Area Overview

Naval Station Everett's surrounding area offers ample recreational opportunities ranging from just minutes away to just a short drive. The area offers something for everyone, including sports fans, outdoors enthusiasts and arts lovers alike.

The region's dynamic landscape makes the lure of the great outdoors practically impossible to ignore year-round. Within the Everett city limits, nearly 32 percent of the land area is covered with water, making it an ideal area for those who enjoy fishing, swimming, boating or wind surfing. The region also boasts a bounty of trails for hiking, cycling, and jogging through a diverse geography of beaches, forests and countryside. Snow brought by the onset of winter only increases ones outdoor opportunities. Within a short drive, the Cascade and Olympic Mountain ranges offer some of the state's best down-hill and cross-country skiing.

Spectator sports in the area abound ranging from the ranks of professional major league teams to nationally recognized college football and basketball teams. Nearby Seattle is home to the National Football League's Seahawks, the National Basketball Association's Sonics and Major League Baseball's Mariners, as well as the University of Washington's Huskies. Locally, Everett is home to three minor league teams, the AquaSox (baseball), the Silvertips (junior hockey) and the Hawks (indoor football). While Seattle is certainly the center of the arts for the region, the area as a whole is celebrated for its cultural offerings. Each nearby community offers its own unique museums, festivals, and performing arts groups.

Everett
Everett began life in the 1890s as a port town, and quickly thrived on the business provided by the local lumber industry. Today, Everett is still flourishing as the Snohomish County seat with a population of 99,384 in 2009. The city offers more culture, parks and festivals than many other cities of comparable size.

Despite Everett's past as a lumber boom town, thanks to Boeing, the city has staked its future on space-age industry. The Boeing Company, a world-wide manufacturer of jet airplanes, assembles most of its 700 series jets at its plant at nearby Paine Field, just west of Interstate 5. Visitors are welcomed to the The Future of Flight Aviation Center & Boeing Tour welcomes visitors with jets in various stages of assembly from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with 90-minute tours running every half hour. For more information, visit http://www.futureofflight.org.

Area Attractions, Historical Attractions
Everett's past as a booming port town is celebrated daily at the Marina Village located along the bay. Styled after a 1890s waterfront marketplace, the Village is home to a brewery, numerous restaurants, specialty stores and, of course, a marina. A schooner departs from the marina taking sightseers on historical tours and cruises.

At the north end of town, on Grand and Rucker Avenues, stand the homes of yesterday's lumber barons. As Everett's port blossomed, individual fortunes boomed and many of the day's lumber tycoons called Everett their home. Today their homes still stand in tribute of Everett's prosperous beginnings.

The Imagine Children's Museum , located on the corner of Hoyt Avenue and Wall Street, offers a multitude of activities for growing minds to explore. The museum offers a massive variety of events, from musical guests to charity galas, and with nearly 10 rotating, weekly engagements, there's always something new to discover! The museum is open Tuesday and Wednesday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, as well as the museum's calendar of events, visit http://www.imaginecm.org.

Outdoor Activities
Forest Park offers a number of activities geared for children, spread out over nearly 200 acres. The park hosts an animal farm where kids can get close and pet farm animals or ride ponies. There is also a heated indoor public pool on the premises. For the grown-ups, there are live musical performances by local bands on Sunday afternoons during the summer.

Cultural Attractions
Live theater can be found locally at either the Everett Performing Arts Center or the historic Everett Theatre. The Everett Civic Auditorium on Colby Avenue is home to the Everett Symphony, a must-see for music lovers. Numerous art galleries dot the town featuring varied displays. Everett Community College also hosts its own art gallery.

Festivals
Year round, Everett's residents can attend festivals rejoicing the town's outdoor lifestyle. A few of the more popular area festivals are the Washington State International Air Fair held at Paine Field, Art in the Park held at Forest Park and the Jetty Island Days.

The Washington State International Air Fair, held in late August, is a two-day showcase of all things aerial. Featured acts include military jet demonstration teams, civilian aerobatics and other flying displays.

Art of the Garden, also in August, is a gardener's—as well as an arts and crafts lover's—haven. The festival offers live musical performances, hands-on activities for children and, of course, arts and crafts displays.

Jetty Island Days is a summer-long festival stretching from July to September with a focus on boating. The festival features free ferry rides, sailing regattas and concerts. The festival also offers guided nature walks through Everett's beaches and estuaries.

Shopping
Everett Mall, the largest area shopping center, offers an escape from inclement weather. The mall houses a 16-screen movie theater and more than 110 shops under the same roof. One of the more unique local shopping experiences can be found at the Everett Public Market on 2804 Grand Avenue. The market sells antiques, fresh fish and produce, and even houses a coffee shop. If boutique shopping is more to your liking, stroll past the storefronts on Colby and Hewitt, where you can find confections, wine cellars, upscale gifts and a vast collection of restaurants to sample.

Seattle
Seattle, the "Emerald City," is the crowning jewel of the Puget Sound area and possibly of the entire Pacific Northwest region. A half-hour drive from Everett, Seattle has earned a world-wide reputation as one of the country's most interesting cities. Seattle has effectively blended the excitement of the big city with the unspoiled beauty for which the Pacific Northwest is known. Seattle's diversity and extensive list of attractions would be impossible to list in its entirety, however, some of the city's more popular attractions follow:

Pike Place Market: With more than nine acres of land and nearly 100 years of history, the Pike Place Market represents "The Soul of Seattle." The history of the market encompasses thousands of unique stories including those of immigration, gentrification and urban renewal. Opening for business for the first time on Aug. 17, 1907 with just eight farmers and their wagons, today Pike Place is America's premier farmers' market. With almost 200 year-round commercial businesses, 190 craftspeople and 120 farmers renting table space daily, more than 225 street performers and musicians and 300 apartment units, mostly for low-income elderly people, "The Market" attracts more than 10 million visitors a year. Visit http://www.pikeplacemarket.org for more information.

Waterfront: Positioned directly below the market, Seattle's waterfront area first prospered as the last stop in the United States for gold prospectors seeking their fortune in Alaska. Today, many of the piers and warehouses along a mile-long strip of Alaskan Way have been converted to import and souvenir shops, restaurants and museums. For more information, visit http://www.seattlewaterfront.org.

Pioneer Square: Pioneer Square is the heart of old Seattle and the best place to experience Seattle's early history. The entire area is a vibrant historic district complete with turn-of-the-century street lamps lining the square and a Tlingit totem pole soaring above a bust of Chief Seattle. The area is also home to many of the best galleries, bookstores, restaurants and boutiques that Seattle has to offer. Visit http://www.pioneersquaredistrict.org for more information.

Seattle Center: Located at the base of Queen Anne Hill, Seattle Center was developed from the site of the 1962 World Fair Site into a 74-acre, year-round convention and family entertainment hub for Seattle. The center's most famous landmark, the Space Needle, soars 607 feet overhead offering beautiful 360 degree views of Seattle. Seattle Center also features numerous works of art, gardens, theatres, restaurants and much more. For more information, visit http://www.seattlecenter.com.

Experience Music Project/Science Fiction Museum: One of the numerous attractions at Seattle Center, the Experience Music Project (named for Jimi Hendrix) is an interactive music museum, as well as a world famous repository of Science Fiction history. The museum is housed within a Frank Gehry building and offers hands-on experiences and interpretive exhibits. These exhibits display the creative process of American popular music, as well as the genre-bending appeal of Science Fiction, both classic and modern. Visit http://www.empsfm.org for more information.

Woodland Park Zoo: Ranked among the top in the nation, Seattle's zoo offers you the chance to see more than 300 species of exotic animals in their natural habitats, on 92 stunning acres. The zoo also offers day camps for children, and classes for children and adults alike. The zoo also offers daily programs meant to educate and bring families closer to amazing wildlife. For more information, visit http://www.zoo.org.

Lake Washington Ship Canal and Locks: Puget Sound is connected to the Ship Canal and Lake Washington through the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, completed in 1916. From here it's possible to watch ships shifting from salt to fresh water and vice versa. Thanks to a fish ladder, it is also possible to watch the local salmon population return home to spawn.

The Fremont Troll: While in Seattle, be sure to visit the Fremont Troll, lurking beneath the north end of the Aurora Bridge since 1990. Created by four local artists—Steve Badanes, Will Martin, Donna Walter and Ross Whitehead—for the Fremont Arts Council, the statue stands 18 feet tall and represents the creature's head and shoulders. Seattle's annual Trollaween party, held on Oct. 31st, constitutes a tour beginning at the statue and continuing onto other local works of art.

Theaters: Seattle is widely acclaimed as the nation's best theater city outside of New York. The city is home to twelve professional theater companies representing a wide spectrum of performances with something to meet everyone's taste and style. Seattle's cornerstone theatre is the Seattle Repertory Theater, winner of the 1990 Tony Award for Best Regional Theater. This award-winning company offers six classic, contemporary and new works each year. Museums and Visual Arts: With more than 100 galleries, Seattle is among the top places in the nation to find world-class paintings, glasswork, photography or sculptures. With its excellent collection of African and Asian art, as well as European, Mediterranean, American and regional art, the Seattle Art Museum represents the best in fine arts.

The Frye Art Museum houses an awe-inspiring collection of 18th and 19th century European and American paintings. The museum also offers weekly workshops for aspiring artists, budding historians and everyone in between! For a list of upcoming events, museum hours and other visitor information, visit http://fryemuseum.org.

The Museum of History and Industry defines itself as "the definitive place for everyone with a passion, curiosity or question about the history of Seattle and King County since 1850." As such, the museum features a wide collection of pieces, and hands-on exhibits chronicling Washington's pioneer days on through the present. The museum also offers walking tours, monthly events and free admission on the first Thursday of every month. For more information, visit http://www.seattlehistory.org.

Film:?With a growing filmmaking industry, Seattle is quickly becoming a big "movie town." Aiding in this progress, Seattle hosts an annual international film festival. Also, a number of theaters and small, independent film houses show a variety of films, ranging from new movies to classical films to experimental films, on a daily basis

Music: Washington's music scene is a diverse one with Seattle at its nexus. Offerings range from classical to rock to jazz. With dozens of new rock bands awaiting discovery, Seattle is quickly becoming the new hub for modern music in the country. Seattle's rock lineage includes Heart, Nirvana, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam and Alice in Chains, to name a few.

The Opera House at Seattle Center is home to both the Seattle Opera Association and the Seattle Symphony. The Seattle Opera Association is best known for their annual production of Wagner's complete Ring cycle, while the Symphony performs a range of classic and modern selections. For schedule, tickets and more information, visit http://www.seattleopera.org. 

TACOMA
Tacoma, "The City of Destiny," is an hour's drive south of Everett. Nestled along the shores of Commencement Bay, Tacoma was originally settled by Job Carr, a Civil War veteran who expected to profit from selecting Commencement Bay as the western terminus of the Transcontinental Railroad. The city was named after Mount Rainier, which was first called Tahoma, a derivative of the local Puyallup tribe's word tacobet meaning "mother of waters." Over the years, Tacoma has grown behind the strength of its location. With its close proximity to the logging industry and its excellent shipping, both by sea and land, Tacoma has become a hub for paper manufacturing.

Like Seattle, Tacoma's current offerings of activities are too numerous to list, however, some of the more popular include:

The Downtown Waterfront: Tacoma's historic downtown has expanded throughout the years and now includes the Puget Sound waterfront. This revitalized area includes public marinas, retail shops, new parks, a waterfront esplanade, hotels and museums. Tacoma's Downtown Waterfront is a vibrant area with plenty to do and something for everyone.

The Museum of Glass: International Center for Contemporary Art: First opening its doors in July of 2002, the Museum of Glass is a showcase for local, national and international works of glass-art. Only three museums in the world focus on this unique medium and Tacoma is home to the only one in the United States. Tacoma was chosen as the museum's site in large part because it is home to the legendary glass artist Dale Chihuly. The museum offers rotating exhibits, live glassmaking workshops and monthly special engagements, from charity events to hands-on activities for all ages. For more information, visit http://www.museumofglass.org.

The Chihuly Bridge of Glass: This pedestrian bridge linking the Museum of Glass to the Washington State History Museum was commissioned by the Museum of Glass and designed by Dale Chihuly and Arthur Andersson of Andersson•Wise Architects. Speaking about his masterpiece, Chihuly said, "This will be the gateway that welcomes people to Tacoma. We wanted something unique in the world, something that has a lot of color, a joyous experience, night or day."

The Washington State History Museum: This museum contains standing exhibits detailing the history of the Pacific Northwest and continually hosts temporary exhibits featuring portions of Washington State's history. The museum's top floor is reserved for a "history lab" where visitors can experience history hands-on. Museum hours are Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the museum offers free admission on the third Thursday of each month, from 2 to 8 p.m. For schedule information and monthly event calendar, visit http://www.wshs.org.

Tacoma Art Museum: In May of 2003, the Tacoma Art Museum moved into a new facility designed by renowned architect Antoine Predock. This new home supplies ample space for the museum to display its in-house collections as well as large traveling exhibitions. Museum hours are Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and offers free admission from 5 to 8 p.m. on the third Thursday of every month. For exhibition information, program calendar and further information, visit http://www.tacomaartmuseum.org.

Point Defiance Park: Point Defiance Park, Tacoma's best-known treasure, is largely recognized as one of the premier urban parks in the United States and covers 702 acres of land within Tacoma City Limits. The park included Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium, beaches, trails, a boardwalk, a boathouse, Fort Nisqually and a stand of old-growth forest. At the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium (http://www.pdza.org), the only such combination in the Northwest, visitors can view everything from seahorses to penguins and wolves to walruses. Fort Nisqually, while never a military outpost, represents the first European trading post on Puget Sound and one of the first European settlements in the Northwest. Established in 1833 and first restored in the 1930s, the fort stands as a model of historic restoration and preservation. With all it has to offer, Point Defiance Park attracts over 2 million visitors annually. For historical information, event information and more, visit http://thepark.thenewstribune.com.

Snohomish County Attractions
Smokey Point
Approximately 15 miles north of Everett, the Smokey Point Community encompasses nearly 25 square miles and in 1999 was annexed into the City of Arlington. Located near mountains, rivers, lakes, and the Puget Sound, Smokey Point offers the best of all the best recreational opportunities afforded by the Pacific Northwest. The surrounding area hosts an array of hiking and biking trails, a state park, several county parks, several golf courses and even a general-aviation airport.

Naval Station Everett's Navy Support Complex: Smokey Point is also home to the Navy Support Complex. Located just eleven miles north of Naval Station Everett, the Navy Support Complex contains the Navy Federal Credit Union, Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, Housing Office, the Fleet and Family Support Programs, a commissary, an exchange, bachelor quarters and a chapel. A number of recreational activities are provided for here with an auto hobby shop and sports fields and courts.

Snohomish
Take U.S. Highway 2 a few miles east of Everett and you'll find yourself in Snohomish, a historic town first settled in 1859 along the shores of the Snohomish and Pilchuck Rivers. As one of Washington's oldest communities, Snohomish is highlighted by numerous turn-of-the-century mansions in the area known as Old Snohomish, north of Second Street. These homes attest to the town's early sophistication and are open for tours every September during the Historical Society Home Tour.

As the self-titled "Antique Capital of the Pacific Northwest," Snohomish is home to more than 300 antique dealers. The main attraction for antique hunters in town is the Star Center Antique Mall located at 821 Second St. The mall houses 200 antique dealers, a children's play area and a AAA-rated restaurant. Dozens more antique shops are located within a four-block radius. The main outdoors attraction in Snohomish is at Flowing Lake Park. Located on a 42-acre sprawl, the park is just a few miles east of Snohomish and offers a variety of activities including camping, a boat launch, a playground, a swimming beach, a picnic area and periodic Ranger-guided hikes.

Edmonds
Between Everett and Seattle, along the shores of Puget Sound, sits Edmonds, a growing town of more than 40,000 people with an undeniable small-town feel. Edmonds features a number of quaint shops, museums and galleries, all within easy walking distance of one another. Sunset Street, fronting Puget Sound, offers gorgeous views of the ferries that traverse the sound. A local and regional favorite destination in Edmonds is Old Milltown, a shopping mall with a historic touch, complete with old-fashioned storefronts and genuine long-plank boardwalks. Another local shopping favorite is Harbor Square, home to a variety of upscale boutiques and galleries.

At Brackett's Landing, near the ferry dock, divers can explore Puget Sound's marine life in the Edmonds Underwater Park. Composed of tide and bottom lands totaling more than 27 acres, the park is a fascinating way to experience Puget Sound's vibrant marine biology. The park's man-made reefs are made from recycled tractor tires, PVC pipe lengths, sunken buoys, gnarled tree trunks, large bridge sections and a pickup truck. The obstacles are linked by a sequence of guide ropes, making the underwater "trails" accessible to all dive levels. The Edmonds Fishing Pier, just three blocks south of the ferry landing, offers year-round fishing, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. A bait shop is conveniently located nearby.

Marysville
Marysville, just north of Everett off the Interstate 5, is known for its strawberries. In fact, strawberries are the basis for one of the region's largest festivals, aptly named the Strawberry Festival. Beginning the third week in June with a parade, the festival includes a carnival, an art show, and bike races.

July is music month in Marysville with the Sounds of Summer Concert Series in Jennings Memorial Park's natural amphitheatre. The series, running Friday nights through mid August highlight local talent and are free.

October brings about the Harvest Fest, another popular Marysville festival. Harvest Fest features crafts, an open air market, hay rides and a farmer's market.

Marysville is also home to a large casino operated by the Tulalip Tribes. This huge casino features bingo, blackjack, baccarat and the largest poker room in all of Washington. Tulalip Casino is conveniently located just west of Interstate 5 from the Marysville/Tulalip exit.

Mukilteo
Slightly southwest of Everett is Mukilteo with several interesting recreational opportunities. The main highlight in town is the Mukilteo State Park, which neighbors the Whidbey Island ferry terminal. The park includes the Mukilteo Lighthouse, an area landmark since it was built in 1905. This 105-year-old lighthouse is still functioning and is open to the public for free tours on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

Also present within the park is a large picnic area along with a beach, boat launch and fishing spots along Possession Sound.

Mukilteo is probably most well known for its annual Mukilteo Lighthouse Festival, which has a children's parade, artist booths, live music, local foods, the "Run-a-Muk" 5/10k charity road race, a grand parade and a dazzling fireworks finale!

Lynnwood
Located just about halfway between Everett and Seattle, Lynnwood is the largest retail center in Snohomish County and has a population of more than 34,000 people. Nearby Interstate 405 accommodates travel to the Eastside and Interstate 5, along with Highway 99, makes for easy travel to and from Seattle. With this prime location and easy access to major cities, Lynnwood is one of the region's premiere locations to conduct business with more than 2,500 licensed businesses already in place.

Lynnwood's children are served by the Edmonds School District and Edmonds Community College. Located in Lynnwood, both offer numerous programs for locals seeking further education including advanced classes for local high school students. The Lynnwood Library serves as the reference center for the Sno-Isle Library District and houses the largest collection of the system.

Shoppers will find a veritable paradise in Lynnwood at the Alderwood Mall. This regional mall, situated on the east side of the city, contains five major department stores and almost 200 specialty shops under one roof. Alderwood Mall also offers a movie theater and numerous affordable dining options.

With more than 245 acres of parks and open space, Lynnwood is the perfect destination for anyone who loves the outdoors. The famed Interurban Trail provides a 15.1-mile stretch of paved trail for bike riding, jogging, or walking and connects Lynnwood and Everett Mall. Lynnwood also provides a municipal 18-hole golf course. This challenging course is complete with two driving ranges, and also offers instruction and a pro shop. Open daily, the Lynnwood Recreation Center offers a tot-lot, hydrotherapy pools, wading pool, two, a 25-yard shour course indoor/outdoor swimming pool, sauna, weight room, and four racquetball courts.

The Lynnwood Athletic Complex and the Meadowdale Playfields are comprised of a series of outdoor athletic fields for various uses. Supported uses include adult softball, youth football, soccer, baseball and sand volleyball.

The city's Annual Egg Hunt and Fourth of July Star Spangled Celebration are both highly anticipated community events.

Lake Stevens
A 15-minute drive from Everett, Lake Stevens is a small, close-knit community to the northeast. Fishing and water sports are the focal points of this town, all set against a backdrop of scenic beauty. Two county parks focus on these activities. On the west shore of the lake, Wyatt Park offers a boat launch, fishing dock, an area for swimming and a picnic area. On the east shore of the lake, Sunset Park, the smaller of the two, features a fishing dock and picnic tables.

Arlington
Twenty miles to the north of Everett is Arlington. Arlington's location makes it a perfect spot to access the scenic Cascade Mountains or the Stillaguamish River, each of which offers a wealth of outdoor parks that offer camping and various other activities.

Monroe
A twenty-minute drive to the southeast will bring you to Monroe, a small but growing community nestled among the foothills of the Cascade Mountains at the base of the Snoqualmie and Skykomish Rivers. This area was originally settled by fur traders and loggers in the 1850s. These early settlers relied on the two rivers for transportation. Today, Monroe is one of the fastest growing areas in Snohomish County with its population nearly more than tripling between 1990 and 2000. Monroe is depended upon by the surrounding area for fire protection, schools, healthcare and shopping. Fifty miles east of Monroe is Stevens Pass, a major ski area. Monroe is also home to the Evergreen State Fairgrounds, the site of the state's largest annual county fair. Monroe also offers ample opportunities for fishing, whitewater rafting and golfing.

Skagit County Attractions
Located to the north of Everett, Skagit (pronounced Skaj'-et, as in gadget) County is a diverse land offering a wide variety of terrain and recreational activities. This beautiful county encompasses the "North Cascade Mountain Pass" to the east, the fertile valleys of the Skagit River and stretches to the rich deltas of Puget Sound to the west. The fertile lands fed from the Skagit River are used for growing everything from tulips and daffodils, whose bulbs are shipped around the world, to cauliflower and broccoli. Other products grown here include strawberries, peas and cucumbers.

Mt. Vernon
Known as the "Heart of Beautiful Skagit Valley," Mt. Vernon is the Skagit County Seat and the county's largest city with more than 26,000 people. Sitting just off Interstate 5, Mt. Vernon offers the charm of a picturesque, historic town with interesting shops and restaurants. Mt. Vernon attracts visitors from around the world with its thousands of acres of tulip and daffodil fields. The nationally renowned Skagit Valley Tulip festival is a definite "must see" event and annually begins the first weekend in March, continuing until the second weekend of April. The diverse and abundant wildlife population is another draw of the area. Swans, snow geese and the majestic bald eagle are all common in the region.

Anacortes
With a population of nearly 17,000, Anacortes is the second largest city in Skagit County. Anacortes is also the largest industrial and shipping center in the county, boasting shipyards, seafood processing facilities, oil refineries, as well as numerous marina facilities. The Anacortes Arts Festival has been an annual hallmark of the town for nearly fifty years. Over that time it has become well known for its quality displays and high caliber entertainment. The festival is held, every year, on the first weekend of August.

Burlington
Just five miles north of Mt. Vernon along Interstate 5, Burlington is a small, traditional farming community. South Burlington is home to the Cascade Mall Shopping Center as well as several other boutique shopping destinations. Burlington's largest festival is the "Berry-Dairy Days" held annually in June. The festival celebrates the region's thriving strawberry and raspberry harvests as well as a healthy farming and dairy industry.

Sedro Woolley
Known as "The Gateway to the North Cascades," Sedro Woolley is home to the headquarters of the North Cascades National Park and Mount Baker National Forest. Sedro Woolley's primary industry is and always has been logging and timber products. This history is celebrated annually in conjunction with July Fourth at Loggerodeo, a festival featuring logging contests, parades, a carnival, a rodeo and much more. The town is a major destination for sport fisherman and women along the Skagit River. Additionally, Sedro Woolley's location makes it an excellent "base camp" for those seeking hiking, swimming, hunting or whitewater rafting in the Cascade Mountains.