Store

When friends come from out of town for a summer visit to our fair city, the first place to take them is on a sea-kayak trip around Lake Union. Lure them with promises of finding the "Sleepless in Seattle" houseboat (even if you don't know where it is), and discover how much fun it is to glide by Gas Works Park, float through marinas full of yachts you'll never own, and duck for cover when the Kenmore Air seaplanes come in for a landing. If you have all day — why hurry? — paddle through the Montlake cut and explore the Arboretum.

A big red sign and upended kayak invite you down the stairs to NWOC's retail store, rental office and dock on the western shore of Lake Union. Here, experienced kayakers and the patient staff will outfit you with everything you need for day trips or, if you have a few months, expeditions up to Alaska.

Not sure how to even get into a kayak, much less paddle one? The staff gives quick dockside talks on safety and equipment, and will help you take your first strokes away from the store.

When you want to learn more about paddling, NWOC offers a full schedule of classes for budding sea kayakers and white-water river-runners.

NWOC rents single, double and triple (!) sea kayaks for trips on inland waters. If you'd like to take a boat "to go," the staff will help you load it on your rack-equipped car — and if your car doesn't have a rack, they may have one to fit. Call ahead on sunny summer days and weekends to reserve a boat to be sure of getting on the water.

The retail store sells clothing, safety gear and outfitting gear to customize your sweet waterborne ride. It also has a good collection of books, charts and guides to local and not-so-local destinations for planning your next big trip.

If you're nice, the staff may even tell you where Tom Hanks and his cinematic son lived.

By Ben Feigert
Special to NWsource