Ballard Locks

Labor Day weekend we spent a lazy afternoon at the Ballard Locks, had a picnic, played on the grassy hills, and watched a parade of sailboats, motorboats, barges yachts, etc. passing through.  The Locks provides a link for boats between the salt water of Puget Sound and the fresh water of Lake Union.  It was really interesting to see the water levels lowered and raised to get in and out.  

the gate is opening, boats waiting to go out

 when waiting to to out to the Puget Sound, they are so organized...in rows and by size

They also had a fish ladder, built to allow salmon to pass between fresh and salt water, and to navigate the locks.  This was a good salmon time of year and so we got to watch many salmon swim through the ladder, through glass windows.  the kids loved it.  they would watch a fish swim hard, against the currant, and then cheer as it made it through the gate.

if we ever have visitors in the summer, we would definitely take them to the Ballard Locks!