Seattle Ferryboat Ride

by Joe Thompson

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Ferry Tacoma's name etched on the glass of the dining area. July 2010. Photo by Joe Thompson.

In July, 2010 we took our first trip to Seattle. I wanted to go in order to see the Museum of Flight (excellent), to ride a ferry, to ride the monorail (short but interesting) and to see where Seattle's cable cars used to run. I will write about the Museum of Flight in my blog, the cable cars on my cable car site, and the monorail on my Park Trains and Tourist Trains site. Seattle also has a wonderful acquarium. The Hiram M Chittendon Locks and Fish Ladder are also worth a visit. My family had a great time at the Rosalie Whyel Museum of Doll Art in Bellevue.

We didn't have much time for the ferries, so we chose the short trip to Bainbridge Island and back. We left our hotel at First Avenue and Madison Street and walked one block to Marion Street. There is a pedestrian walkway that carries people above the dip down to Western Avenue, under the Alaskan Way Viaduct, and across Alaskan Way to the upper level of the ferry terminal. The Starbucks at the First Avenue end of the Terminal Walk does great business.

We purchased our tickets from a machine and sat down to wait for the ferry to arrive at Colman Dock. I had a chat with a lady about the issues Seattlites are having with the ORCA card, which are similar to what we are having with the Clipper card in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Standing on the hurricane deck of ferry Tacoma at Colman Dock. The white Smith Tower stands in the background. July 2010. Photo by Joe Thompson.

Ferry Tacoma, a member of the Jumbo Mark II class, arrived and vehicles and pedestrians came ashore. We scanned our tickets through the gates and walked down the ramp to the boat. My wife had never been on an auto ferry before, and she was impressed with the efficiency with which the crew loaded and unloaded the vehicles.

Vehicles roll aboard ferry Tacoma at Colman Dock. July 2010. Photo by Joe Thompson.

Among the vehicles was a large one, a FedEx truck. July 2010. Photo by Joe Thompson.

A video clip of vehicles rolling aboard, including a truck pulling a good-sized boat on a trailer. (Adobe Flash is required. Some browsers will require two clicks to start the video.)

We went straight to the hurricane deck. The family went down to the cabin deck soon after because it was windy, cold, and foggy. I ran around taking pictures.

Seattle Fire Department Station 5 and fireboat Leschi. Behind the fireboat is Ivar's Acres of Clams, which was a fun place to eat and watch ferries. Behind the station is the Alaskan Way Viaduct, which will be replaced by a tunnel one day. July 2010. Photo by Joe Thompson.

Looking down towards the bow after Tacoma sailed. July 2010. Photo by Joe Thompson.

A video clip of Seattle's skyline from the windy deck. (Adobe Flash is required. Some browsers will require two clicks to start the video.)

A video clip looking down at Tacoma's bow. (Adobe Flash is required. Some browsers will require two clicks to start the video.)

Looking back toward the Seattle skyline. The Smith Tower is towards the left. SafeCo Field is towards the right. July 2010. Photo by Joe Thompson.

It wasn't long before I was the only person the hurricane deck.

Another ferry is dimly visible through the fog. July 2010. Photo by Joe Thompson.

Looking down towards the stern. July 2010. Photo by Joe Thompson.

A video clip looking down at Tacoma's stern. (Adobe Flash is required. Some browsers will require two clicks to start the video.)

Looking at the main deck. July 2010. Photo by Joe Thompson.

Another look down at the main deck. July 2010. Photo by Joe Thompson.

A look down at the main deck, towards the vehicle lanes. July 2010. Photo by Joe Thompson.

Tacoma approaches Bainbridge Island. July 2010. Photo by Joe Thompson.

Another view as Tacoma approaches Bainbridge Island. July 2010. Photo by Joe Thompson.

Tacoma approaches the Bainbridge Island landing. July 2010. Photo by Joe Thompson.

The Bainbridge Island ferry landing. July 2010. Photo by Joe Thompson.

And then my battery died. My fresh batteries were back at the hotel.

At Bainbridge Island, we got off the boat, discussed what we wanted to do, and decided to take the boat back. I spent most of the ride in the cabin with the family. We bought cookies and sodas and sat in the comfortable chairs to watch the fog.

Super-class ferry Kaleetan sails away from Seattle. July 2010. Photo by Joe Thompson.

I went back on deck when we approached Seattle and managed to coax a few more photos out of the camera.

Kaleetan sails on. July 2010. Photo by Joe Thompson.

We saw the Smith Tower a little more clearly on the return trip. July 2010. Photo by Joe Thompson.

Approaching Colman Dock. July 2010. Photo by Joe Thompson.

Vehicles roll off of Tacoma at the Colman Dock. July 2010. Photo by Joe Thompson.

In the afternoon, we went to the Acquarium. The sun had come out by then. While the family looked around the bookstore, I spotted a ferry passing by.

Kaleetan seen from the Acquarium. July 2010. Photo by Joe Thompson.

We also had a nice ride on the Seattle Monorail. Here is one of the two trains, sitting at the Seattle Center Station. See more photos and videos on my Park Trains and Tourist Trains page. July 2010. Photo by Joe Thompson.

The famous sign at Pike Place Market. See more images from our Seattle visit on my Cable Car site. July 2010. Photo by Joe Thompson.

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