Ballard Locks...A Must See

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Granted, you can find great details about the locks on various sites, books and brochures; however, our purpose is to reveal some of the insights often over-looked. First, the Ballard Locks are a place for romance and secondly, the Locks are a fabulous treat for a family outing.

The late spring and summer months present a fabulous opportunity to relish in the romantic setting the Locks offer. You can bring a picnic lunch and sit on one of the many terraced grass slopes over-looking the locks. As you feel the warmth of the sun on your forehead, with a background array of music provided by the local birds, boats will literally pass by on their way to Lake Washington or Puget Sound. You'll have the chance to marvel at these magnificent structures from giant-size yachts to one-person kayaks.

Strolling around the grounds presents a wonderful opportunity to explore the history makings of the locks. You'll easily find the Visitors Center which is host to the historical and workings conditions of the Locks. Moreover, as you stroll through the grounds you may come upon one of the live musical performances. Set yourself on a piece of grass and enjoy in the live entertainment provided by local musicians. You can't go wrong with this!

As you continue to stroll throughout the grounds, winding your way through some elegant gardens, you can gingerly walk over a top section of the Locks and pay tribute to the Fish Ladder. This area is truly spectacular, watching fish literally jump up the Ladder and enter the fresh water. You'll have a birds-eye-view at the under water window viewing area.

Getting There

The Ballard Locks are located, obviously, in Ballard, a Scandinavian community on the northwestern portion of Seattle. The address is 3015 NW 54th St,. Seattle, WA 98107. You can simply look it up in the Thomas Guide or Map Quest.

When you finish your journey at the Ballard Locks and you're back in your car, continue following the road westward along the water until you reach Golden Gardens Park. This is a nice park to hang out for awhile and enjoy the view looking over the water to the Olympic Mountain Range. A fun thing for the kids is to build a campfire on the beach and roast marshmallows.

Now the challenge presents itself, you must get to the Ballard Locks. That's all you have to do, the Locks will do the rest! Any comments, please contact us regarding the Ballard Locks.

Craig Dahl - The Travel Expert
Senior Editor

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