Nestled along Puget Sound, Everett is in no short supply of natural beauty. Ferry to Jetty Island’s laid-back beaches, birdwatch by an estuary, or amble along the verdant banks of the Snohomish River. Apart from outdoor adventures, Everett boasts a robust food and drink scene, especially by the waterfront. And the city’s love of art goes beyond its galleries and festivals, manifesting as murals and street art. Bonus: it’s easy to explore on foot, by bike, or by bus.
Things to do in Everett
Outdoors and Nature
Evergreen Arboretum and Gardens occupies 3.5 acres in American Legion Memorial Park, a greenspace at Everett’s northern tip along the Snohomish River estuary. Stroll through 12 themed gardens, including a Northwest native plant trail, a horizontal rock garden, and a woodland garden. At the downtown marina, Boxcar Park is perfect for a picnic and boat watching.
Farther south along the coast, Howarth Park is a 28-acre urban park with stellar beach access, abundant wildlife, and views of Hat Island and the distant Olympic and Cascade mountain ranges. A 15-minute drive south to the coastal hamlet of Mukilteo will take you to scenic Lighthouse Park. Take a tour of the historic Mukilteo Light Station, stroll the 0.6-mile wheelchair-accessible trail along the water, or spread a blanket on the driftwood-scattered beach.
For a longer hiking adventure, hit the Lowell Riverfront Trail, a three-mile out-and-back on a paved path along the Snohomish River’s riparian habitats. Consider extending the walk into Rotary Park, keeping your eyes peeled for sea lions and otters. Another excellent Snohomish River hike is in the Spencer Island Wildlife Area, an estuary zone known as one of the best birding spots in Puget Sound. Watch for green-winged teals, buffleheads, and herons, with Mount Baker looming on the horizon.
Get out on the water with a fishing charter with All Star Fishing, which takes care of all the logistics for a six-hour, small-group outing casting for salmon and lingcod. South of town on Silver Lake, Hydrology offers SUP rentals and paddleboard lessons. Alternatively, you can rent paddleboards and kayaks year-round from a self-service KayakShare location on the marina.
In the summer months, ride the 15-minute passenger ferry from the marina to Jetty Island, a two-mile human-made barrier island with a sandy beach and relatively warm and shallow waters. Although there are no services on the island, it’s known as one of the best kiteboarding beaches in the country, and Urban Surf Kiteboarding can provide transportation and kiteboarding lessons.
Art & Culture
Dive into the history of the military through vintage machines and the people who operated them at the Flying Heritage & Combat Armor Museum. Docents can guide you through the 110,000-square-foot exhibit space, where you’ll find 26 aircraft and over 30 vehicles. In nearby Mukilteo, Boeing Future of Flight features interactive exhibits, a flight simulator, tours of Boeing’s manufacturing site, the Strato Deck for plane spotting, and displays about future technologies, like space and hypersonic travel.
In downtown, the Schack Art Center is an epicenter of creative endeavor. The modern facility has admission-free exhibitions, classes, workshops, and a gallery store featuring over 200 local artists. An active hot shop with large windows allows visitors to watch glassblowing in action. Various artists rent out the space, and you can sign up for classes as well.
Take a self-guided walking tour to discover the city’s murals and street art. For performing arts, head to the Historic Everett Theatre, which has been entertaining Everett since the turn of the 20th century. It hosts music, film festivals, stand-up comedy, and even silent movie classics.
For families, the playscapes and galleries of the Imagine Children’s Museum nurture make-believe, creativity, and critical thinking in kids up to 12. Think: an indoor forest, a pretend wildlife rescue lab, and a water play area introducing concepts of gravity, force, and lift. Little ones also love Funko, a store specializing in Pops – collectible vinyl action figures from pop culture television shows and movies. Funko’s Everett headquarters and flagship store is guarded by giant Pop replicas, like Hagrid from Harry Potter, Frozen’s Elsa, and Luke Skywalker.
Downtown Shopping District
Spend an afternoon perusing downtown shops near the Everett waterfront. The bustling shopping zone has something for everyone. Petrikor focuses on sustainable products, like natural bug spray, bamboo toothbrushes, and mushroom knives. For eclectic and unique home design, head to Grand Leader Mercantile, which sells a gorgeous combination of vintage, farmhouse, mid-century modern, and up-cycled decor. Lovers of vintage clothes can head to Cassandra’s Closet and Hot Rod Heidi’s Vintage Closet. Get a hoodie from Pops Skateshop, vinyl at Apollo Exos Records, or a piece of local art at Zamarama Gallery.
Annual Events
In May, the Fisherman’s Village Music Festival enlivens downtown with music for three days. Enjoy around 30 bands playing on three stages, delicious food, and vendors selling original art.
In June, Sorticulture is a three-day garden arts festival showcasing the best of Pacific Northwest green-thumb living. It’s an extravaganza of art, local plants, live music, outdoor sculptures, gardening clinics, and a wide array of art vendors. Also this month, join the Diva Drag Brunch or raucous block party during three days of Everett Pride, where music fills the air and bedazzled crowds fill the streets.
In August, the Schack Art Center hosts the Fresh Paint Festival, a two-day spectacular dedicated to creative pursuit. Watch a glassblower shape a vase, throw pots next to a local artist, or buy work fresh off the easel (plus food trucks and live music, as well).
Where to Eat and Drink
Everett has a myriad of standout places to enjoy libations. Situated in a historic waterfront building, Muse Whiskey & Coffee is a daytime coffee shop and nighttime speakeasy-inspired whiskey bar (think lattes at 10 a.m. and a flight of top-shelf bourbon with Dungeness crab crostini at 7 p.m.). At Bluewater Organic Distilling, sample cocktails and support the environment, with 1% of gross bottle sales going to environmental conservation. Feel good sipping their cocktails crafted with gin and infused vodka made in hand-hammered, direct-fired kettles.
Obsidian Beer Hall takes a pub environment to the next level. Plush sofas, mid-century-modern lounge chairs, and the zig-zag bar top with nooks create a space for gathering. Hip-hop plays in the background, and a section of the bar is dedicated to exhibiting works by the community’s minority artists.
If caffeine is your jam, Narrative Coffee serves cups of joe in a living-room-like setting with big windows, skylights, exposed rafters, and brick walls. Grab tasty morning treats and pastries at Choux Choux Bakery or Southfork Baking Company, which has Adirondack chairs overlooking Possession Sound.
Take in views of the marina and the mountains while savoring upscale Asian seafood fusion – like dumplings and coconut curry mussels – at Fisherman Jack’s on the waterfront. Heralded by the Seattle Times as having some of the best tacos in Washington, El Mariachi Birria Y Tacos is an unassuming joint that specializes in birria and braised meats, serving up delectable street tacos, as well as burritos and tortas.
Where to Stay
The Hotel Indigo sits near the marina and is walkable to food, drink, and entertainment options. The property has indoor and outdoor pools and rooms with balconies overlooking Puget Sound. The Best Western Cascadia Inn is conveniently located off Interstate 5 and has a pool and hot tub.
Between Mukilteo’s Clinton Ferry and Lighthouse Park – which has beach access, walking trails, and a historic lighthouse – you’ll find the Silver Cloud Hotel on the Mukilteo waterfront. Literally on the water (the sea splashes the building’s pilings), the rooms enjoy panoramic vistas toward Whidbey Island.
About the Author
Ellee Thalheimer is a freelance writer and guidebook author based in the Pacific Northwest who has contributed to publications like Lonely Planet Guidebooks, Alaska Airlines Magazine, and Adventure Cyclist Magazine. When she can’t get outside, she writes fiction, drinks local IPAs, and perfects her handstands.