Ultimate Travel Guide to Kingston, WA

I’m a firm believer that one of the best things to do in the Pacific Northwest is to take a Washington State Ferry. With numerous routes to choose from, the journey is a highlight just as much as the destination. On a recent sunny Saturday, we decided to take the Edmonds ferry to Kingston, which is a charming coastal town located on the Kitsap Peninsula. We decided to walk-on the ferry as a quick day trip to Kingston. Our friends raved about the restaurants there, and our daughter was excited to ride a ferry. In this post, I’m sharing all about our recent ferry trip to Kingston! (Add this to your list of things to do in the summer!)

Taking the Edmonds Ferry to Kingston

We drove to the Edmonds Ferry Terminal U-Park lot. We paid $15 to park our car for the day. We arrived around 9:30am on a Saturday, and we grabbed one of the last parking spots! You can search for free street parking in a nearby neighborhood, but it can be a bit of a walk. The U-Park lot was right next to the ferry terminal, so it was very convenient for us to hop on the ferry.

I’m so glad that we chose to walk-on the ferry, because the wait time for drivers was 3 hours long! If you’re a Washington State local, you know that the ferry lines can be extreme on sunny weekends. Because we were pedestrians, however, we were able to walk right on the ferry and skip that car line!

Be sure to see the Edmonds ferry schedule in advance of your trip. You’ll be able to see wait times, schedules, and more!

We were able to walk-on because our plan was just to explore Kingston. Just be sure to head to the left-side of the ferry dock and you’ll see the entrance sign: Passenger Terminal.

Ferry Tickets

We didn’t purchase our tickets in advance. At the Passenger Terminal entrance, there were electronic kiosks for tickets. There’s also a ticketing booth. We personally paid for two adult tickets at $10.25 each to walk-on the ferry. Our children were free. The tickets included the return fare, so spending about $20 for a fun excursion was very affordable! You can find the fare information here. 

Riding the Ferry

We waited just a few minutes in the covered terminal until it was time to board the ferry. There was a brief outside walk across the ramp, and then we were on the boat! Our kids immediately wanted to explore. There were plenty of booths on both sides that had tables and large glass windows. There was also plenty of seating near the bow and stern of the ship. 

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In the center of the ferry was a cafeteria that was complete with things like fresh coffee, popcorn, pizza, wraps, breakfast sandwiches, chips, candy, and more. We bought some snacks and headed to a booth to enjoy!

 

On a beautiful sunny day, we definitely recommend visiting the decks on the bow and stern of the ship. If you choose the deck in the opposite direction of where you’re headed, there will be less wind!

There are multiple ferries that run the route, so some of the specifics of the boat will depend on what ferry you get. On our way to Kingston, we took the Spokane ferry, which had an upper deck. There were seating areas protected by glass, and plenty of railings to gaze out at the Puget Sound. The stairs to the upper deck were pretty steep, so exercise caution with small children. Overall, the upper deck was much less crowded and we were able to take plenty of photos without other people in them.

I always think that riding the ferry is a great opportunity to take family photos. Save a few minutes for photos if that’s something that’s meaningful to you too. 

The ferry ride only took 30 minutes. However, we boarded early, so we had an additional 10-15 minutes on the ferry for boarding time. The ferry ride was one of my daughter’s favorite parts of the trip, so it worked out perfectly!

Note: If you have your car on the ferry, once you park, you’ll be able to take the stairs or elevator to the passenger area. If you’re looking to explore the Olympic Peninsula, we definitely recommend a car. However, we were so pleasantly surprised that there’s so much to do in Kingston that’s walkable right from the ferry terminal! 

Things to Do in Kingston, WA

Once we disembarked the ferry, we were immediately in downtown Kingston. There were plenty of shops, restaurants, and parks that were accessible by foot. Here’s how we spent our day in Kingston:

Try the Fish & Chips at the Filling Station

We originally wanted to go to Sourdough Willy’s for lunch, but we arrived before they opened for lunch and we were already hungry. We looked around town and headed to the Filling Station. I had a craving for fish & chips, and it hit the spot! The Filling Station has an outdoor patio, and we were able to sit in the shade and enjoy the fresh breeze. Our service was excellent (we were dining with our two young children), and we’d definitely recommend this restaurant to others. It was walking distance from the ferry terminal, so it was the perfect lunch spot.

Play at the Village Green Park Playground

After lunch, we had a short 5-minute walk to Village Green Park. There was a playground and plenty of green lawn, and our girls had a blast. There were swing sets for babies and big kids, slides, climbing structures, and a sound garden. We’re always excited to check out a new playground, and it was a great place to burn some energy.

Try the Sweet Bliss at Sweet Life Cakery

On our way back from the playground, we walked by the Sweet Life Cakery. A sign outside read that it was home of the award-winning Sweet Bliss. Intrigued, we headed in to try it for ourselves. The Sweet Bliss consists of two layers of chocolate cake filled with sweetened whipped cream all wrapped in chocolate gaze. We split one between the four of us, and it was one of the best things we’ve eaten in a long time. We keep a list of our favorite foods over the course of the year, and this one made the list!

If you’re enjoying this post, you might also be interested in my guide to Vashon Island! It’s another one of my favorite ferry rides.

Play at the Beach at Saltair Park

After having a sweet treat, we then walked back toward the ferry terminal to head to the beach. Our baby napped with my husband, and I took our oldest down to the sand. If you’re facing the ferry terminal, follow the road to the left and you’ll see a paved path that heads toward the beach. There are a couple of sets of stairs, and then you’re there!

Saltair Beach is the perfect place to watch the ferries come and go. Because it was a clear day, even got to see Mount Rainier as a backdrop! The beach itself was sandy with plenty of seaweed. It was the perfect place to build sandcastles! The water is freezing cold (as expected), even during the summer. There aren’t any restroom services or showers, so bring some water to rinse the sand off your feet. We brought a picnic blanket and some sand toys, and my daughter had the best time. 

If you’re looking for a spot to kill time while you’re waiting for the ferry to Edmonds, I definitely recommend checking out this beach.

(Also, this is the camera that I took most of these photos with if you’re interested! It shoots video in 4k and it’s a really versatile camera.)

Check out some of the other beaches we love in Washington, such as Ruby Beach, Third Beach, and Richmond Beach Saltwater Park! If you’re based in Seattle, also check out our list of the best beaches in Seattle. 

Grab an Ice Cream Cone at Island Cool

After playing at the beach on a hot day, we walked back to town and grabbed an ice cream cone at Island Cool. My daughter chose the cotton candy flavor and it was a hit!

Grab a Treat at J’aime Les Crepes 

I love crepes, and the offerings at J’aime Les Crepes were truly outstanding. There were really unique options for both savory and sweet crepes. For example, for savory crepes, there was “The Canadian”, which was filled with scrambled eggs, Canadian bacon, and maple syrup. For sweet crepes, they had a lavender sugar and butter option. I chose a classic: Nutella, banana, and whipped cream. I thought it was just for me, but it was so good, the whole family joined in.

Dine at the Saucy Sailor

Our stomachs were beyond fully, but they were giving out free samples at the Saucy Sailor. I tried the Cottage Pie and it was SO GOOD. Next time, I really want to dine here and have a full meal. They have all sorts of British pub food like Bangers & Mash and to-go orders that are perfect for the ferry ride home. 

Look for Trinkets at the Paisley Whale

We made one last stop before hopping on our ferry home: the Paisley Whale. We found out that the shop is a combination of lots of local vendors. We picked out a couple of small toys and we enjoyed browsing through all the vintage treasures!

What We’d Do Next Time

We never got a chance to try Sourdough Willy’s and our friends raved about their pizza, so we definitely have to check it out next time! We saw plenty of people on the ferry holding their pizza boxes so we knew we missed out on a gem. Some friends of ours like to take the ferry specifically to have dinner at Sourdough Willy’s. They hop on the ferry, grab a pie, and then take the ferry home. So, it must be good! Their sourdough starter is over 120 years old! It’s the oldest in commercial use in the Pacific Northwest.

I’d also like to check out the Kingston Bookery. I love to check out bookstores wherever we go, and buying a book is such a great souvenir from a trip. 

Finally, if it were just my husband and I, I would like to go to Cellar Cat. It’s a wine bar, jazz club, and piano bar – perfect for a date night.

Taking the Ferry Back to Edmonds

We left Kingston around 5pm, and we didn’t have to book a return ticket. We spent the perfect day in Kingston! The ferry ride back was beautiful. The waters of the Puget Sound were calm, and the sunlight was glittering off the water. We had to get home in time for our baby’s bedtime, but I’d definitely recommend catching a ferry at sunset. There’s no better view!

I couldn’t believe that it’s taken us 9 years to make this day trip! We had friends mention it to us on a whim, and we truly had such a fun family outing. If you’re looking for a fun day trip from Seattle, definitely add it to your bucket list. (If you’re interested in other day trips from Seattle, be sure to check out my post!)

Also, we highly recommend just visiting Edmonds for the day as well! You can see my full guide of things to do in Edmonds, the best beaches in Edmonds, and why we love the Edmonds Farmers Market.

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