REVIEW OF OUR SEATTLE LOCKS, GASWORKS PARK & HOUSEBOATS TOUR--ONE OF THE SEATTLE UNDER THE RADAR…read moreTOURS
My wife and I visited Seattle for the first time in April 2022. As part of our visit, we booked a tour titled "The Locks, Gasworks Park and Houseboats Tour." The tour is one of "The Seattle Under the Radar Tours" and was billed as a chance to see Seattle "through the eyes of a local."
For us, that "local" was Tour Guide Lynn Curtis, who (if I remember correctly) said she had lived in Seattle for 11 years. Our tour with Lynn took place on the afternoon of Friday, April 22nd. It was a beautiful, sunny day and perfect for a tour of Seattle. Twenty-four hours before the tour, Lynn emailed us to confirm we knew where to meet, what to expect on the day of the tour and to answer any pre-tour questions. That was much appreciated and helped assure us we we're working with a professional.
The tour rendezvous point was in front of a bakery within walking distance from the Seattle waterfront and marketplace district where we parked our car. Lynn arrived a little early and after introducing herself, invited us to accompany her into the bakery for a complimentary pastry and beverage. Afterwards, Lynn directed us to her personal vehicle--a spacious and clean SUV parked just outside the bakery. To our pleasant surprise, we learned we were her only guests for this tour.
Our more than three-hour private tour began with a drive to the Seattle Ballard Locks to see and learn how the locks work to permit the movement of small and large boats. The locks are located at the west end of Salmon Bay, in Seattle Washington's Lake Washington Ship Canal, between the neighborhoods of Ballard to the north and Magnolia to the south. On the drive to the locks, Lynn pointed out various points of interest and once there, shared her wealth of knowledge about the locks. A highlight of this stop was seeing the salmon swimming up the salmon ladders and watching the boats enter and leave the locks.
Next, it was on to "Gas Works Park." The park sits on the former Seattle Gas Light Company gasification plant. What makes the park so appealing and a must see for tourists like us, is its location: the north shore of Lake Union at the south end of Seattle's Wallingford neighborhood. It offers breathtaking views of Lake Union and the Seattle skyline. A highlight of this part of the tour, was getting there. On the drive over, Lynn once again shared interesting facts and stories about the neighborhoods we passed through, as only a local could do.
Another highlight of the tour was a surprise stop at Ivar's Salmon House restaurant. The restaurant specializes in American and Seafood cuisine and is located on the north shore of Lake Union. Lynn said she personally recommends it to her tour guests who love American and Seafood cuisine, but we learned the food is not the only reason it's a tour stop: its stunning Northwest native art, décor and historical photographs, including a full cedar replica of a Northwest Native American longhouse, are the other reasons. We were so impressed with Ivar's, that we came back that evening for dinner. With the exception of a challenge finding nearby parking, it was a wonderful experience.
Our final destination was a visit to a secluded Seattle neighborhood where many residents live in beautiful multilevel houseboats--some valued in excess of $1 million--with their own private docks. This neighborhood is not on your typical Seattle tourist's itinerary and would be difficult to find and traverse without a local like Lynn.
If you're looking for a Seattle tour that's well worth your money, this is it. We highly recommend it and highly recommend Lynn. She was great. Thank you Lynn!
Tim Roberts
Vella Black-Roberts
Hayward, California
