Things to Do in Mukilteo
Foray into an urban hike like something out of a dream: step from pavement into a winding trail network that winds through a verdant gulch. Eat seafood fresh from the sea. Watch…
Mukilteo... how do you pronounce that? And what does it mean?
MUK-uhl-TEE-oh. The meaning of "Mukilteo" is often interpreted as "good camping ground". In the Snohomish dialect of Lushootseed, it can also mean "to swallow" or "narrow passage", reflecting the area's geographical features as a fishing village located on a narrow waterway connecting Puget Sound.
Japanese Gulch sounds cool. What’s the story there?
It is cool. Japanese Gulch is named for the Japanese American millworkers who used to live in this forested neck of the coastal woods. Their houses used to line the cliffs, their settlements spread out under the verdant boughs above. The Gulch has long been abandoned, but it’s now a favored trail for walkers, dog owners, trail runners, and mountain bikers. Archaeologists still occasionally find relics from the days when this wooded glen was occupied. Keep your eyes peeled.
What’s the ferry ride like? What should I know? Any tricks or hacks?
It’s pretty great... and you want to plan ahead. It’s best if you buy your tickets in advance and get to the terminal earlier than you think. During peak travel times, the wait can sometimes exceed an hour and a half. The really smart/easier way to do it (if you’re so inclined) is to walk aboard or ride a bike.
What’s the Cascade Loop?
It’s a 440-mile road trip that takes motorists across the crazy variety of landscapes that are packed into Washington State., Witness islands, national forests, mountains, high deserts, scrub brush, river valleys, and modern urban cities before returning to Mukilteo. Mukilteo is a natural starting point/terminus for this trip. It’s a remarkable thing.
Can I go inside the lighthouse? It looks really cool!
Yes! Please. Just not any time you’d like. You can catch a tour there, courtesy of the local historic society. They don’t charge a fee for the tour but do request a suggested donation. You can climb the winding steps to the very top to see the mirrored lens up close. Remarkable. Just don’t go too crazy... you did see that lighthouse movie with Willem DeFoe, right?
