the mood. The cabin is open weekdays from 0900 hours to 1600 hours, and Saturdays from 1000 hours to 1400 hours. It’s located in the middle of downtown at 120 5th Ave. N., Edmonds, WA 98020. You can reach them by phone at 425-776-6711.
Explore Downtown
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By Norris Comer
dmonds, Washington is a city with deep roots. Founded in 1889 by logger George Brackett after his canoe was buffeted ashore by winds, Edmonds is the oldest incorporated city in Snohomish County and is as tied to the sea today as it was in the days of yore. While technically considered a northern suburb of Seattle, life feels different here. There’s no real rush in Edmonds, which is one half Seattle and the other half Puget Sound small town. In many ways, you get the best of both worlds. The service yard and marina of the Port of Edmonds are on par with anything in Seattle proper, but the charming and walkable downtown and the saturation of local artisans are decidedly from the other side of the family tree. Carefree public art is ubiquitous and even found under the waves at the Edmonds Underwater Park. Here you’ll find your local gems and big city stores side by side. Maybe they can live in harmony after all, and Edmonds is a great place to stock up and prepare for a push north or south. The often cheaper cost of things in Edmonds can also be a draw. As far as marinas in Edmonds are concerned, the only show in town is the centrally positioned Port of Edmonds. While the Port of Edmonds may be the only option, you’d be hard pressed to find a better marina or service arrangement in Puget Sound. With nearly 1,000 wet covered slips, uncovered wet slips, and dry storage spaces, a public launch, Travelift with boatyard (complete with the increasingly rare “do it yourself” option), and a fuel dock with ethanol-free gas and diesel, you’re set if you can get there. The approach is also very simple geographically and is wide open to the west/northwest. The marina extends 500 feet westward into Puget Sound and is dredged to a depth of minus 13 feet. There’s only one large entrance right in the center of the breakwater and it has your name on it. Keep an eye on the east-west running Edmonds-Kingston ferry route, for the terminal is just north from the marina. If running at night, make sure those nav lights are shining bright.
82 NORTHWEST YACHTING // NOVEMBER 2016
Every lovable Puget Sound community needs an adorable downtown to be complete, and Edmonds is no exception. It’s easy to eat up an afternoon or two (or three) simply browsing the many art galleries, like Semantics, Gallery North, and ARTspot Edmonds, to see what the local creatives are cooking up. Edmonds loves its public art, and outdoor murals and public art installations are around just about every corner. The 700-seat Edmonds Center for the Arts features orchestral performances, ballet, and theater if you want in on high culture. You can also catch the latest talkie at the independently owned Edmonds Theater, a single-screen establishment with classic balcony seating.
A World of Art The Cascadia Art Museum premiered in September, 2015 as part of the growing international interest in American regional art. Paintings, prints, photography, and sculpture created exclusively by Pacific Northwestassociated artists are featured, and the mid-19th and 20th centuries are the focus. The museum boasts a series of five dynamic galleries. The Gateway Gallery changes yearly and the remaining four change quarterly. Special events, like the Mid-Century Madness Gala last August, and upcoming exhibits, like “Northwest Social Realism and the American Scene: 1930 – 1950,” give you a taste of what happens inside. The free event Art Walk Edmonds is hosted every third Thursday of the month, 1700 hours to 2000 hours. Scratch, a local distillery, is right next door as well. If you’re interested, check out the website at cascadiaartmuseum.org or give them a call at 425-3364809 for more information on what’s going on. Hours are Wednesday through Sunday, 1100 hours to 1800 hours. Ticket prices are $10 for adults, $7 for seniors and youth, and free for children under four. The museum is located at 190 Sunset Ave. #E, Edmonds, WA 98020.
Hit the Beaches Logger and founder of Edmonds George Brackett never could have imagined that his small claim in the Washington forest after a blustery canoe ride would become what it is today. You can visit the site of his landfall at Brackett’s Landing North and Brackett’s Landing South parks, two of the four waterfront parks in town. Brackett’s Landing South has some beach and a lawn to spread a beach towel on, and a walking trail with views across the Sound is a natural way to spend some of the afternoon. The parks also serve as a good launch point if you’re a windsurfer or paddler. For the divers among us, the iconic Edmonds Underwater Park is located just off Brackett’s Landing North. The 27acre underwater park features a series of artificial reefs with developed underwater trails for divers to see it all. A map of the installations for this popular park is available at edmondswa.gov. Both parks sandwich the ferry terminal and are right by the railroad tracks.