South sound recommendations for short visit

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williwaw

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I have a few days off next week so was thinking of pulling Williwaw up to Olympia. We've never boated in the south sound so we're wondering where one might go to get a good feel for the area.

My current idea is to drive up and launch at Swantown on Wednesday then head out. We'd return to the dock on Saturday for an early departure to Portland on Sunday.

We're very comfortable anchoring (though I don't have a stern tie) and enjoy nature but also like exploring towns from a nice marina.

Any ideas for three nights?
 
We have been to dock street marina in Tacoma twice and have enjoyed it very much. It is a good modern well-maintained marina and is immediately adjacent to the glass museum, the state history museum (which is much cooler than your memories of history museums :lol: ). There is a free trolley, good restaurants and using the trolley, you can get to the outstanding LeMay car museum. One of the better places we've been.
 
Patti and Barry are right on for a good time on the Foss. I would also stop at the Foss Waterway Seaport and go to the Maritime Museum. You can't miss it!! You will see the huge glass wall in the end of it as you enter the waterway. Very impressive, enjoy!
 
Lots of choices, for sure. By "South Sound" do you mean south of the Tacoma Narrows? Or are there places nearer to, but still south of say Seattle that you might be interested in? Seattle is an easy half day from Swantown, but I'll list a few places mostly south of the Narrows. (NB: lots of skinny water, and some rips and whirls at certain tides, but nothing your boat won't easily handle.)

Going more or less clockwise from Swantown:
1. Cruise by Squaxin, Hope, and Steamboat Islands, and then up Hammersley Inlet to Shelton and Oakland Bay. (Hope Island is a state park with mooring buoys. If you wanted to eat in Shelton, it's a 20 minute walk from the small marina.) Coming out of Hammersley, turn north up Pickering Passage along the west side of Harstine Island and spend the night at Jarrell Cove state park.

2. Continue north around the tip of Harstine, then wander around Case Inlet. Check out McMicken State Park - another small island with buoys. Then cruise the Nisqually Delta (watch you depth sounder) and up the inside of Ketron Island to Steilacoom (the public dock is kind of hidden north and behind the ferry terminal) for lunch at the Bair Bistro - have a milkshake! Or go on through the Tacoma Narrows to Gig Harbor for a hamburger at the Tides Tavern, or go around Point Defiance to Tacoma as suggested by others. (If you're into golf, be sure to check out the Chambers Bay Golf Course on the mainland shore north of Steilacoom - site for the 2015 US Open.)

3. On the way back to Swantown, do some kind of figure 8 route around Fox, McNeil and Anderson Islands (stay well off the south side of McNeil, it has a prison facility).

Mid-week is good. Some of these places can get crowded. Check out the Washington State Marine Parks on line.http://www.parks.wa.gov/652/Southern-Moorage-Sites
 
This is good stuff - thanks a lot! I think we'll head up to Jarrell Cove for the first night then to Gig Harbor. After that we'll probably just see where the tide takes us. Maybe Tacoma but maybe we'll head down toward that milkshake at the Bair Bistro :)
 
Great suggestions. I'll add the Narrows Marina as a possible stopping location. There's a great brewery there with a nice view of the Narrows Bridge. Boathouse 19 is a good restaurant, too.

Also, if you do stop in Tacoma at the city dock, walk up to Harmon's for a good beer and bite to eat.
 
Swantown Marina in Olympia is nice and you can leave the truck/trailer there. It's a nice trip to Jarrell Cove on Harstine Isle. Nice float and bouys there. Or Eagle I just north of Anderson I.

Boris
 
williwaw":bls2qvjx said:
This is good stuff - thanks a lot! I think we'll head up to Jarrell Cove for the first night then to Gig Harbor. After that we'll probably just see where the tide takes us. Maybe Tacoma but maybe we'll head down toward that milkshake at the Bair Bistro :)
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That is a perfect Itinerary. if you stay at the city dock (free for 48hrs I believe) in Gig Harbor, or at Arabellas, you are right there in the down town area with little shops, ice cream, and tides tavern (which has a dock).

from Gig Harbor its only a couple miles east to Foss Waterway. you can stay at Dock Street Marina (as mentioned) which is a very nice marina with a great shower setup. at Dock Street, I recommend visiting the Swiss Pub (my favorite late night Friday/Saturday hang out) but there is also the Glass Museum, Spaghetti Factory, a nice sushi place across the street, Coffee, etc.

The Jarrel Cove campground is about a mile, maybe a tad more, to the saturday morning farmers market (10am). if you stay in that Harstene area, boat up to the City of Allyn. use their city dock and walk into their little restaurant/pub/ice cream shop as well. They have an orange chocolate/pepper ice cream that is amazingly delicious and spicy.

All of your choices are good. But visiting Gig Harbor and Dock Street are both ideal if you want to stop in at small shops.

From Dock Street you could almost go up to Bainbridge and Eagle Harbor. there is a nice pub there if you can get in on the city dock again, but I think the trip is around 60 miles round trip. ? give or take. I may have taken a long route.

Swantown Marina is with walking distance to the Olympia farmers market as well, we have stayed the night there and done that. Gig Harbor has a farmers market right off the city dock on weekends (we were just there Sunday). Narrows Marina is newly renovated, new ownership, new restaurant, but aside from their restaurant I dont believe its really in walking distance to anywhere of interest.


Jarrel Cove = rustic with showers
Gig Harbor = cute/modern small town type shops/ice cream hopping boat community
Dock Street = Tacoma waterfront downtown area
Swantown = farmers market
Allyn = very small town, restaurant/ice cream.

have fun!
 
The South South Sound has many cruising options. Many have been listed. Much depends on what you are looking for. Jarrel cove State Park is the best sure thing if you want a dock with a short walk to remodeled showers and bathroom. Also they have a covered eating area, bbq and fire pit BYO wood.
If you want a quiet protected cove with morning sun perhaps 20 mins from the amenities at the State Park, I reluctantly recommend my favorite spot, located between Harstine Island and Squaxin Island. Coming from Budd inlet past Boston Harbor, follow the Squaxin side of the channel and look for the first bay on your left (about 1/4 mile). No current, no wind, minimal light from a few houses across the channel. King fishers, herons, and eagles work the shore as you enjoy the stars and listen to your feathered friends. Anchor well into the bay in depth 30-40 feet with mud. Passing current creates a week swing on the hook.

Budd bay at the Oly end (clockwise from Swantown) offers several restaurants with adjacent docks. These include Anthony's Hearthfire Grill at the point, Anthony's Home Port just past the Port's ship loading dock, Bud Bay, Dockside Bestro and Gardner's. All are reliable. In addition, one could dock off Anthony's and stay at the Double Tree Hotel across the street. This public Dock is also just across the Anthony's parking lot from the Farmers Market.

For an interesting, less traveled cruise find the mouth of Hamersly inlet and follow it to Shelton. Drift in the bay as you eat lunch and then run back. You will need a good navigation GPS to track where the deeper water is and may want to choose a mid to high tide for peace of mind. At least one tugboat and barge make this run every day, so be on the lookout as they use a lot of channel to make the turns.

Also, if you want to see a bunch of seals and birds, take a cruise up Henderson Inlet to the Woodard Bay conservation area, near the Southern end on the West shore. It is possible to use old lines and tie up between two old pilings for the night, but anchoring is not advisable. If you row ashore, their are trails and the raised causeway is home to a few thousand bats which fill the sky at dusk. This calm inlet is often home to 500 or more Surf Scotters as well as Loons, herons and the usual mix of marine birds.
 
Capital Sea":3dbb0763 said:
The South South Sound has many cruising options. Many have been listed. Much depends on what you are looking for. Jarrel cove State Park is the best sure thing if you want a dock with a short walk to remodeled showers and bathroom. Also they have a covered eating area, bbq and fire pit BYO wood.
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the rangers will sell you wood now :)
I think its like $6/bundle though, so it goes fast.
 
Capital Sea, Giving away all of my favorites! It's amazing how deserted this area can be.
I'm at Jarrell Cove right now, 2 boats at the docks, and only one camp site
Full. Lots of wood left!
For me the gems of the area are the non developed lands, McNeil Island,
The Nisqually Delta, Squaxin, Hope, Eagle and McMicken Islands.

Hope to see you two on the water sometime soon.

Robbi
 
Capital Sea said:
If you want a quiet protected cove with morning sun perhaps 20 mins from the amenities at the State Park, I reluctantly recommend my favorite spot, located between Harstine Island and Squaxin Island. Coming from Budd inlet past Boston Harbor, follow the Squaxin side of the channel and look for the first bay on your left (about 1/4 mile). No current, no wind, minimal light from a few houses across the channel. King fishers, herons, and eagles work the shore as you enjoy the stars and listen to your feathered friends. Anchor well into the bay in depth 30-40 feet with mud. Passing current creates a week swing on the hook.
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This is also our favorite spot. We lived at Boston Harbor for about 5 years before moving up north. We spent alot of time hanging out in the calm waters east of Squaxin island. Theres not much to do there, and beaching on the island is frowned upon as its a tribal reservation. Its the calmest water you'll find in the area and very beautiful to hang out for a meal, or spend the night.
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