This December we were able to get out on the water on a couple of weekends and enjoy some festive winter boating. A favorite spot of ours is the Point Defiance public dock. Moorage is extremely affordable and the close proximity to Point Defiance and Point Rustin make it a fun and convenient place to hang out for the weekend especially now that all the upgrades have been finished.

For those that are unfamiliar with this area, it has been undergoing a facelift for about 3 years now. A new public park, Dune Peninsula has been added to the waterfront adjacent the Tacoma Yacht Club, walking paths, slides, yes slides! and a bridge that connects both sides for easy access.

On the Point Defiance side which is also the access to the ferry terminal there is Anthony’s Restaurant and the Pointe Defiance Zoo. On the weekends, you can walk the 5 mile drive around the point on the main road as they close access to car traffic until about 1:00pm. There are several viewpoints that give great views of the Narrows, Gig Harbor, Dalco Passage and Vashon. If you like hiking within the forest there are several trails, the Spine trail is about 2.5 miles and the inside loop trail is almost 4 miles.

From the Dune Peninsula side you can walk to Point Rustin where they continue to develop the area. A true testament to the phrase, “If you build it they will come”! Currently a new Hotel and Market are being built. The walk itself is really flat and easy and once you get to Point Rustin there are a bunch of restaurants, Cinemark movie theater, ice cream, boutiques, salons, yoga/fitness and on Sundays they have a winter farmers market where we have treated our fur babies to homemade dog treats and ourselves to macrons!

Another favorite destination of ours is Gig Harbor, WA and this is our 3rd year anchoring in the harbor to enjoy the Gig Harbor Yacht clubs lighted boat parade. Kayaks, and vessels of all sizes participate in this annual event and even the local gondola tour guide lights up his gondola touring folks around the harbor. Add some holiday music, matching Christmas pjs, hot cocoa with a wee bit of baileys and you have the making of a very festive evening. This year we stopped in to the Tides Tavern for lunch and also got a glimpse of Santa and his elves paddle boarding the harbor!