SEATTLE — When standing on the deck of a ferry as the telltale rumble of the engine kicks into gear and the water below begins to churn, I always feel a sense of escapism kick in. The expansive views unencumbered by tiny windows, the chance to gulp fresh saltwater air and the simple freedom to walk around something far more spacious than an airplane, train or car all contribute to the thrill.
Unfortunately, Washington State Ferries have seen better days. Chronic delays, short staffing, underfunding, deferred maintenance and broken-down vessels have all made ferry trips become less the stuff of romance and more the stuff of annoyance. While there are signs that the agency's leadership is working to right the ship, WSF is still years away from resuming normal service.
Even when state ferries were running more smoothly, summertime gets extremely busy. Routes that take reservations like the San Juan Islands and Port Townsend-Coupeville require planning well in advance to secure your preferred time slot. Crossings from Kingston to Edmonds or Bainbridge Island to Seattle can see multihour waits at the dock during peak times.
Below, find a primer on Western Washington's lesser-known and less-of-a-hassle ferries. They are run by county governments — and so less prone to the systemwide issues plaguing WSF. While the crossings are shorter and the destinations are smaller, the end result is the same: whether for a few hours or a few days, an island getaway.
Anderson Island: South Sound island life
Make your way to Steilacoom, where Pierce County operates a model ferry route in miniature: a two-boat service boasting a 100% on-time percentage and no canceled sailings, according to county data. (Some residents, however, dispute Pierce County's on-time performance claims.) Both the MV Steilacoom II and MV Christine Anderson hold...
