By MICHAEL WHITNEY
Published July 11, 2012

Come see what you’re missing on Jetty Island
EVERETT - Jetty Island, Everett’s microcosm of nature, opened to the public July 1.
The two-mile-long island features a sandy beach that seems to stretch for miles and bountiful natural habitat. The island is surrounded by shallow waters that stay warm, providing plenty of play time on one of Everett’s most unique destinations.
Juvenile salmon, waterfowl and bald eagles are just a few examples of the wildlife currently living on Jetty Island.
The opportunity to visit Jetty Island lasts through Labor Day, which is Sept. 3 this year.
“It’s a big sandbar, good for kiteboarding, skimboarding and kids poking around,” city spokeswoman Kate Reardon said. Skimboarding is similar to surfboarding only it’s done close to the shore. More than 50,000 people visit Jetty Island each year, according to the Port of Everett, which owns the island.
There are classes all summer long to let kids explore nature up close.
Details on classes are on the city’s website www.everettwa.org, search parks and recreation.
“There are a lot of great opportunities for kids to touch and feel the nature,” Reardon said.
Kraig Hansen, the island’s official naturalist, has been leading tours of Jetty Island seven days a week for almost 20 years now.
There are free ferries to the island. Plan ahead as the boats only carry 60 people at a time. Groups of 10 and Everett residents may make reservations 24 hours in advance by calling 425-257-8304.
To get to the Jetty Island ferry, go to the marina park at W. Marine View Drive and 10th Street along Everett’s waterfront to get to the 10th Street Boat Launch.
The ferry times are:
• Monday - Thursday 10 a.m. to 5:50 p.m.
• Fridays and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 8:50 p.m.
• Sundays 10 a.m. to 6:50 p.m.
If you visit Jetty Island, “look at it like a day at the beach, with just you, the water, the sand and the environment,” Reardon said.
The island has bathrooms and changing rooms, but no food vendors or electricity. Bring towels, blankets, water and sunscreen, but not your pets. Animals, alcohol and glass containers are not allowed on Jetty Island.
Jetty Island began as a rip-rap jetty in the late 1800s and provided a protected harbor and navigation channel. The port got ownership of Jetty Island in 1929 and, with the help of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, built a new marsh of dredged river materials in 1989.
The port continues to expand Jetty Island, and has an upcoming project to expand the beach this fall, port spokeswoman Lisa Lefeber said.