Shilshole Bay Marina is part of Seattle’s north-end Maritime District of Ballard. Flanked by the Hiram Chittenden Locks, Fishermen’s Terminal and the Maritime industrial complex, Ballard is full of rich maritime history and Nordic roots that have shaped Ballard’s culture for more than a century.
Your Ballard adventure will discover only the recent history of this land as Shilshole, and Salmon Bays are the ancestral home to the Sheel-shol-ashbsh people. Shilshole is said to have meant ‘threading a needle’ due to the narrow entry way into Salmon Bay. Long before European immigrants arrived, the Shilshole and Salish people lived and thrived in harmony with the sea and its bounty. More about the early connections with the Sheel-shol-ashbsh people is available in this Burke Museum story.
Today’s community continues a connection to the sea with deep maritime roots you can discover from your guest slip at Shilshole Bay Marina
Your Weekend of Maritime History and Fun
First, arrive at Shilshole Bay Marina for check-in at 1 p.m. After you’ve settled into your slip there is a fuel dock and convenient store right on Shilshole’s guest dock if you need to reup on any supplies, snacks, or refreshments.
This afternoon, start your Ballard history experience by walking up to the Marina’s Leif Erikson Plaza, anchored by August Wermer’s iconic Leif Erikson statue.
The statue was commissioned by the Leif Erikson International Foundation, an organization dedicated to the study, education, and promotion of Scandinavian culture and building connections between Scandinavians and Americans, for the 1962 World’s Fair and after the fair moved to its permanent home at the marina.
If you visit the plaza, be careful, for here there be dragons! Surrounding the statue are 14 upright basalt stones, each with plaques with the names of over 2,300 Scandinavian immigrants and their hometowns.
The stones are also emblazoned with Viking runic-like carvings created by master caver, Jay Haavik. Carved into the stones are symbolic designs, fighting horses, bronze age boat motifs, biting snakes and not one but two dragons! His inspiration for the designs on the stones comes from his study of Scandinavian runestones carved between the 10th and 12th centuries.
If you’re in the mood for a walk and old-fashioned burger and fries, stroll down to Little Coney and along Golden Garden’s Park for wide open mountain and water views. Or take a short Uber/Lyft up the hill to Restaurante Picolinos, serving classic Italian fare. You might even choose their polished, pocket-sized neighborhood bar for classic cocktails and hearty small plates.
A Day of Culture, History, and Good Food!
On Saturday morning, start your day of right by fueling up at JIBE Espresso bar near the marina office. Next, catch a quick 7-minute Uber/Lyft ride toward the Ballard retail district for a stop at the internationally recognized National Nordic Museum.
The Nordic Museum and cultural center is a place where people are welcomed to be inspired by the traditions, art, and spirit of the Nordic peoples and is open on Saturday from 10 a.m. 5 p.m. We recommend purchasing your tickets online ahead of your visit.
If you find yourself in the Viking sprit, this might be a good time to walk a short distance into Old Town Ballard for Skal Beer Hall’s interpretation of what a Viking mead hall would be like today with a selection of local and Nordic craft beer and a full kitchen inspired by the idea of a Viking butcher shop.
If you if you’d prefer to stay on the move, your next stop is over the Ballard Bridge to Fishermen’s Terminal, home to the North Pacific Fishing Fleet. The fishing boats you see, and others docked at the Port of Seattle contribute about 44% of all gross earnings from the North Pacific Fisheries.
You may get lucky and see a Deadliest Catch fishing vessel in Port. You will also see the Fishermen’s Memorial honoring the lives and loved ones lost at sea. Feel free to walk the docks where fishers may be preparing for their next departure.
The Ballard Food Scene and Your Evening Meal
You will have noticed by now that you have great food options during your Ballard adventure from the many pubs and cafes with outdoor seating along Ballard Ave, to restaurants overlooking the ship canal, to local vendors at the Sunday Farmer’s Market. You can find all you need to know at the Visit Ballard web site or by browsing from your smart phone.
We recommend you don’t leave town before a stop at Ray’s Boathouse & Café located near your slip at Shilshole Bay Marina. Here you can finish your evening by dining at one of the most amazing waterfront views around.
Take it from Ray’s: “Everything we do is tied to the water… From our location atop Puget Sound to our humble beginnings as a bait shop and boat rental, to our direct relationships with fishers who provide us the freshest locally caught fish, plump oysters, and tender crab legs.”
You can choose between the restaurant upstairs or the more casual café downstairs. Both have great views and beautifully prepared dishes. Or just find a seat in the bar and watch the boats go by. You may even hear the sealions who love to hang out near the docks. Ray’s is a Ballard favorite and truly a dining experience like no other!
Don’t Forget Shilshole Bay’s Hidden History Gem
Before you leave Shilshole Bay, find a way to visit the famous Hiram M. Chittenden Ballard Locks. As a boater you have heard of the Locks or even been through them yourself. But have you seen them landside?
Once there, you’ll be tempted to head straight for the locks. But before you do, don’t miss the Visitor Center where you’ll find a small but mighty museum including a mini-theater and numerous displays about the lock's heroic history. Back outside, see and learn about salmon in the newly renovated Fish Ladder Education Center, watch large ships and small boats up close passing through the locks, or stroll through the beautiful botanical gardens.
We can’t wait to welcome you to Shilshole Bay Marina and the historic Maritime District of Ballard.
Call to reserve moorage at Shilshole Bay Marina (206) 787-3006
