Q: How should I plan a day trip to Port of Everett’s Waterfront Place in spring 2026?

A: Plan for a half-day minimum. The Port of Everett’s Waterfront Place opened multiple restaurants between December 2025 and March 2026 and now anchors a credible day-trip experience for visitors from Seattle, Bellingham, and across the I-5 corridor. The high-leverage day-trip plan: arrive by late morning, lunch at The Net Shed Fresh Fish Market & Kitchen or Marina Azul (when open), walk the marina and visit Pacific Coast Salmon Coalition, head to Jetty Island via the seasonal passenger ferry (May–early September), come back for happy hour on Tapped Public House’s rooftop deck, and finish with frozen yogurt at Menchie’s at the Marina. Park free in the lots adjacent to Restaurant Row. Total cost for two: roughly $80–$120 depending on drinks. From Seattle, plan 45 minutes by car or 50 minutes via Sounder North.

Visiting Everett’s Waterfront in Spring 2026: A One-Day Guide for the Restaurants, Marina, and Jetty Island

The Port of Everett’s Waterfront Place spent the back half of 2025 and the first quarter of 2026 quietly becoming a credible waterfront day-trip destination. The marina was always there — 2,300 slips, the largest public marina on the West Coast. What’s new is what’s around it. Tapped Public House opened March 2 with the largest open-air waterfront rooftop deck in Snohomish County. Rustic Cork and The Net Shed opened in December 2025. Menchie’s at the Marina cut its ribbon March 13, 2026. Marina Azul Cocina & Cantina is opening this spring. There is now enough at Waterfront Place to spend a full day.

This guide walks through how to plan that day, in the order most visitors should do it.

Getting There From Seattle, Bellingham, and Beyond

From Seattle: 30 miles north on I-5 to exit 194 (Pacific Avenue), then west on Pacific Avenue until the road dead-ends at the marina. 45 minutes off-peak, 60–75 minutes during rush. Or take Sounder North from King Street Station to Everett Station (about 50 minutes), then Community Transit Route 7 or a 15-minute walk to the waterfront.

From Bellingham: 80 miles south on I-5 to exit 194. About 90 minutes off-peak.

From Eastside (Bellevue/Kirkland): WA-520 to I-5 north, then exit 194. About 50 minutes off-peak.

By boat: Guest moorage is available at the Port of Everett Marina. Day-use moorage rates are published on the Port’s website. Approach: enter through the breakwater at the north or south end of the marina; check in at the marina office for assigned moorage.

Parking

Free parking is available at multiple surface lots adjacent to Restaurant Row and the marina. Lots are well-marked and within a 2-minute walk of any tenant on the property. Saturday afternoons in summer can fill up; aim to arrive before noon if you want a lot directly behind the Restaurant Row building.

The High-Leverage Three-Hour Plan

11:30 AM — Arrive and lunch. Start with The Net Shed Fresh Fish Market & Kitchen for a fast, fresh seafood lunch on the ground floor of the Restaurant Row building. The fish-and-chips and the chowder are the easy first-time orders. Or, when it opens this spring, Marina Azul Cocina & Cantina for tacos and a paloma on the deck directly on the water.

12:30 PM — Walk the marina. Head south along the marina docks. The walk runs the length of the North Marina basin and into the South Marina, with views of every type of vessel from working fishing boats to high-end pleasure craft. Stop at the Pacific Coast Salmon Coalition gift shop for the salmon-conservation-themed retail and visitor information. The walk takes roughly 30–45 minutes round trip if you don’t stop, longer if you do.

1:15 PM — Jetty Island ferry (May–early September only). The Port runs a free seasonal passenger ferry from the marina to Jetty Island, the Port’s day-use island sandbar in Possession Sound. Roundtrip rides are 5 minutes each way; the island has a lifeguard-staffed beach in summer, walking trails, and some of the best low-tide tide-pooling in the region. Plan 60–90 minutes on the island if you go.

3:00 PM — Tapped Public House rooftop happy hour. Head to the rooftop deck of Tapped Public House on the second floor of the Restaurant Row building. Order a drink, take in the view across the marina and Possession Sound, and stay through golden hour if the weather cooperates. This is the showstopper experience at Waterfront Place.

5:00 PM — Frozen yogurt and walk back. Finish at Menchie’s at the Marina, also on the second floor of the Restaurant Row building. The self-serve frozen yogurt with the rotating flavor wall and toppings bar is a strong way to wrap a sunny waterfront day with kids in tow. Then walk back to the parking lot.

Variations: Swap Tapped for Rustic Cork Wine Bar if you’d prefer a wine-and-small-plates happy hour. Swap The Net Shed for Bluewater Distilling at Hotel Indigo if you want a sit-down lunch with cocktails.

What to Know About Each Restaurant

Tapped Public House. Gastropub menu, full bar, the largest open-air waterfront rooftop deck in Snohomish County. Showstopper view. Best for happy hour or sunset. Reservations recommended on weekends.

Rustic Cork Wine Bar. Wine-forward program, curated by-the-glass list, small plates and Pacific Northwest food. Best for a quiet wine pairing or a date-night.

The Net Shed Fresh Fish Market & Kitchen. Fresh fish counter and quick-service kitchen. Casual, walk-up. Best for fast lunch with the family or grabbing fish to take home.

Menchie’s at the Marina. Self-serve frozen yogurt, pay by weight, rotating flavor wall and toppings bar. Best for after-walk dessert with kids. The first waterfront-facing Menchie’s in the Puget Sound region.

Marina Azul Cocina & Cantina (opening early spring 2026). Refined Mexican menu, extensive sipping tequila and craft cocktail program. Direct waterfront patio with boat-to-table dining. Best for dinner. From the team behind Casa Azul in Woodinville and Agave Cocina in Issaquah.

Bluewater Distilling at Hotel Indigo. Hotel restaurant with cocktail-forward bar program. Convenient if staying at Hotel Indigo or arriving by Sounder.

Beyond Restaurant Row: Other Things at Waterfront Place

• Hotel Indigo Everett Waterfront — only hotel on the property, with marina views and the Bluewater Distilling restaurant.
• The Mukilteo–Everett water taxi — seasonal passenger ferry between Everett’s and Mukilteo’s waterfronts. Schedule and rates published seasonally on the Port’s website.
• Marine services and S3 Maritime — for boaters needing maintenance or supplies.
• Pacific Coast Salmon Coalition gift shop — salmon-conservation retail and visitor info.

What’s Worth a Separate Trip

If your day-trip plan is going well and you have time before driving home, these are within 5 minutes by car:

• Hewitt Avenue restaurants and bars — Everett’s downtown core has rebuilt its restaurant scene over the last 24 months. Quick walk if you parked downtown.
• Funko HQ — collectors detour for the Funko store.
• Schack Art Center — downtown gallery and visiting exhibitions.
• Howarth Park beach — Everett’s quieter beach park, 5 minutes south of downtown, with a pedestrian bridge over the BNSF tracks to a long Puget Sound beach.

Best Day-Trip Days for Waterfront Place

Best weather window: May through early October. Puget Sound waterfront is at its best in dry, longer-light months.

Best day of week: Saturday for full energy, Sunday for slower pace, Friday afternoon for happy hour without the crowd.

What to skip: January through March weekday lunches — quieter than the experience deserves. Wait for spring weekends.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should I plan to spend at the Port of Everett’s Waterfront Place?

Half-day minimum to do justice to lunch, the marina walk, and one happy-hour or rooftop experience. Full day if including Jetty Island in season (May–early September).

Is parking free at Waterfront Place?

Yes. Free public parking is available in multiple surface lots adjacent to Restaurant Row and the marina.

Can I take public transit to Waterfront Place from Seattle?

Yes. Sounder North service from King Street Station to Everett Station (about 50 minutes), then Community Transit bus or a 15-minute walk to the waterfront. Sounder North runs limited weekday-only service; verify current schedule.

When does the Jetty Island ferry run?

Seasonally, typically May through early September. The ferry is free and runs from the Port of Everett Marina to Jetty Island, with crossings of about 5 minutes each way.

Are the restaurants at Waterfront Place family-friendly?

Most are. The Net Shed, Menchie’s at the Marina, Tapped’s main floor, and Marina Azul are all family-appropriate. Rustic Cork is more adult-oriented (wine bar focus). Tapped’s rooftop deck is 21+ in the bar area but family-friendly elsewhere; verify policy on visit.

Can I bring my dog?

Outdoor patios at several restaurants are dog-friendly with confirmation; verify with the specific tenant. The marina walking paths welcome leashed dogs. Jetty Island has restrictions during peak season.

Where should I stay overnight if I want to extend my Waterfront Place visit?

Hotel Indigo Everett Waterfront is the only hotel on the property and is the closest stay to the marina and Restaurant Row. Other Everett-area hotels are 5–15 minutes away by car.

Is Waterfront Place still under construction?

Active redevelopment continues — Marina Azul is opening this spring, the Port is recruiting a breakfast-and-brunch operator for one remaining Restaurant Row spot, and a flagship restaurant is being recruited for the last undeveloped parcel. The areas currently open are fully visit-ready.