A number of boat tours and ferry services depart from Seattle’s waterfront, providing a relaxing, scenic change of pace for the foot-weary traveler. The most popular ones are offered year-round by Argosy Cruises (206/623-4252 or 206/623-1445, www.argosycruises.com, $19–35) with a fleet of a dozen cruise vessels. Reservations are recommended for all of these, but they usually have space for walk-ups. The one-hour informative tour of Elliott Bay and the waterfront describes the hows and whys of containerized shipping, along with historical background. The tours depart daily from Piers 55 and 56. Argosy also has Lake Washington cruises from Lake Union or Kirkland.

One of Argosy’s most popular tours takes you from Elliott Bay through the Chittenden Locks into Lake Union, and then back by bus. The Royal Argosy, the company’s flagship, offers lunch and dinner cruises ($40–46 lunch, $80–99 dinner). Argosy also offers cruises to Tillicum Village, jetboat trips, and special event cruises throughout the year.