Things to Do in Edmonds

A descendant of fishermen and boat captains who have called the area's coastal waters home for more than a century, Captain Arch regales visitors with nautical stories while showing off his fleet of rental boats. Watercraft ranges from electric Duffy boats to sailboats, which allows the captain to equip renters for adventures such as fishing, waterskiing, or leisurely scenic floats. Beyond rentals, Arch's crew arranges guided trips, including visits to Blake Island, or beverage and appetizer cruises fortified with local wines, smoked salmon, and waiters imported from France.

Traxx Indoor Raceway measures out adrenaline in seconds. It takes a go-kart just 23 seconds to careen around the indoor 1/5-mile track once, and 45 seconds for it to crest the 1/4-mile outdoor track's hill and swoop around its smooth turns back to the starting line. Drivers can reach speeds of 35 miles per hour in the SODI GT2 gas-powered karts, so the track provides helmets, jumpsuits, and notes from their mother to keep the racers safe. All contests last 20 laps or up to 15 minutes, except for the Traxx 100, a monthly marathon when 10 drivers rumble around the outdoor track 50 times.

Although drivers on the main track must be at least 14 years old, the team is committed to spreading the excitement around. Kids aged 3–10 gear up and hop into electric cars, zipping around their own four-turn track under the watchful eyes of attendants. Among other carnivalesque distractions, the colorful facility boasts an arcade and a 24-foot climbing wall to thrill jaded teenage thumbs, as well as a checker-themed banquet hall that seats up to 150 people for parties and team-building events.

The sewing machines and staff alike at Bernina Northwest are Bernina certified. Technicians in operating and fixing the company's sewing machines, sergers, and software help customers sew embroidered wall hangings, cozy quilts, neat hems, and Frankensteins that won't unravel the first time they experience anger. Customers of any skill level can dive into the details in classes tailored to their specific machine. Should a device ever break, a shop technician uses his three decades of familiarity with the products to solve technical problems, backed with a 180-day guarantee insuring the repair.

Opened in Kirkland on Valentine's Day 2011, Palettes and Pairings celebrates the romantic interplay between art and wine. At each evening class, instructors offer tips on brushing life into a 15”x20” canvas while painters nibble appetizers and sip wine, beer, or nonalcoholic beverages. The studio also offers private parties for up to 75 guests, which can be completely customized from painting subject to dietary needs, and include smocks as well as plentiful opportunities to use the word smock.

Serving as a pensive counterpoint to the Kirkland location’s parties, the newer Issaquah studio holds open-house time for all ages four times a week.

The Electric Boat Company harbors a fleet of trusty, battery-powered boats that glide leisurely on the placid waters of Lake Union. Up to 10 passengers may board the 21-foot Duffy boats and lounge on their leather seats. Renters can take turns steering the boat in the cabin area, which can be kept open to invite in the breeze or fully closed to avoid being poked by an airborne marlin. Each boat is decked out with a table to hold snacks and drinks, along with a CD player and iPod jack that feeds into an integrated sound system.

From camps to charity events to standard rentals, Northwest Paddle Surfers' watersport professionals help create laid-back adventures with a fleet of stand-up paddleboards. Atop Lake Washington's placid waters, the company's instructors teach pupils how to balance on boards and use paddles to stir giant cups of cocoa. Pine trees and lakefront vistas backdrop the on-water classroom, beckoning each student to explore aquatic locals such as Juanita Bay. Elsewhere, YogaTone classes held on paddleboards challenge participants to stretch and breathe deeper