"MAGIC OF FERRIES" a Washington State Travel Page by mtncorg

The ferries of the Puget Sound are one of the favorite things for tourists to take in when visiting western Washington. A great use of a day would be to hop on one of the Bremerton-bound ferries out of the downtown Seattle ferry terminal, not far from Pike Street Market, and head over to the naval city of Bremerton for the day.

Those with cars can choose from several routes of the Washington State Ferry System throughout the Puget Sound area, from Tacoma, Vashon Island (2 routes), Bremerton, Bainbridge Island, Whidbey Island (2 routes) and the ever-popular routes in, through and around the San Juan Islands out of Anacortes.

It is always important to remember the ferries are not mainly for the tourists - except partly on the weekends - but serve as a main transportation and commuter artery for the area. Thousands use the ferries each day. Web-cameras can be accessed to give one an idea of the ferry wait time that lies ahead on the long road home.

Commuters aside, on a nice day, without your own boat, the ferries provide a marvelous way with which to get out on the water and enjoy the maritime magic of the Puget Sound. Watch the mechanics of the loading and unloading of these large ferries - a production science in of itself. Observe the excitement of tourists as they appear in exuberant contrast to the jaded commuter for whom the ride is but a commuter event.

On a clear day, the magic is strong. To the west, the jagged peaks of the Olympics tower. Above the eastern shores, the Cascades rise, punctuated by Mt Baker in the north and the Giant, Mt Rainier, to the south.

Sailboats of various makes and ages drift past as the ferry powers it path across the Sound. Large ocean-going vessels can be seen heading north and south, up and down the Sound. Look close, and a whole host of navigation aids can be discovered. Close again, and you might witness sea life, as well. There always seems to be the odd sea gull or ten that seem to be coming along for the journey to keep you company.

The longest runs are the ones in the San Juans and the Seattle-Bremerton connection. For the tourist, the rides seem never to be long enough.

Pictures for this travellogue come from a crossing from Edmonds (a town just north of Seattle) to Kingston (a small town on the northern Kitsap Peninsula). This route is a favored one for travelers going from Seattle towards the northern Olympic Peninsula. To say that pictures don?t do the journey justice is a vast understatement.