Grab your sense of adventure and appetite for a trip to the U District waterfront! Embrace the spirit of the outdoors as you kayak through some of the best scenic views of the city, stroll along the beautiful Burke-Gilman Trail, or kick back with incredible dining experiences. Whether you’re seeking relaxation or action-packed fun, make the vibrant U District waterfront scene your destination this summer.

Kayak, Canoe, and Paddleboard Rentals

No Seattle experience would be complete without getting out on the water! Make your way to the Agua Verde Paddle Club or the University of Washington’s Waterfront Activities Center to get outfitted with everything for your next water adventure.

Agua Verde Paddle Club
Providing perhaps the easiest access to paddle towards Lake Union, rent a single kayak, double kayak, or paddleboard, along with gear! From the kayak launch, we recommend traveling west towards Gas Works Park to see the iconic Seattle houseboats along Lake Union and watch sea planes land and take off. New to kayaking? Check out their classes and tours!

UW Waterfront Activities Center (WAC)
Nestled on the shores of Union Bay, the gateway to Lake Washington, the WAC is conveniently located on the south side of Husky Stadium, within a short walk of the UW light rail station. Offering canoe, single kayak, and double kayak rentals, along with gear, the WAC is perfectly situated for quick access to the Washington Park Arboretum inner water trails; offering a relaxing paddle through lily pads teeming with sunbathing turtles. Pack a lunch and tie up at the park for a picnic!

Ahoy! Waterfront Dining Ahead

Pull up a chair – your choice of picnic bench, bar stool, or adirondack – and kick back on Seattle’s burgeoning U District waterfront scene. Including longstanding restaurants offering tried-and-true beloved Seattle dining experiences, and a few newcomers adding to the variety offered along the canal! Check out a few highlights below:

Agua Verde Cafe
Featuring baja style Mexican fare and great cocktails, Agua Verde Cafe does Seattle summer right – and with their recent Marina Cantina outdoor dining expansion, you can too! Happy 25th Anniversary to Agua Verde Cafe! Open at 10am daily.

Sea-Fab Cafe
Stop in for breakfast or lunch and enjoy a great cup of coffee. A cozy, peaceful waterfront getaway where you can meet up with friends or study, all with easy walking access to the nearby Fritz Hedges Waterway Park. Open Monday-Friday at 6:30am and Saturday-Sunday at 8:30am.

Saint Bread
Heralded as ‘one of Seattle’s best bakeries’ by Eater Seattle, the Jensen Marina-based shop offers incredible Japanese- and Norwegian-influenced pastries, delicious breakfast sandwiches and even cheeseburgers, and great outdoor seating. Open daily at 7:30am.

Saint Bread’s summer pop-ups HINOKI (a drink shack) and HEAVE HO! (a wood-fired Japanese-inspired food truck) have officially reopened for the season, offering views of the marina.

Big Mario’s Northlake Tavern
Open since 1954, the Northlake Tavern has been serving pizza and beer under the shadow of the I-5 bridge. In its fourth reincarnation, Big Mario’s has reimagined the space to serve Northlake Tavern and Big Mario’s die hards alike by serving up classic NY style pizza and Sicilian slices as an homage to the Northlake Tavern style pizza that came before them.

Voula’s Offshore Cafe
Tucked behind the boatyards, Voula’s Offshore Cafe has been serving up a hearty breakfast and strong drip coffee since the 1950s! Catering to the early crowd, Voula’s is open Tuesday-Friday from 6am-2pm and Saturday-Sunday from 8am-2pm.

Ivar’s Salmon House
You need only step into the welcoming and upscale Ivar’s Salmon House to know you’re in for a great experience. This beautiful restaurant is set on the shore looking out over Lake Union and the Seattle skyline through their expansive wall of windows. Diners can enjoy a variety of dishes, including Ivar’s world famous clam chowder and fish ‘n’ chips!

Picnic and Boat Watching at the Fritz Hedges Waterway Park

Seattle’s latest waterfront park is on the shores of the U District! Opening in 2020, the Fritz Hedges Waterway Park offers sunny views of the waterway of Portage Bay, great for a picnic with friends! Grab some takeout and setup for a day outside; complete with relaxing adirondack chairs and water access (great for those hoping to launch their own kayaks with ease!).

Walk, Bike, Stroll, or Roll along the Burke Gilman Trail

Spanning nearly 19 miles in total, the Burke Gilman Trail is popular for cyclists, walkers, runners, skaters, and commuters! The stretch of this trail between Gas Works Park and the U District offers some of the most scenic with views of the water, along with a respite from the sun as it turns into a beautiful tree-lined path. Venture off the trail to NE Boat Street to take in more sights, linking back up to the trail on NE Pacific St. View the Burke Gilman Trail map here to plan your next outing!

Header image by Jenna Phillips for Agua Verde Paddle Club