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Our annual Splash! gala is on Friday, June 2nd. Here's a sneak peek of what we'll be talking about 🔎
Join us to learn more about our animal care and conservation work from the people who are at the heart and soul of our organization—all while enjoying gourmet food & drinks! 🥂
Massive Monkees Day is here! Celebrate 24 years of Seattle hip-hop culture with weekend dance events like the Waterfront Park Jam, Massive Break Challenge youth battle at @seattlecenter, community jam and BBQ at Jefferson Park, and the main event at @NeptuneTheatre. #MMDAY2023 🚀
New research shows that seagulls watch humans eat in order to recognize the tastiest morcels! Fortunately for you, feeding the seagulls is encouraged at Pier 54. Smart seagulls there know that anything from Ivar's is worth the flight:-)
Gulls choose what to eat by watching humans, study suggests
Research on gulls in Brighton found birds can work out which scraps are worth snaffling by watching what humans are eating
www.theguardian.com
WATERFRONT DINING OPTIONS
Seattle Waterfront: Live View
WATERFRONT BRIEFS: May 2023
Spring is here; waterfront restaurants, shops, and attractions are open. Sunday, May 14, is Mother’s Day, so come on down with Mom! Recreational sailing and boating operations are open. Half-day whale watching trips from Seattle’s waterfront are also running this month. Expect to see Alaska-bound cruise ships regularly at Pier 66. Construction is approaching key milestones on several major projects, including the ferry terminal, the new Alaskan Way, and the waterfront promenade.
Waterfront Hours
Commuter Report
Boating Report
Home Team Games
Fishing Report
Whale Sightings
Holidays and School Breaks
Pier 62 Activities
Jobs on the Waterfront
Waterfront Hours
The piers are open and boats are sailing! Start your day on the waterfront with a walk or run. Starbucks opens at 6AM on Pier 55 (don’t miss the new gallery next door).
Spend time exploring, walking, whale watching, shopping, taking pictures, and eating. Catch the last ride of the day on the Seattle Great Wheel at 10PM (11PM on Fridays and Saturdays).
Seattle Aquarium hours are 9:30AM to 6:00PM daily (last entry at 5:00PM). Advance ticket purchase online is convenient – secure your time window and skip the line. For the best deal and unlimited visits year-round ($79), become a Seattle Aquarium member.
Between the start and end of May, Seattle day length will climb to nearly 15.4 hours of daylight per day. Let the good times roll!
Commuter Report
- May is the first full month of cruise ship operations from Pier 66. A record-breaking number of Alaska-bound passengers are expected this year, over 1.4 million!
- Alaskan Way along most of the waterfront has shifted to new pavement. The newest road (Elliott Way) from the Seattle Aquarium northwards is open and creates a direct connection to Belltown. For commuters, this means no more waiting for long cargo trains to pass and it also means adjusting to change. Look at it as an opportunity to practice patience and courtesy:-) Alaskan Way in front of the Seattle Aquarium is closed to vehicle traffic in both directions, except on cruise ship days when there will be one alternating lane.
- The new Lenora Street bridge connection located across from Bell Harbor Marina is open again for pedestrians going between the waterfront and above (Elliott Avenue, Western Avenue, First Avenue, Belltown, Pike Place Market). As of May 1, it’s only the stairs – the elevator reopening will follow shortly (no date yet).
- Construction on Colman ferry dock (pier 52) is approaching completion. The new terminal lobby is open and operational. Expect continued alterations for access and regress to the Bainbridge and Bremerton ferries. May marks the start of peak season fares on WA State ferries. Plan ahead, give yourself time, and be prepared for the possibility of delayed or cancelled sailings.
- Construction of the new Marion Street pedestrian bridge to the ferry terminal is expected to finish and open soon. It will become one of the busiest pedestrian bridges on the west coast.
- The new stairway between Western Avenue and Alaskan Way at Union Street is open and it’s a stunner! There is also a new elevator at this location.
- Use the SR99 tunnel instead of Alaskan Way to get from one end of the city to the other. Expect surface road congestion on Alaskan Way during peak hours.
- Please drive slowly in construction zones!
Boating Report
- Boating operations between Piers 50-70 are OPEN and running at full tilt.
- Argosy on Pier 55 is running 1 hour Harbor Cruises daily and Ballard Locks Cruises most days this month.
- Salish Sea Tours is running harbor tours daily from Pier 57.
- Sailing Seattle and Seattle’s Tall Ship are operating this month, so catch the wind and unwind with them.
- The high speed passenger catamaran, FRS Clipper, runs to Victoria daily starting in April from Pier 69. Book ahead to reach downtown Victoria in 2 hours and 45 minutes. Clipper Navigation also runs Seattle’s only whale watching tours from Seattle (guaranteed sightings) in May
- Is your party arriving by boat to have lunch on the waterfront or to visit the Pike Place Market? Short-term moorage is available at Bell Street Marina located next to Anthony’s Pier 66 in the heart of the city.
- Alaska cruise ships are running this month.
Home Team Games
Seattle professional sports teams playing in town (home games) this month:
- Kraken (hockey) – YES for playoffs!
- Seawolves (rugby) – YES
- Sounders FC (soccer) – YES
- Mariners (baseball) – YES
- OL Reign (soccer) – YES
- Storm (basketball) – YES
- Sea Dragons (football) – NO
- Seahawks (football) – NO
- Orcas (cricket) – NO
- Supersonics (basketball) – NO
Fishing Report
- May is a fantastic month for local anglers. Look for fish in the kelp and around pier pilings when the water is clear.
- This month is a great time to see schools of salmon smolt swimming along Seattle’s waterfront. You may also see occasional adult salmon cruising the shore.
- Recreational fishing for Dungeness crab in Seattle is now closed – it will reopen this summer. If you see someone fishing, then feel free to ask them for a peek in their bucket to see for yourself.
- Public fishing piers are open in Area 10 (Seattle/Bremerton). Although there are no public fishing piers directly on Seattle’s waterfront, anglers can normally find a quiet place to cast a line.
- No fishing license is required for children and youth under 15 years old in Washington state.
- Species you are most likely to see: Salmon, schools of salmon smolt (babies), sea-run cutthroat, steelhead trout, shiner perch, piling perch, sculpin, greenlings, flounders, rock fish, and occasional ling cod.
- The Port of Seattle closed the fishing pier at Centennial Park (pier 86). The Port is working with WA Department of Fish and Wildlife to determine the fishing pier’s future. In the meantime, the public is welcome to fish at the facilities at Pier 69 where the Port of Seattle is headquartered. Try also Pier 62.
- Know the rules; check current regulations here.
Whale Sightings
- Orcas and porpoises were spotted swimming around West Seattle and Bainbridge in early April.
- If an orca or humpback swims by while you are on the Seattle Great Wheel, then you will definitely see it! Other great spots to look for whales along Seattle’s waterfront are Pier 54, Pier 62, and the observation deck at Pier 66.
- The most common cetaceans that you may spot along Seattle’s waterfront are: orcas (killer whales), gray whales, humpback whales, fin whales, minke whales, pacific white-sided dolphins, and pseudorcas (dolphin easily mistaken for orca).
- Other wildlife you may see while on the waterfront include: blue herons, seagulls, seals, sea lions, cormorants, bald eagles, geese, peregrine falcons, ospreys, sea otters, and kraken. For a close-up look at the Salish Sea ecosystem, head to the Seattle Aquarium.
- Whales are also spotted on a fairly regular basis from the ferries and local charter boats like Argosy (Pier 55) and Salish Sea Tours (Pier 57); keep your eyes peeled!
- Clipper Navigation is running whale-watching trips this month straight from Pier 69 on Seattle’s waterfront (guaranteed sightings of next trip is free).
- See a whale? Be sure to report it! Read the most recent whale sighting reports here.
Holidays and School Breaks
Seattle Public Schools are in session all this month except for Memorial Day – Summer break will begin June 19. The next federal holiday after this month will be July 4! Here are some key holidays for your calendar in May:
- May 1 – Lei Day
- May 5 – Cinco de Mayo
- May 5 – Buddha Day
- May 12 – Native American Day
- May 12 – Military Spouse Appreciation Day
- May 14 – Mother’s Day
- May 15 – Peace Officers Memorial Day
- May 17 – Syttende May (Constitution Day) – Norway
- May 18 – Ascension Day
- May 20 – Armed Forces Day
- May 22 – National Maritime Day
- May 22 – Victoria Day (Canada)
- May 28 – Pentecost
- May 29 – Whit Monday
- May 30 – Memorial Day
- Find more May holidays and celebrations here and here and here.
Plan ahead: June is the start of summer break for most public schools.
Pier 62 Activities
Pier 62 peak season programs and activities have been announced!
The new public Pier 62 is bringing the people of Seattle together in one of the city’s most Instagrammable settings. Check out the activities and events happening in this amazing space on the water! Take in the 360 degree views of Seattle, the ferries, and the Olympics!
Cultural performances, classes, concerts, and community activities take place on Pier 62 year-round with activity levels reaching their peak during the summer months.
Jobs on the Waterfront
Seattle companies and public entities are hiring along the waterfront. Job and career opportunities are available with:
Should we add a link to your company’s job page? Let us know
WATERFRONT BLOG
TOP-PICS #SEATTLEWATERFRONT
Wishing a happy Memorial Day weekend to all! Enjoy this glorious weather on the Seattle waterfront and stop by for a spirits tasting or distillery tour (link in bio). If you haven't tried our latest whiskey, Release 047, this is your ...
May 26
so many plushies to cuddle.
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#piratesplunder #seattle #seattlewaterfront #cryptid #pier57 #minerslanding #seattlelocal #seattlecruise #buylocalseattle #pirateloot #welcometoseattle #pnw #seattlevacation
May 26
The Sasquatch and the Lumberjack by CrixSheridan now at the shop.
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#piratesplunder #seattle #seattlewaterfront #cryptid #pier57 #minerslanding #seattlelocal #seattlecruise #buylocalseattle #pirateloot #welcometoseattle ...
May 26
You are introducing your friend to oysters for the first time, are you going Raw or Pan Fried? Either way, they win with this view. #ElliottsOysterHouse
May 22
Argosy Cruise - Pier 55. On Sunday the traffic was light and we found parking at the Pike Place Market. Tourists for a morning 💐#pier55seattle #pikeplacemarket #seattlewaterfront #argosycruises
May 22
One of many places I’ve called home, and one of my favorites. #seattle #westernwashington #pugetsound #seattleskyline #seattlewaterfront #seattleferries #pacificnorthwest #seattleweather #spaceneedle #cityphotography #seattlemariners ...
May 21
|Must See|
Has the Starship Enterprise landed on Seattle's waterfront? No, that is the new Seattle Aquarium Ocean Pavilion taking shape and looking good now that the scaffolding has come down. It is an engineering and intricate construction marvel. While you are here, don't miss the 1,200 purple allium flowers in bloom planted by Ellie between Union street and the Pike Market! ... See MoreSee Less
|Offsite & Team-building on the Waterfront|
Check out our list of Top 10 Corporate Offsite Meeting and Team Building Activities on Seattle's New Waterfront. Bring your team together, boost morale & motivation, inspire creativity, and reward a job well done along Dzidzilalich (Alaskan Way). Sailing, rides, museums, volunteering, dining, happy hour, and whale watching are just a few items on the menu. Get the skinny at seattlewaterfront.org/10-great-corporate-team-building-and-offsite-activities-on-the-seattle-wate... ... See MoreSee Less
|There she blows!|
Dolphins in Seattle. Is that a thing? Yes, absolutely. Well, porpoises to be exact. Our friends from Sailing Seattle (Pier 56) take locals and visitors sailing daily. They reported seeing pods of porpoises on most sails last week. May is one of the best months to go with Sailing Seattle. Their racing yachts lean over and rip along with as little as 6-8 MPH wind. If you see the wind at 10-12 MPH, then run down to Pier 56 for the next departure:-) Sunset cruises are the most popular. Reserve your spot onboard up to two weeks in advance at sailingseattle.com/
These ocean-going vessels are also available for groups and off-site corporate meetings and team-building activities. ... See MoreSee Less
|Take a Ride on a New Road|
It's rare for a new, major road to open in Seattle, especially one that has never existed before. We could not resist recording the ride and pointing out some sights along the way like the Edgewater Hotel, the Cruise Ship Terminal, Anthony's Pier 66, and Seattle's Tall Ship. Going between Seattle's waterfront and Belltown has never been easier! ... See MoreSee Less
|New Belltown Waterfront Connection|
Today marks the day that Elliott Way opens to traffic! This means that drivers can get from Seattle's waterfront to Belltown without waiting for long cargo trains to pass. The new road comes with a wide, easily accessible sidewalk for pedestrians. Please note that while the Lenora Street connection is open again, it's stairs only for now - the elevator will reopen soon. Read all about it at
sdotblog.seattle.gov/2023/04/27/waterfront-to-belltown-connection/ ... See MoreSee Less
|Whale of a Deal|
Almost everyone loves whales and a good deal. Clipper Vacations is offering you both in one shot! Enjoy Seattle’s only half-day whale watching tour straight from Pier 69 with an onboard naturalist to point out transient orcas, humpback whales, minke whales, and other local sea life! Save 25% on your tour when you book by May 9th and use promo code WHALESALE23. Good for tours between May 12 and October 8. Details at www.clippervacations.com/whale-watching/ ... See MoreSee Less