Ballard Travel Guide

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There are a number of facilities that are part of what is called the "Ballard Locks"(though officially is called the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks): this includes the Locks themselves and the Carl English Botanical Gardens.

This tip covers the small museum and visitor's center display on the second floor of a building near the entrance to area of the locks that is open to the public.

The displays in the visitor's center are free of charge to enter and visit, but are not extremely extensive. There are:

1. History of various proposals to link Lake Washington to Puget Sound, including maps of the various routes proposed, and a brief mention of one of the failed efforts by a private group of investors to dig a tunnel to connect the two bodies of water.

2. A display devoted to Hiram M. Chittenden, who is described as a "visionary leader" of the effort to build the locks where they are today.

3. Tools, materials, and methods used to build the locks including some of the very large casting molds used to create various massive parts required, historic photographs with description of what is going on, and mock-ups of a few of the facilities required (such as the blacksmith shop of the efforts).

4. Scale models of the ships that go through the locks.

5. Natural resources found near the locks, including the salmon and other fish that go through the fish ladder, and other discussion of natural resources.

6. A discussion of how the locks work, including a small cross-sectional model view of the water levels and the locks and a description of the contols used to raise and lower the water levels.

7. A small theatre with various programs that show history and present day construction and operation of the locks.

I found the visitor's center to have some interesting information about the history of the locks, but the presentation would be better if these were actually located at the locks themselves. There are quite a lot of people that simply walk right by the visitor's center entrance without stopping in to see what is here, and thus miss the more extensive history and operational description of what is observed when watching the locks in action.

At the same time, reserving the room with all the treasures in it for those who actually look for it is probably better for the displays, as it means only those who really want to learn more about the locks visit this part of the facility.

While there were very few visitors to this room of historical and operational displays while I was there, the locks themselves were packed with people, and it would have been a bit harder to gain any historical perspective had those crowds been milling about in the historical displays.

See also:

My Hiram M. Chittenden Locks tip - as this is listed as a Seattle "Things to Do" activity in the existing VirtualTourist system, that is where I have put my entry as well.

My Carl English Botanical Gardens tip

My Commodore Park tip (this park is on the south side of the locks, and while maintained by the city of Seattle is basically part of the Locks complex, and provides viewing from the south side of ships entering the locks).

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It's a reasonably typical Seattle pub, but has some interesting features, including a pile of board games on a shelf by the room closest to the entry of the pub. Apparently, unlike certain other establishments, they aren't in a hurry for their customers to leave to make room for new ones.

Children are allowed in the front room as well, until 10 pm.

It is also a somewhat unique place in that some of the owners are graduates of a university in Virginia, and thus sports events from that team are shown on the television here.

It is intended that the pub have somewhat of a German feel to it, and the names and content of some of the menu selections, and some of the beverage selections. This also explains the way the web site is set up. However, in reality in my opinion it is pretty much an American institution in its methods and servings. It does fine in this, and should not pretend to be anything else.

There are only two tables close to the front windows, so if you are wanting something with a view of local scenery you are best off trying to find somewhere else.

Favorite Dish: The Hinden-Burger adds bacon and deep fried pickle to one of the standard burgers, including house salad, german potato salad, chips or fries for $8.

A Fox Barrel Black Currant cider is $4.50

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OK, so it is a national chain these days, but that doesn't stop the fact that they started in Washington and their headquarters are in Seattle.

So, I would hope that their Seattle locations would be the best ones to sample.

This store is part health food store, and part smoothie shop. Quite a number of heathly snacks, drinks, and food mixes are sold here, plus water bottles and the like. The primary food sold here are "healthy" smoothies, and the menu options include such sections as "zero fat" and "low sugar".

The Ballard location features only three tables along a southwest facing window. In the summer months, the sunlight is fairly intense, but due to the busy street right outside any outdoor seating (there isn't any) would be a waste to try to use. In the winter months, the huge new buildings in this part of town block the sunlight.

Favorite Dish: The fruit mixtures here are quite eccentric and quite good, though certainly on the more expensive side. I like the Mango Mania, which is $5.23 at the Ballard location, including the sales tax.

Located in the very far northern reaches of what should be considered Ballard (beyond here lies Crown Hill) the Larsen Brothers Bakery have been making wonderful treats since the early 1970s, and have developed quite a reputation. There are now locations in a number of places in western Washington, but Ballard is the first.

The "restaurant" part of the operation is a bit limited. There are three tables to sit at, the coffee (which seems to be extremely popular) is mostly self-service, and there are no public restrooms offered.

However, the baked goods have a reputation that makes many generations of people come here, and you will find something you will want to try.

Weather you *should* try it or not I will leave up to you.

Favorite Dish: The rhubarb strudel ($2.75 per slice) isn't featured on the web site, but disappeared some time back, and is now back in the display cabinet by popular demand.

You will probably want to try the kringle, however, as the reputation for that is quite large.