Shilshole Bay Marina — Attraction in Seattle

What’s perfect about this place? Let me count the ways. First it’s next to the water and all the napping boats as they wait for their next great adventure out into the Sound. Seeing all the boats and their curious names always stirs the imagination. Second, this venue connects directly to Golden Gardens. If you decide you need to get some beach. Don’t forget the reservoir at the far end of Golden Gardens, which is rich with wild fowl. If you have kids or elderly parents, it’s lovely to watch how much they enjoy the activity of the birds. But I digress.

Third, if you’re walking with children or elderly parents, one of the best things is to pass a little library abut the sailing center (which has public restrooms, in case you need them). Then you turn the corner and come to a larger than statue of Leif Erikson, and thousands of names of immigrants on the years they came over, so certainly families in the area contract their lineage back to a particular ancestor. Very cool.

Fourth, I like it most probably because I feels safe when walking the boardwalk. The boardwalks are well maintained so they make for even walking when you have injuries and other considerations for elderly parents to be able to walk on even reliable ground.

Fifth at sunset the view of the Olympics is breathtaking. Sometimes the wild waterfall will land or takeoff and if you look carefully on a summers day down into the clear waters under the dock, you’ll see schools of fish.

Sixth this time of year, the sea lions are hanging out far off by the rocks, and you can hear them barking happily. There’s never a bad time to walk here — whether it’s in the fog, the rain, catching the evening blush of a sunset, a hot summer’s day (you can get ice cream at that little place with the funky giant air balloon waving hello between the parking lot that joins Golden Gardens and the marina). I suppose if you’re very lucky you’ll get to take a strolling under the summer stars with your favorite Tom. I just haven’t been...

After placing a application three years ago for live aboard. When at the time I was told that my placement on the wait list was 60th down from the top with a 3year duration till availability. At two years of waiting I requested a update and was told I was in 12th position. This update at the time of taking moorage without live aboard. Till today when I am told, by the same person that I requested a update from of the status of application for live aboard, that I am 138th with a 10year wait till acceptance from date of application. When asked why there are discrepancies when the information provided to me. I was told that there is a misunderstanding. When no misunderstanding had occured when updates were requested. This was double checked. When demanding in writing the information provided to me today. I was told this would not be done. Also that my placement on the waitlist could now change for several reasons. Such as other persons with a earlier application date changing preferences to include live aboard or those applications that were incorrectly filed and needed to be remedied. I was told that regardless of those who are on the waitlist ahead me preference's for slip size that they would still come first even if no slip was available. That there is no way to quickly differentiate applications based on slip size requested. To more accurately determine waitlist position.

A number of people have made assertions about the practices of obtaining live aboard status through this marina office. I find that sense taking moorage and being assured at that time this would not effect my application for live aboard; to be untrue. As up until this occurrence I was told one thing. Other live aboard's at this marina. Claim that the turnover rate for live aboards is much higher then what the marina claims as maybe one or...

It was ok at first, but lately with only one laundry room available and the constant kids running up and down the docks, not a place id raise my kids, people live in VW vans piss around there cars, drug deals in the parking lots, cars getting broken into. People living in old bread box vans, U cant even do your laundry because most people are rude don't even live here and use the laundry room and use all the washers, naked kids sitting on the folding table. I've had enough they need more laundry rooms and make them for live aboard customers only with a special fob that allows for only two washers at a time. because people have no respect at all down here. Then there's the parking so many cars and not enough parking because they put all the live aboard on the same dock. So u can imagine how the bathroom looks. i would say look elsewhere unless u have to live in Ballard. People give there extra fob to family. the security sucks all in all it was ok when i first moved here but now its over run with people that have no respect. They will bump into your car then drive off no note or nothing. Or the trucks that take up two spots or there hitch is still attached so u cant even park behind them because u know they will just back into u getting out of there spots. Not enough storage room and u can only get a storage container if your privileged enough aka rich. They keep raising the prices and don't offer any more amenity's just more stress. They spend all are money on landscape that looked fine but they waste the money instead of adding more. If i could id give zero stars i only live here because i cant...