Skip to main content
Back to Blog

What To Do on the South Lake Union Waterfront

Lake Union Park

At 12 acres, Lake Union Park is the neighborhood's main waterfront hub. It features a mix of wide open lawns, crisp paved plazas, and direct pier access right at the edge of the lake. Key attractions include;

  • The Model Boat Pond: A purpose-built concrete pool on the park's east side where hobbyists bring remote-controlled sailboats.
  • The Spray Park: A popular interactive water fountain and splash pad area to cool off during the summer.
  • The Footbridge & Southeast Lagoon: A bridge crossing a small, restored wetland lagoon. On sunny days, you can spot turtles and waterfowl hanging out on the logs.
  • The Great Lawn & Steps: Terraced concrete and grass steps that lead right down to the water's edge, designed for sitting, watching the seaplanes, or eating lunch.

Cheshiahud Lake Union Loop

The Cheshiahud Lake Union Loop is a 6-mile paved path that rings the entire lake, with its South Lake Union stretch hugging the shoreline along Westlake Avenue and through the park. This section trades standard city sidewalks for a wide, protected corridor where runners, cyclists, and casual strollers easily share the waterfront views. Moving along the trail brings the lake’s unique energy right to your feet, guiding you past active marinas, historic houseboats, and ringside views of seaplanes skimming across the water.

Museums & Sights

  • Kenmore Air Seaplane Terminal: While it operates as a busy commercial terminal for flights to the San Juan Islands and British Columbia, it double-duties as a fantastic spectator spot. Visitors can hang out on the wooden piers to watch the vintage de Havilland Beavers and Otters taxi across the water, throttle up, and take off right in front of the skyline.

  • The Historic Ships Wharf: Located on the north edge of the park directly behind MOHAI, this floating dock is a hidden gem hosting one of the highest concentrations of National Historic Landmarks in the country. You can walk the docks for free to look at an incredible lineup of working vessels, including the 1889 tugboat Arthur Foss (the oldest wooden tugboat afloat in the U.S.), the 1904 Swiftsure lightship, and the 1922 S.S. Virginia V steamship, which still runs public cruises on the lake.

  • MOHAI (Museum of History & Industry): Housed inside a massive, historic naval armory building right on the shoreline, MOHAI is Seattle's premier archive of regional history, tracking the area's journey from a rugged maritime and logging outpost to a global technology hub. While the multi-story interior features comprehensive exhibits on local innovation, indigenous history, and pop culture, it remains deeply tied to the lake; its entire northern face features massive glass windows looking out over the water, and the top-floor maritime gallery includes a fully operational WWII naval periscope that gives visitors a 360-degree view of Lake Union.

Go Out on the Water

  • The Center for Wooden Boats (CWB): Located right in Lake Union Park, this is a hands-on, living museum dedicated to maritime heritage. Visitors can walk the floating wooden docks for free to admire vintage vessels, or rent traditional wooden rowboats, canoes, and sailboats to take out onto the water. While they offer a free, walk-up "Peapod" rowboat rental program during the week, they also host a famous Sunday Public Sail once a month where volunteer skippers take passengers out on the lake completely free of charge.

  • The Kayak Float & Hand Launch Docks: If you prefer to bring your own human-powered watercraft, Lake Union Park features a seamless, public launch setup. Tucked under a striking, sail-shaped metal sculpture on the park's west side is a dedicated, low-profile floating dock designed specifically for launching personal kayaks and stand-up paddleboards. There are also designated hand-carry launch zones along Westlake Avenue North, making it incredibly easy to drop your gear right from your car directly into the water.

  • Moss Bay: Situated right on the southeast shore of the lake on Fairview Avenue, this premier SLU commercial outfitter offers hourly rentals of standard plastic single, double, and triple kayaks alongside stand-up paddleboards. It serves as the perfect starting grid for paddling right past the neighborhood's bustling marinas, watching seaplanes land from water level, or making the trek across the lake to view the historic houseboats up close.

  • The Electric Boat Company: Located on the west side of the SLU shoreline along Westlake Avenue North, this company rents canopy-covered, 100% electric luxury Duffy boats that are incredibly easy to drive with zero prior boating experience required. They travel at a gentle, whisper-quiet 5 mph, come equipped with central picnic tables and sound systems, and can be fully enclosed and heated during cooler months—making them an ideal platform to unpack food and drinks for a private tour of the lake.

  • Seattle Donut Boat Co.: Operating off the docks on Fairview Avenue right in front of the White Swan Public House, these quirky, circular, open-air electric boats are built entirely around a central round picnic table. Fitting up to six people and steered via a simple outboard motor tiller, they are designed specifically for casual, fair-weather social gatherings where you can bring your own drinks, snacks, or local takeout out onto the water.

Dine on the Water

The center of the neighborhood's over-water culinary scene is Lake Union Piers (formerly known as Chandler’s Cove). This newly revitalized boardwalk plaza acts as a central commercial hub where premier bars and restaurants sit shoulder-to-shoulder, allowing you to park once—or even tie up a boat at the guest moorage—and choose your ideal lakeside vibe:

  • Duke's Seafood: Perched right over the eastern edge of the shoreline, this iconic Seattle spot is multi-tiered and boasts expansive outdoor decks. It is highly regarded for its casual, upscale vibe and 100% sustainable, wild-caught Pacific Northwest seafood—ranging from award-winning clam chowders to line-caught wild salmon and Dungeness crab.

  • The White Swan Public House: Tucked away next to the docks on Fairview Avenue, this rustic-meets-modern gastropub features a sprawling waterfront patio. Known as a local favorite for its raw oyster bar and clever, seafood-forward comfort food, you can enjoy a craft cocktail or their famous "Poutine of the Sea" while watching the local donut boats and kayaks launch just steps away.

  • The Cove: A cozy addition right on the Lake Union Piers boardwalk, this waterfront wine bar and bottle shop features a scenic patio just feet from the water. They pour an excellent selection of Pacific Northwest wines, imports, and beers alongside seasonal, locally sourced small bites, making it a fantastic, relaxed destination for visitors arriving by foot, car, or boat.

  • Daniel's Broiler: For a premium, white-tablecloth dining experience, this classic high-end steakhouse commands premier views of the entire lake from its over-water dining room and outdoor terrace at Lake Union Piers. It specializes in USDA prime steaks, premium Wagyu beef, and fine wines, making it the neighborhood's go-to destination for sunset celebrations, business dinners, and panoramic views of the Space Needle and seaplanes.