Like many who live in the Puget Sound area, I enjoy a walk on the beach at any time of year. When my friend from the Kingston Trails Committee suggested we explore Kingston’s North Beach I was all for it, despite the cloudy day and threat of rain. I’d seen this beach just north of the ferry terminal from the boat but had not realized how easily accessible it is.

We parked in the free two-hour spots at the marina, and then walked along the west side of the ferry holding area and down the sidewalk to stairs which took us right on to the beach. And what a great beach it is. It is definitely worth a long visit.

View North Beach in a larger map

We chose a good low tide for our walk and the wide sandy beach was fabulous. My friend said that with a really low tide, it is possible to walk all the way to Hansville. This beach is a fine place to watch marine and bird life. We had two eagles watching us from trees and saw a variety of waterfowl. The easy access and smooth terrain make it a good choice for a walk with children and it would be hard to beat this spot for a sandy play-date or picnic.

After enjoying the beach, we still weren’t quite tired of walking. It was easy to extend our excursion by heading north on Washington Boulevard. Washington is the first street you come to on the right as you exit the ferry lot and it extends north along the top of the bluff above the beach. After the first block, the street is closed to vehicle traffic but still open to pedestrians and offers a terrific view of sound, mountains, ferry, and the beach.

When Washington reaches East Fourth Street, you can turn left and then take another left on Ohio Avenue to return to downtown. You can also continue along Fourth to the easement and path that take you to Illinois Avenue for the return trip.

We chose to retrace our steps along Washington and relax with a snack from the bakery in the old Kingston Hotel building. Bakeries are my favorite spots, but there are also a number of other good eateries close by if you want to add a meal to your trip. This combination urban and beach walk is a fine outing for a spring afternoon, offering lots of variety without going too far from home.

You can find a list of other local trails and county parks on the web site, http://kingston98346.org