Edmonds beachwalker; image by Austin Adkinson |
EDMONDS, Washington – Passengers on the Edmonds-Kingston ferry may not realize they are going right over a popular park as they glide between the two Washington towns. On both sides of the Edmonds ferry landing, they may notice an attractive shoreline with walking trails, benches and a bit of public art, but under the surface of Puget Sound is the watery portion of Brackett’s Landing Park, which 25,000 scuba divers visit every year. It is the most popular of Washington’s 10 underwater parks. If you encounter divers as they emerge, they will tell you about 2.5 miles trails through artificial reef structures that attract sea life ranging from hefty lingcod, flounder and sole to four species of crabs, two species of octopus, starfish and anemones.
Edmonds-Kingston ferry; image by Tom Adkinson. |
The ferry itself is a vital transportation link that carries 4.2 million passengers a year and is the second busiest route in the Washington ferry system. One class of ferry can carry 188 vehicles and 2,000 passengers, while a bigger class can carry 2,500 passengers and 202 vehicles. Trips take about 30 minutes. The Edmonds side has a particularly vibrant business district at the ferry landing, with numerous small-town businesses and a variety of restaurants. Among the restaurants are the upscale Salt and Iron and the delightfully named Very Taki Tiki Bar and Grill.
Trip-planning resources: VisitEdmonds.com and ExperienceWA.com
(Travel writer Tom Adkinson’s new book, 100 Things To Do in Nashville Before You Die, is available at CornersOfTheCountry.com.)