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From the briny smell of Elliott Bay wafting over downtown to the sight of sunlight sparkling on Lake Washington during a summer morning commute; from the lapping sound of waves against docks and kayaks to the taste of our drinking water—some of the purest in the world. And—we’ll say it—the feeling of warm rain splattering down our necks during an unexpected drizzle. (Then again, is any Seattle drizzle truly unexpected?) Water draws us together in fun—and in water-logged, ruined-picnic shared misery. But we know that what comes down on our heads also comes down on our lakes, rivers and streams, creating watersheds, unparalleled natural beauty and seemingly endless options for play.

Whether your preferred water spot is a remote or urban lake, a glacier-fed river or the Pacific Ocean, here is your guide to playing in, living on, eating from and celebrating Seattle’s abundant liquid assets.

Lakes
Puget Sound
Pacific Ocean
Rivers
Eat from the Sea
Creatures of the Deep
Owning a Boat