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Such a blast! The UW Waterfront Activities Center is the best place to canoe and kayak in the Seattle around. We visited the UW Waterfront Activities Center on a clear day and it was the perfect way to spend time in the outdoors on the water. Located at the University of Washington, there's a parking lot, making it easy and accessible to get to. On a nice day there was a line, which went by fast. For non-UW students or faculty it was only $12 for an hour rental, which is the cheapest in the area. We rented a canoe, which included life vests for my boyfriend and me, and more importantly, our dog was able to come with us! Since we visited on a really nice day, everyone was out on the water, so there were definitely a lot of big waves from the boats. However, the canoe was easy to use and it was a great workout. We wore our swimsuits under our clothes, which I recommend because you'll definitely get wet. We saw a lot of people bring coolers with them in their canoe, so good to know for next time. Great, fun activity with views of the arboretum. Lowest price for renting a canoe or kayak, dog-friendly and accessible to get to!
You still have to pay for parking per hour once you get to the Husky stadium lot. Upstairs area with glass doors that open up to Lake Washington. You can see people canoeing and paddle boarding here. There is a projector screen, tv screens and a basic kitchen. Indoor and outdoor seating area. The chairs were a bit dirty for the outside area. Otherwise, it is a fantastic view and very spacious. Nice party venue.
Canoeing through Union Bay and the UW Arboretum was surreal considering that it was lily pad season and they were all in bloom! Little did we know that in August, Union Bay and especially, the UW Arboretum is covered in blooming lily pads all around and to get up close and personal with them, all ya gotta do is rent a boat of some sort to paddle on over. UW Waterfront made this option available by providing, canoes, kayaks, and row boats to rent, and all for a very great price! We decided to get the canoe for $12/hr (and a locker for $2) and spent about 2 hours exploring the area and enjoying the waterways around. The waters were calm, weather was amazing, and views were spectacular. As I mentioned before, this place had lily pads blanketing the lake, especially once you entered the arboretum and the best part was that you could even paddle through them since there were some paved "lanes" to let you pass. Though the lily pads were the main attraction, there were many animals - geese, ducks, turtles, and more - to see as we went through the different parts of the arboretum and they were quite sociable, often following us as we traveled. Shade is available, especially while you paddle under the highways and trees, but I'd definitely recommend sunscreen and a hat to bring along for full coverage. Though this was a little excursion away from the city, getting there was especially easy since it was only a 5 minute walk from the UW campus, and 3 minutes away from the Lightrail station. I strongly recommend renting from WAC and checking this spot out before the lily pads are no longer blooming or the weather gets too chilly! And so if you're there now in Seattle looking for something out of the ordinary to do, go on over to the UW Waterfront Center for an adventure to remember!
Fun water rentals for a great price! Lots of cute birds and ducks! My boyfriend and I went here to canoe during our trip to Seattle. The staff was very helpful and there were many boats available for rent that day. They provide you with life jackets as well if you need them. The route is not specified and they just tell you generally which areas are good to go to and which areas you are not allowed to go to. We spent about 1.5 hours on the water just going around to different areas on the lake. There were areas that were covered with lily pads, but for the most part there were clear areas between the lilies to boat through. There were not a ton of boats on the water, which made it seem nice, private, and romantic. But, the best part of the trip was the ducks that were in the water! There were many of them and a few of them would follow our boat around as well. We wish we had brought bread or crackers to feed them, but we didn't know! When we came back to the rental area, the staff was nice and charged us for an hour and a half even though we were out for a little over that. It was $18 for the two of us and a great way to spend an afternoon in Seattle! Would highly recommend this and would go next time with some snacks for the ducks :)
This is a great place to rent a boat if you have several people and/or a dog! I've rented from them a handful of times and haven't ever had any issues. I've been out on the lake here on two of their different boat rental options with two dogs once and one dog another time. As long as you have a dog that isn't bothered by being on a boat this is a great way to spend a morning or afternoon out on the water. The cost to rent boats here is less than anywhere else on any of the lakes around town, though the organization of the check in process is a bit muddled on busy sunny weekends. You have to take a ticket with a number on it and wait in the long line. If you get to the window before your ticket number is up you have to go to the end of the line and wait all over again. They would be wise to revise this system of order but it won't deter anyone from coming back i'm sure.
Amazing access to UW's gorgeous waterfront! Just $7/hr. per canoe ($11 non-student), super reasonable. A few highlights while on the water: floating lily gardens, a pair of charming bridges, ducklings, pretty docks...and a stunning view of Husky stadium from Lake Washington. Interested yet? For those who are in for a challenge, row to the 520 ;) See you out on the lake!
$10/hr for a canoe rental (public peeps) - UM YES! Discounted for students, staff, etc. Visiting Seattle and found this thing to do. Thought it'd be cool! Great way to experience Seattle in a different light. PARKING: Drive up to the lot right next to the Activities Center, right behind the Husky Stadium. There are signs pointing you in the right direction. Parked in the lot and bought parking on the weekdays. Price wasn't that bad on the weekdays. Free on Sundays and after 12pm on Saturdays. CANOE RENTAL: Walk right up to the window like you know what you're doing! They will ask for an license to hold and waivers to be signed. They'll hand you life jackets (you don't have to wear them if you know how to swim, or you could wear them anyways), a map of where you can/can't go, and paddles. "Point!" There are the canoes, have at it! It was neat to paddle around the bay. Paddling through the lily pads is harder than it looks. Also paddling against the current is such a workout! Fun nonetheless! Good luck steering that canoe ;) Would def recommend for anyone visiting Seattle if you're looking for something to do! Usually no line on the weekdays, I believe. We came on a Wednesday and walked right up - plenty of canoes available. Sounds like it can get packed on the weekends.
A Seattle must! Had so much fun renting a canoe and going out on Union Bay. $12 and hour, includes life vests. They have sunscreen for purchase if you forget to bring your own. If you're visiting, the train lets off right at the waterfront in front of the stadium. A couple minutes of walking if that and you'll be in your canoe and on your way. Don't miss out on such a fun experience.
We went here during Memorial Day weekend and truly enjoyed it with our friends. Parking was easy although thinking it might be a bit more difficult when there is a game going. The rates were affordable and it is nice that they offer rowboats which easily fit a family of four. It was very busy but the staff was friendly at the counter and the dock. The water had some sweet wildlife and fortunately was much easier to row on vs the times we have been out rowing near the ship canal or in Mercer Slough.
For 7.50 and hour (cash or check only) you can get one of two things. One: The perfect date. You're in a boat together, rowing through the marsh as a Heron carefully eyes you, and ducks scurry out of your path. Landing the boat in the Arboretum and setting down for a carefully prepared gourmet picnic and a nice bottle of red wine, Love is in the air... "every sight and every sound" Or... Two: You can do it Julea and Scott style! Boxes of cheap red wine and a whole different trip entirely! It usually begins with a long battle of wills about who's rowing the wrong way, and slowly brakes down into a mad rush to get across the waterway before we're slammed into by an oncoming Yacht... sometimes we mock them... sometimes we don't... that's the art of it. It's time to behave anyway we damn well please! All of a sudden we're ten year olds exploring every nook and cranny, watching giant rodents called Nutria, or seeing if we can sneak up on the odd crane, (we can't). Julea tromping off into the brush to get Cattails and ending up attacked by biting ants as I insist that ants don't bite in Washington State! It's all stupid fun! ... and I was wrong about the ants. I'm usually prattling on about how we should sneak one of those small outboard motors on-board so we can cruise to Kirkland for lunch! Or how next time, we should talk twenty people into coming and buy some Touch Football flags for the boats to play capture the flag with! We could all dress like Pirates, bring super soakers and crash our boats into each other like madmen! Julea just laughs, and the beat goes on.... They're closed November, December and January... so in a way, this is like our Yacht taunts... except it's directed at you.
I love Seattle! Where I'm from, it's not so easy doing water activities like canoeing. Why? I'd have to drive far to get to a lake, and the rental fees would make me wish I didn't drive so far to spend so much $. We did get lost several times trying to get here, with the help of a GPS. I think you're better off following the posted signs. You have to drive through this campus to get to the rental site. Go on a Saturday afternoon/evening so you don't have to pay for parking. What attracted me to UW Waterfront was the price. I'm from CA, so to spend $10 for an hour of canoeing was well worth it. My friends and I actually wanted to rent the row boat, so we can fit all 4 of us in one boat, but since all 5 of UW's row boats were taken, and who knows how long they would be gone, we took the canoe instead. The lake was spacious and beautiful. What was scary though were the bigger boats that went by because the water got rough to the point where I thought we would tip over. We did see a big boat with a bunch of girls partying go by, and lets just say, one of the girls was almost nude. Think.... Lil' Kim and the pasties! The lake is so big, we stayed away from traffic and floated around the calm waters with other boats that were missing an engine. Did I mention this was my first time canoeing?
It's $10/hr on the weekday and $12/hr on the weekend for the general public. Price includes paddle and life vest. I rented a canoe and there were three people total. I would suggest making sure everything u bring on the canoe, you are ok with getting wet if your canoe happens to tip over. I stayed away from the motor boat traffic going through the Montlake cut so my canoe didn't tip over. There is still plenty of lily pads and ducks to see on the left side of the bay. The weather was in the upper 80's on the day that I went so I would suggest wearing sunscreen, bring a hat, water bottle, and some sunglasses. There hours right now are 10:00am- 7:30pm on weekday and 9:00am - 7:30pm on the weekend. I went around 2:00pm on a weekday and the line was really long but moved pretty fast. Would suggest going really early in the morning or around 6:30-7 pm.
Was a fun activity to enjoy with the kids. Parking is free after (noon) on The weekends. Rentals are first come first serve; So expect a wait. General Public $10. Hr -$12. Hr They provide life jackets but you can bring your own & they check to see if it's USG approved.
One of lesser known Kayaking spot but I really like place. Once you kayak like 15 minutes down you can see Mount Rainier. It's not happening as SLU but it's a good mix of wildlife, open water. I think I like this spot the most because the water here is relatively calmer so if you get motion sickness and still want to do Kayaking - this is one place you should consider. read more
2 years ago
A very nice area to explore while on the lake. Also a very nice place to simply relax. These random events I'm slowly finding about has made this area a gem on the water. read more
7 years ago
Such a blast! The UW Waterfront Activities Center is the best place to canoe and kayak in the Seattle around. We visited the UW Waterfront Activities Center on a clear day and it was the perfect way to spend time in the outdoors on the water. Located at the University of Washington, there's a parking lot, making it easy and accessible to get to. On a nice day there was a line, which went by fast. For non-UW students or faculty it was only $12 for an hour rental, which is the cheapest in the area. We rented a canoe, which included life vests for my boyfriend and me, and more importantly, our dog was able to come with us! Since we visited on a really nice day, everyone was out on the water, so there were definitely a lot of big waves from the boats. However, the canoe was easy to use and it was a great workout. We wore our swimsuits under our clothes, which I recommend because you'll definitely get wet. We saw a lot of people bring coolers with them in their canoe, so good to know for next time. Great, fun activity with views of the arboretum. Lowest price for renting a canoe or kayak, dog-friendly and accessible to get to! read more
3 years ago
You still have to pay for parking per hour once you get to the Husky stadium lot. Upstairs area with glass doors that open up to Lake Washington. You can see people canoeing and paddle boarding here. There is a projector screen, tv screens and a basic kitchen. Indoor and outdoor seating area. The chairs were a bit dirty for the outside area. Otherwise, it is a fantastic view and very spacious. Nice party venue. read more
Canoeing through Union Bay and the UW Arboretum was surreal considering that it was lily pad season and they were all in bloom! Little did we know that in August, Union Bay and especially, the UW Arboretum is covered in blooming lily pads all around and to get up close and personal with them, all ya gotta do is rent a boat of some sort to paddle on over. UW Waterfront made this option available by providing, canoes, kayaks, and row boats to rent, and all for a very great price! We decided to get the canoe for $12/hr (and a locker for $2) and spent about 2 hours exploring the area and enjoying the waterways around. The waters were calm, weather was amazing, and views were spectacular. As I mentioned before, this place had lily pads blanketing the lake, especially once you entered the arboretum and the best part was that you could even paddle through them since there were some paved "lanes" to let you pass. Though the lily pads were the main attraction, there were many animals - geese, ducks, turtles, and more - to see as we went through the different parts of the arboretum and they were quite sociable, often following us as we traveled. Shade is available, especially while you paddle under the highways and trees, but I'd definitely recommend sunscreen and a hat to bring along for full coverage. Though this was a little excursion away from the city, getting there was especially easy since it was only a 5 minute walk from the UW campus, and 3 minutes away from the Lightrail station. I strongly recommend renting from WAC and checking this spot out before the lily pads are no longer blooming or the weather gets too chilly! And so if you're there now in Seattle looking for something out of the ordinary to do, go on over to the UW Waterfront Center for an adventure to remember! read more
7 years ago
Fun water rentals for a great price! Lots of cute birds and ducks! My boyfriend and I went here to canoe during our trip to Seattle. The staff was very helpful and there were many boats available for rent that day. They provide you with life jackets as well if you need them. The route is not specified and they just tell you generally which areas are good to go to and which areas you are not allowed to go to. We spent about 1.5 hours on the water just going around to different areas on the lake. There were areas that were covered with lily pads, but for the most part there were clear areas between the lilies to boat through. There were not a ton of boats on the water, which made it seem nice, private, and romantic. But, the best part of the trip was the ducks that were in the water! There were many of them and a few of them would follow our boat around as well. We wish we had brought bread or crackers to feed them, but we didn't know! When we came back to the rental area, the staff was nice and charged us for an hour and a half even though we were out for a little over that. It was $18 for the two of us and a great way to spend an afternoon in Seattle! Would highly recommend this and would go next time with some snacks for the ducks :) read more
This is a great place to rent a boat if you have several people and/or a dog! I've rented from them a handful of times and haven't ever had any issues. I've been out on the lake here on two of their different boat rental options with two dogs once and one dog another time. As long as you have a dog that isn't bothered by being on a boat this is a great way to spend a morning or afternoon out on the water. The cost to rent boats here is less than anywhere else on any of the lakes around town, though the organization of the check in process is a bit muddled on busy sunny weekends. You have to take a ticket with a number on it and wait in the long line. If you get to the window before your ticket number is up you have to go to the end of the line and wait all over again. They would be wise to revise this system of order but it won't deter anyone from coming back i'm sure. read more
12 years ago
Amazing access to UW's gorgeous waterfront! Just $7/hr. per canoe ($11 non-student), super reasonable. A few highlights while on the water: floating lily gardens, a pair of charming bridges, ducklings, pretty docks...and a stunning view of Husky stadium from Lake Washington. Interested yet? For those who are in for a challenge, row to the 520 ;) See you out on the lake! read more
$10/hr for a canoe rental (public peeps) - UM YES! Discounted for students, staff, etc. Visiting Seattle and found this thing to do. Thought it'd be cool! Great way to experience Seattle in a different light. PARKING: Drive up to the lot right next to the Activities Center, right behind the Husky Stadium. There are signs pointing you in the right direction. Parked in the lot and bought parking on the weekdays. Price wasn't that bad on the weekdays. Free on Sundays and after 12pm on Saturdays. CANOE RENTAL: Walk right up to the window like you know what you're doing! They will ask for an license to hold and waivers to be signed. They'll hand you life jackets (you don't have to wear them if you know how to swim, or you could wear them anyways), a map of where you can/can't go, and paddles. "Point!" There are the canoes, have at it! It was neat to paddle around the bay. Paddling through the lily pads is harder than it looks. Also paddling against the current is such a workout! Fun nonetheless! Good luck steering that canoe ;) Would def recommend for anyone visiting Seattle if you're looking for something to do! Usually no line on the weekdays, I believe. We came on a Wednesday and walked right up - plenty of canoes available. Sounds like it can get packed on the weekends. read more
9 years ago
A Seattle must! Had so much fun renting a canoe and going out on Union Bay. $12 and hour, includes life vests. They have sunscreen for purchase if you forget to bring your own. If you're visiting, the train lets off right at the waterfront in front of the stadium. A couple minutes of walking if that and you'll be in your canoe and on your way. Don't miss out on such a fun experience. read more
We went here during Memorial Day weekend and truly enjoyed it with our friends. Parking was easy although thinking it might be a bit more difficult when there is a game going. The rates were affordable and it is nice that they offer rowboats which easily fit a family of four. It was very busy but the staff was friendly at the counter and the dock. The water had some sweet wildlife and fortunately was much easier to row on vs the times we have been out rowing near the ship canal or in Mercer Slough. read more
For 7.50 and hour (cash or check only) you can get one of two things. One: The perfect date. You're in a boat together, rowing through the marsh as a Heron carefully eyes you, and ducks scurry out of your path. Landing the boat in the Arboretum and setting down for a carefully prepared gourmet picnic and a nice bottle of red wine, Love is in the air... "every sight and every sound" Or... Two: You can do it Julea and Scott style! Boxes of cheap red wine and a whole different trip entirely! It usually begins with a long battle of wills about who's rowing the wrong way, and slowly brakes down into a mad rush to get across the waterway before we're slammed into by an oncoming Yacht... sometimes we mock them... sometimes we don't... that's the art of it. It's time to behave anyway we damn well please! All of a sudden we're ten year olds exploring every nook and cranny, watching giant rodents called Nutria, or seeing if we can sneak up on the odd crane, (we can't). Julea tromping off into the brush to get Cattails and ending up attacked by biting ants as I insist that ants don't bite in Washington State! It's all stupid fun! ... and I was wrong about the ants. I'm usually prattling on about how we should sneak one of those small outboard motors on-board so we can cruise to Kirkland for lunch! Or how next time, we should talk twenty people into coming and buy some Touch Football flags for the boats to play capture the flag with! We could all dress like Pirates, bring super soakers and crash our boats into each other like madmen! Julea just laughs, and the beat goes on.... They're closed November, December and January... so in a way, this is like our Yacht taunts... except it's directed at you. read more
17 years ago
I love Seattle! Where I'm from, it's not so easy doing water activities like canoeing. Why? I'd have to drive far to get to a lake, and the rental fees would make me wish I didn't drive so far to spend so much $. We did get lost several times trying to get here, with the help of a GPS. I think you're better off following the posted signs. You have to drive through this campus to get to the rental site. Go on a Saturday afternoon/evening so you don't have to pay for parking. What attracted me to UW Waterfront was the price. I'm from CA, so to spend $10 for an hour of canoeing was well worth it. My friends and I actually wanted to rent the row boat, so we can fit all 4 of us in one boat, but since all 5 of UW's row boats were taken, and who knows how long they would be gone, we took the canoe instead. The lake was spacious and beautiful. What was scary though were the bigger boats that went by because the water got rough to the point where I thought we would tip over. We did see a big boat with a bunch of girls partying go by, and lets just say, one of the girls was almost nude. Think.... Lil' Kim and the pasties! The lake is so big, we stayed away from traffic and floated around the calm waters with other boats that were missing an engine. Did I mention this was my first time canoeing? read more
11 years ago
It's $10/hr on the weekday and $12/hr on the weekend for the general public. Price includes paddle and life vest. I rented a canoe and there were three people total. I would suggest making sure everything u bring on the canoe, you are ok with getting wet if your canoe happens to tip over. I stayed away from the motor boat traffic going through the Montlake cut so my canoe didn't tip over. There is still plenty of lily pads and ducks to see on the left side of the bay. The weather was in the upper 80's on the day that I went so I would suggest wearing sunscreen, bring a hat, water bottle, and some sunglasses. There hours right now are 10:00am- 7:30pm on weekday and 9:00am - 7:30pm on the weekend. I went around 2:00pm on a weekday and the line was really long but moved pretty fast. Would suggest going really early in the morning or around 6:30-7 pm. read more
15 years ago
11 years ago
Was a fun activity to enjoy with the kids. Parking is free after (noon) on The weekends. Rentals are first come first serve; So expect a wait. General Public $10. Hr -$12. Hr They provide life jackets but you can bring your own & they check to see if it's USG approved. read more
I really like the UW WAC. Not only is it a great place to rent canoes but it also is an okay venue to host student events. A couple of my student organizations had a dinner there. It is super cheap to rent out and the view and location make for a really great event. Parking is somewhat of a hassle. In terms of canoeing, I know of no other place in Seattle with great, cheap canoe rentals and going around gives you a completely different perspective of the arboretum area. The boats are scary as you're making the first cross toward the arboretum so be prepared to book it. read more
I heard about this place from my hair dresser and I thought we should check it out while my mom was in town. I think this will move to the top of the list for things to do with visitors!! It is really easy to find, parking is easy (and free on Sundays and after 12pm on Saturday), and lots of fun! You get a canoe rental, life jackets and paddles for $12 an hour. We were gone an hour and a half and they charged us for the half hour. Sweet! We paddled over to the arboretum and got out and walked around a bit. Lots of nature but also Urban! We might try sailing with the yacht club next time! read more
Great rentals...fair prices....beautiful location. You would never think that beneath and off the 520 bridge, you would find such beautiful scenery and wildlife. Go!!! Avoid lines on sunny days by going super early or later. Otherwise, you can wait for an hour plus. read more
5 STARS! and no, not just because I am a retired WAC attendant aka WACCO. Even though I worked here for two years I can vouch for the idyllic appeal of canoeing at the good ole' WAC. Cheapest entertainment you can find in Seattle. $4/hr/boat for students, $5.50 faculty staff, $7 for alumni assc. card holders, $7.50 for the general public. That's cheaper than a movie kids AND you get to play outside. Parking is not free except for Saturday after noon and all day Sunday. Mon-Fri and Sat before 12 it is park at your own risk, meaning, get a permit or else you'll be fined $30 or more. NO KAYAKS, CANOES and ROWBOATS ONLY! If you want a kayak, I suggest Agua Verde but don't come asking for one here. No motorboats, jetski's or sailboats for that matter either. Rent a canoe if you want an easy paddle, faster ride and element of danger of tipping by passing boats (which is rare). Rent a rowboat if you want a romantic workout through the lilypads but only if you know what a rowboat is (flat on one end, not like a canoe). The arboretum is beautiful in late Spring and all summer, come on a sunny day, bring a picnic, and expect to see sunning turtles, herons, voracious ducks galore, drunken frat boys tipping boats left and right (losing their ipods and cell phones while they're at it) and if you're lucky (or not so lucky) the legendary Mad Whacker or other au naturel characters that frequent Foster Island... read more
8 years ago
My girlfriend and I had so much fun canoeing! We explored the waterfront, canoed under 2 small bridges, and saw beautiful views of nature and water lilies. Unfortunately, we aren't UW students but they do offer a discount to UW students. However, the price is still very affordable! Highly recommend if you're interested in going out in the water in Seattle! read more
13 years ago
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10 years ago
Wanting to do a little outdoor adventure during out weekend, we opted to rent a canoe and explore the lakeside. This place was perfect. We went on a Sunday around 3pm and had no problem getting a canoe. They checked our id's, gave us some paddles, and we were out on the water in about 5 minutes. Unfortunately due to the construction of the new bridge, both close entrances to the arboretum were closed. So we turned left out of the dock and headed along the shore that way. The scenery was absolutely beautiful and very peaceful. We got to see a bunch of baby ducklings swimming around. PLUS! Once I noticed there were ripe blackberries along the shoreline I started carefully maneuvering my canoe to get to all of them that I could get my hands on. read more
11 years ago
If you know someone who attends UW, make sure you tell them to bring you here! We went canoeing and it was so much fun! And, it's very cheap. The worker said "$5" and I thought it was $5 each person, but NO, it was $5 for the canoe (there were three of us, therefore, it was only about $1.67 for each person). The worker provided a map of where we could go and can't go. You do get to see some wild life, and the serene scenery made the entire ride very calming. read more
13 years ago
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More info about UW Waterfront Activities Center
3710 Montlake Blvd NE
Seattle, WA 98195
University District
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(206) 543-9433
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http://www.washington.edu/ima/waterfront/
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