It’s a glorious time to get outside! From whale watching to squid jigging, crabbing, salmon fishing, boating, sand volleyball, bird watching, beach walking, pickle ball, and tennis — whew! — there are too many ways to get your body moving and breathe in some fresh air. 

Much needed!

Edmonds' outdoor sports courts include tennis/pickleball and basketball courts, Pétanque, and Sand Volleyball. Yost Pool opens in the summer, depending on pandemic restrictions. Kids can't get enough of the spray park at City Park. And don't forget the five miles of Salish Sea shoreline in Edmonds, at least two miles of shoreline is accessible for dipping your toes in the water and walking the beach. (If you go far, consult a tide schedule, so you don't get stranded!)

Then, of course, there is the Salish Sea itself, that body of water that connects us from Olympia to the San Juans and beyond to our Canadian neighbors. When was the last time you heard the whoosh from a surfacing whale, while drifting in your boat?

The Edmonds Marsh, a rare remaining urban salt water estuary, is a great place to go bird watching, as are the salt and fresh water environments, wooded parks, wetlands, fields, and ravines. Nearly 200 species are counted here every year, and many birders flock to the Puget Sound Bird Fest, held every September in Edmonds. Edmonds is stop #1 on the Cascades Loop of “The Great Washington State Birding Trail” map, recently developed by Audubon Washington.

It’s time to book a ride on the Puget Sound Express. The third-generation, family-owned whale watching business is taking all the appropriate measures to limit the spread of COVID-19, and they hope you’ll join them again to go searching for those exhilarating orcas and gray whales. Make your reservation today for the next whale watching excursion, and set sail from Edmonds Marina.

The Edmonds Marina is also open for business. Just take a stroll among the boats moored there, or become a boat owner without the hassle and join Freedom Boat Club to take a boat out of the Edmonds Marina just about anytime you want. The marina is back in business, as well, with guest moorage, travelift, and fuel dock in operation. Visit here for details on their COVID-19 operations.