Walk the Locks: Engineering Wonder

Watch the boats, fish, and flowers along one remarkable, man-made waterway. Ballard Locks are a perfect destination for family and friends visiting from out of town. Head to historic Ballard Avenue afterwards for a mind-boggling number of restaurant options.

The Ballard Locks were built over 100 years ago. At the time, it was the second largest cut of its kind in the world, second only to the Panama Canal. Without these locks and canal, Lake Washington and Lake Union would be disconnected from the Puget Sound for boat traffic. Although locks and canals are common in parts of Europe, the Ballard Locks stand alone on the west coast for their scale. There is a park, fish ladder, and botanical garden on the large federal property.

If you have never seen the locks from the water, then you can actually go through the locks on a local cruise boat. It is great fun and a totally different perspective. See: Argosy Cruises (WA residents, check for local resident discount).