A Perfect Day on the Edmonds Waterfront
The main entrance to the Edmonds Waterfront Center on a spring morning. Photo © and courtesy James Ritzman of Ritzman Arts LLC
The Edmonds waterfront is a perfectly PNW place where you can pack an entire day's worth of experiences into a single mile. And, there’s something for everyone! We’re talking beach walks, art museums, dive parks, a dog beach, craft beer, and great food—all within easy walking distance of each other.
Keep reading to make the most of a day by the water.
Morning: Start at the Waterfront Center
Begin your day at the Edmonds Waterfront Center with coffee from CommonGrounds' walk-up window. This underrated spot serves great specials (lavender matcha, anyone?) and the perfect cup to start your morning—with a killer view. Grab your coffee, then walk over to Salish Crossing (steps from the ferry terminal) for a donut at Top Pot—their old-fashioned cake donuts pair beautifully with a waterfront morning.
If you’ve got a pup and need provisions for your day, stop into Jester Pet Supply for dog treats to keep you both motivated and moving.
Cascadia Art Museum opens at 10 a.m. if you want to start with art. Their rotating exhibitions showcase Northwest painters, printmakers, sculptors, and photographers from the late 1800s through the mid-1900s. Current shows include Eternal Forms: The Sculpture of Everett DuPen and R. Bruce Inverarity: Northwest Modernist. It's worth an hour—or more—of your morning.
Mid-Morning: Walk the Beach
From Salish Crossing, head out for a stroll along the Olympic Beach. The Edmonds Underwater Park at Brackett's Landing draws divers from around the world to explore sunken structures and marine life. Even if you're not diving, watching divers surface is its own entertainment.
On your way back, you'll hit the fishing pier—a local favorite for catching salmon, crab, and rockfish, depending on the season. Anglers set up for hours here starting early in the morning, and the pier itself gives you sweeping views of the Sound, the Olympics, and the ferry coming back and forth.
If you have a dog, the off-leash dog park near the marina is a must. Dogs run, swim, fetch, and socialize while their humans catch up. Food trucks often park nearby, so you can grab a bite while your pup plays.
Lunch: Anthony's Beach Cafe
By noon, you'll be ready for lunch. Anthony's Beach Cafe sits right on the beach with epic salads, seafood, and a sandbox for kids. The view from the patio is unbeatable—mountains, water, ferries, and if you're lucky, passing orcas or harbor seals.
The salads here are substantial enough to be a meal. Fresh greens, perfectly grilled salmon or prawns, house-made dressings. Yeah, you’ll linger over this lunch.
Afternoon: Art, Beer, or Both
After lunch, you have options. Walk back toward Salish Crossing to check out the new public art installations:
Gateway Canopy at Anway Park (by the ferry holding lanes) is a 14-foot-tall sculpture inspired by a tree canopy. It has a circular seating area perfect for resting before your next move.
Drift at The Reef Apartments (250 Beach Place) is a stunning mural by Will Schlough featuring a Pacific sea nettle jellyfish morphing into clouds against an Olympic Peninsula sunset. Best viewed up close from the adjacent parking lot.
Memories at the Edmonds Waterfront Center (220 Railroad Avenue) is a whale's tail carved from 3,000 pounds of granite by artist Ken Barnes in honor of his late wife. It sits at the east entrance, right by the double doors.
If beer sounds better than more walking, head to Salish Sea Brewing Boathouse. Their award-winning beers are highly sippable, and the space welcomes families and dogs. Sit outside, order a flight, and settle in for the afternoon. Back at Salish Crossing, Brigid’s Bottle House is also kid and dog-friendly with fun train sightings.
(Pssst, if you’re looking for some cute gifts, pop by Aloha NW for POG and island-inspired treasures right by the Marina)
Late Afternoon: Snoqualmie Ice Cream or Thai By Day
As the day winds down, swing back toward the marina for dessert at Snoqualmie Ice Cream. Their flavors rotate seasonally, and a cone tastes even better when you're eating it on a waterfront bench watching the ferries come and go.
If you skipped lunch or want an early dinner, Thai By Day serves fresh, flavorful Thai food made by the kindest humans. Come for the curries, stay for the hospitality (and, tangentially, large selection of house plants). Here, you can grab something quick or sit down for a proper meal, depending on your timeline.
Dinner: Niles Peacock Kitchen & Bar or Epulo Bistro
For dinner, you have two excellent options at Salish Crossing.
Niles Peacock Kitchen & Bar serves pizzas made with a 128-year-old sourdough starter—Niles’ "My Hot Date" (mozzarella, gorgonzola, Medjool dates, balsamic glaze) won first place at the 2022 International Pizza Challenge. The cocktails are just as creative as the food, and the space is always packed (for good reason).
Epulo Bistro is a second-generation, family-owned restaurant where food, wine, and connection take center stage. The menu draws from Pacific Northwest ingredients and Southern European techniques—housemade pastas, carefully selected wines, and handcrafted cocktails. Their smash burger (two 4 oz angus beef patties, American cheese, chef's special sauce, grilled onion, Martin's Famous potato bun, truffle frites) has a serious following. We once saw a woman here happily dining solo with a smash burger and a bowl of ice cream—as she should.
Evening: Watch the Sunset
End your day where you started—on the beach. The Olympic Mountains light up at sunset, and the ferries crossing the Sound become silhouettes against the sky. This view makes you understand why people visit Edmonds and never want to leave.
Bring a blanket. Sit on the sand. Watch the light change.
To us, that's a perfect day on the Edmonds waterfront.
Plan Your Visit
Most of these spots are within a mile of each other (if that), making the waterfront incredibly walkable. Free parking is available throughout downtown, and the Edmonds Station (train and bus) is a short walk from Salish Crossing if you want to go car-free.
The beauty of the waterfront is that you can follow this itinerary exactly or pick and choose based on your mood. Beach walk in the morning, art in the afternoon, beer and pizza for dinner—there's no wrong way to spend a day in Edmonds.
Tag us @exploreedmondswa when you're out exploring. We'll be watching for your sunset photos!