Chapter 1 - South Puget Sound

The Southern Portion of Puget Sound offers a variety of boating adventures. You just have to figure out your style! Are you drawn to urban attractions, services and amenities of the larger sized cities? Then set a course for Thea Foss Waterway at the center of Tacoma's museums, entertainment, and fine dining establishments - not to mention great marinas like Dock Street Marina.  There's even the Foss Waterway Seaport, a unique maritime museum that offers moorage! Tacoma's popular Point Defiance Park on Commencement Bay includes the only combined zoo and aquarium in the Northwest, as well as Point Defiance Marina and Boathouse.  Kayak and SUP rentals are available at the Foss Harbor Marina which also offers convenient access to public transport and downtown Tacoma. If you trailer your boat, you'll appreciate their 8-lane launch - the largest such facility in the South Sound. Just a half a mile south of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, the Narrows Marina is a great "full-service" stop - fuel up your boat and yourself at the onsite restaurant and craft brewery.  Or cruise on down to Olympia, Washington State’s Capitol City.  From Swantown Marina it’s an easy walk to downtown Olympia, the Olympia Farmers Market, restaurants and shopping. From the market, hop the free Dash Shuttle and visit the Capitol Campus.  Perhaps you’d rather take in the small town charm, one-of-a-kind shops, eateries, and friendly taverns in historic ports of call like Gig Harbor. You'll find a friendly welcome at local marinas like Arabella's Landing and Gig Harbor Marina & Boatyard.   Is “off the beaten path” more to your liking? Marine State Parks like Jarrell’s Cove might be the answer. How about trying a new sport? Rent a kayak or stand up paddleboard from Fair Harbor Marina and enjoy Case Inlet. Whatever your cruising style, the South Sound is ready and waiting!

Fair Harbor Marina Des Moines Marina Dock Street Marina Swantown Marina Narrows Marina Tides Tavern Foss Waterway Seaport Point Defiance Marina Foss Harbor Marina

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Now in its 46th year, Northwest Boat Travel is a unique cruising guide containing twenty geographically arranged chapters presenting descriptions and useful information about the ports-of-call, anchorages, bays, inlets, waterways, marine parks, marina and resort facilities, fuel docks, services, and things to see and do along coasts and islands of Washington, British Columbia, and Southeast Alaska.