It seems like everyone in Seattle has sailing roots. I wish I came from a family of sailors but I’m the outlier. I do love being on the water in this city, however, and after having a chance to experience the peacefulness that comes from sailing on a sailboat, I decided to try to learn a bit more about the activity.

That’s where the Center for Wooden Boats comes into play. This beautiful building sits right in South Lake Union and offers something for every water-lover: sailing lessons, woodworking and bronze casting classes, rowboat rentals, exhibits, and more. There’s a ton of Seattle maritime history to learn about and CWB is a great place to start.

I love renting their rowboats and once I get good enough to sail single-handed, I think I’ll rent one of their sailboats. The South Lake Union area is rapidly changing and the CWB is a comforting mainstay (no pun intended) to the neighborhood.