[ Locations ] [ NFKA ] [ Schedule ]

Northern Puget Sound

Most winds in the Seattle area are North or South. It funnels between the Cascades and the Olympics when there is any.

This park is on Lake Washington at Sand Point east of The U. of W. access from Sand Point Way at N.E. 65th Street. Follow the signs to "The Beaches" and park at the lot at the end of the road. Great Winds Kite Company has been sponsoring a drive to pull up scotch broom that has been encroaching on the flying hill. Several work parties have made a lot of progress.

Is located on Magnolia Bluff northwest of downtown Seattle. Access the park from the south gate on West Emmerson St. There's a large field just below the large geodesic dome of the Coast Guard radar installation. There is a tremendous view over Puget Sound to the Olympic Mountains from here. North wind is best here.

Is on the North shore of Lake Union. On the West side of I-5 from the University of Washington on North Northlake Way. There is not a lot of room here but is ok with short lines and a South wind. Float Planes take off irregularly on Lake Union so you probably should not go for height records here. Goodwinds Kites is just north of the park at the extreme south end of Wallingford Ave. N.

Take the 45th St. exit off I5 at the University of Washington.

a) turn east on 45th. go a quarter mile to Brooklyn Ave. NE. go south to Northlake way. go west along the lake til you get to the park. look for big rusty crack towers and trees.

b) turn west on 45th. go about a half mile up the hill to Wallingford Ave. N. go South to the Gasworks Kiteshop on N 34 St. turn east and go a block then south on Burke Ave. N you are at the park.

Is on Puget Sound north of Shilshole Marina at the north end of Seaview Avenue N.W. There is a fairly large field here or you can fly on the shore at low tide on a rocky beach.

Is at the South end of Lake Sammamish at Issaquah. Major portions of the park are closed to vehicles during the winter months but the lakeshore on the north and soccer fields on the south are good spots.

Is at the North end of Lake Sammamish Directly South of Redmond South of Highway 520. Access is from the east and west sides. There are Several places here to fly but winds are often iffy.

Is Across the Green River valley from Kent at S. 228 St from Military Road S. (N.E. from the De Moines exit of I-5) The north end of the park is a high plateau but trees on the north and west sides cut off the wind from there.

Has a large grassy overflow parking area that the local kiters have appropriated when it's not being used otherwise. The marina is on West Marine View Drive along the Everett waterfront.

Woodland Creek Park and Community Center
in Lacy on Lacy Blvd, SE

From the North, take the Hawks Prairie / Marvin Road exit, go East to Pacific Avenue, then South to the Park.

To get there, from the South, take the 109 exit aka as Martin way. Upon exiting you south bounders turn left onto Martin Way. Those traveling North turn right onto Martin Way and for those of you that can't tell your right from your left, no matter if you are going north or south, head due East on Martin Way.

Now go approx. 1 mile to Carpenter Rd. ( historical name, Carney Rd SE). It will be the 3rd signal. At that point turn right. The rest of you, and you know who I'm talking to, head South. At the VERY next signal down the road a piece I want you to go left on Lacy Blvd.SE, and you other people can just head east again, so there.

The park and community ctr. will be about a mile or so, give or take 3/4 of a mile or so, on your right, or once again for you others, on the south side of Lacy Blvd. SE.

Last time I was there the area was just gravel and dirt. That was alright as long as it was dry. The marina is on the north end of town on Marine Drive.

Is on the Olympic Peninsula Southeast of Port Townsend on the north end of Marrowstone Island. From Chimacum or Irondale take the turnoff for Indian Island, and follow signs to the fort. On the East side of the park there is a large grassy area at the year round hostel that is good for north winds. On the west side of the park is a picnic area and campground that is closed in the winter. You can catch either north or south winds here.

Is in the middle of Whidby Island at the landing for the ferry that goes to Port Townsend. One flying area is about 1/2 mile from the ferry dock on the west side of the park. You can walk on the ferry from PT and walk to the park. The fortifications the park is named for are located here. North or south winds here.

The field the Whidby Island Kite Festival is held at is a bit farther north on the park parade grounds amid the park housing. Winds here are geneally good if they are from the west, down the Straight of Juan de Fuca.

At Elma turn off highway at the main Elma turn off. ( the last Elma exit ). After exiting, turn right toward town. Go 1 short block to Eaton, ( 1st. St. past Texaco and Exxon service stations ). Turn left ( west ) and travel all the way to the end and you are there.

The annual Fort Worden Kite Workshop is held here in early March with notables from the kiting community. There is a large parade ground here, but I can't recomend it because of the forrestation on all sides and the flat areas of the beaches are very weedy. There are better places to fly very nearby.

rec.kites #56214 (0 + 91 more)
From: johnsen@eskimo.com (Brian Johnsen)
[1] Re: New Year's Day Kitefly
Date: Wed Dec 23 18:58:44 PST 1998
Organization: Tethered Airfoil R&D

In article <75pf98$2rp$1@remarQ.com>,
WT  wrote:
>Could someone help me out by posting directions to this park from I-5.
>
>bofh@hellcent.com wrote in message <9621115065801@hellcent.com>...
>>Thanks to everyone who responded to help me get on the right track here
>>for our Seattle area kitefly :)     GOLDEN GARDENS from 11am until ??
>>Happy Holidaze to everyone out there on rec.kites!!

  If the weather is still cold or raining, the best way to go is to take
the 45th street exit at the University of Washington, then get down to
the road along the north side of the ship canal between Lake Washington
and Puget Sound.  Hmm,  That's N. Northlake Way.  Follow that to Freemont
at the bridge, turn north a block then west along Leary Way.  Follow that
to where it runs into N.W. Market in Ballard.  West on Market til it does
a short sharp corner and turns into NW 54th St. and turns into Seaview Ave.
N.W.  This runs along the Sound behind Shilshole Marina.  If you follow it
to the north end it runs right into Golden Gardens Park.

  This route is quite flat and easy to navigate in adverse conditions.

  Another way to get there is take the N. 85th St. exit of I-5 going west.
Follow that all the way across town to the cliff that it winds down and
under the railroad tracks at the bottom.  Golden Gardens will be directly
on your right.

  If there's any ice still around, this route has a number of
very steep hills along the way, and if it's really wet there's the 
possibility of the road sliding on the cliff and/or being closed.
If you get stuck at the top of the cliff and N. 85th, you can turn south
on 32nd Ave. N.W. and follow that all the way down to N.W. 54th on the
Ship Canal.  Then just go west and north along the Sound.
-- 
Seafair Pirates Dump Ganja Into San Francisco Water Supply
 Nobody Notices
-- 
  Brian Johnsen   johnsen@eskimo.com   http://www.eskimo.com/~johnsen/nfka/

  There are several ways of getting to the Fort Worden Kitemakers Conference.
None of them are terrificly easy, but that's part of the charm of the place.

  Seattle To Port Townsend: (includes I5 and I90)
Follow the signs to the downtown Ferry Dock and take the boat to Bainbridge
Island.  There is a boat to Bremerton from the same dock, so make sure you
get into the right loading group.  There are signs to direct you on the dock.
You can still get there from Bremerton by going North on State Route 3, but
it takes a bit longer.  On Bainbridge, the ferry dock puts you directly on
State Route 305.  Follow this off the island and past Poulsbo to the State
Route 3 interchange and take 3 North to the Hood Canal Bridge and State Route
104.  A few miles past the Hood Canal Bridge there will be a prominent sign
directing you to Port Townsend on an uphill grade.  Follow this route through
Chimacum, past Irondale and a small aircraft field to Port Townsend.

  for Fort Flagler follow the signs from Irondale or Chimacum.

You can also drive to Edmonds and catch the Edmonds/Kingston Ferry. Follow
the signs to the Hood Canal Bridge (about 8 miles) and then follow the
instructions above.

  From Tacoma:
From 1-5, take #16 north, across the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. Stay on #16 
until you come to #3, and take #3 north. Continue on #3 across the Hood 
Canal Bridge, which will put you on #104 going west. When you reach #101, 
go north briefly, and take #20 north to Port Townsend. 

  From the South:
Take 1-5 to Olympia, and follow #101 north along the west side of Hood Canal.
Take #20 to Port Townsend. 

AS YOU ENTER PORT TOWNSEND:
Turn left at the first light, and follow the signs to Fort Worden. It's 
north of town. You'll be zigzagging through residential areas. Take the 
main street north to its end. Turn right and follow the residential streets 
along the bluff. They should dead-end at Fort Worden. Enter the park; 
Building 204 is straight ahead on the right. 

Elma Track Field

  In case of rain:  Betty's Cafe, downtown just east of the stoplight is 
good, and a bit cheaper than the other breakfast choices.

  Lunch is usually at the Mexican restaurant just west of the light.

  The field where we met last *may* be covered with PeeWees.
In that case, there's another field on the other side of the property
( farther West ).

  You get to the First field by taking the 2nd Elma exit at the Texaco
and Exxon Stations.

  Turn North from the Freeway, and then take the first left ( West ).
Go straight till you hit the field.

  In case of PeeWees, go North around the property.

[ Locations ] [ NFKA ] [ Schedule ]