Hiram M. Chittenden Locks / Ballard Locks

Beautiful place, very memorable to me. Fell in love with the most amazing woman there. Will never forget my first visit to the locks. Especially the underwater viewing area. more

I've never been to the locks on the weekend so I'm not sure how crowded they get, but during a weekday this place is great. I love to go down and watch the boats and the birds. Its got a great calm feeling about it. The surrounding area is pretty and well maintained, good for a walk on a sunny afternoon. Seeing the locks in action always takes me back to middle school science class and I enjoy that everytime. Check it out! Pros: Relaxing, free more

I recently went there with my parents and we enjoyed watching the locks open/close, fill/empty and see the seagulls in action, eating. Be prepared for the stench when you walk over from the locks to the salmon ladder. We did see salmon in one ladder, but never saw one switch from one ladder to the next. The free visitor's center has a small amount of interesting exhibits (the hands-on ones all seemed broken), a small gift shop, and a short film.They offer free, guided tours, but we did not take one. If you park on the Ballard side of the locks you have to walk partially through the Botanical Gardens/park to get to the locks. The park was not crowded and it would be a good spot to have a picnic. Pros: lots of different things to see (locks, ladder, park, visitor's center) Cons: not easy for people who have a hard time walking far. more

I have to admit, I was pretty skeptical before I went...it just sounded like some dumb locks that salmon jump...but it is worth the trip. It is a lot more interesting than what I thought. The visiting center is nice...and the area is beautiful. It's definately worth the trip..especially if you are a tourist. Pros: Great tourist spot, better than expected more

Bring a picnic and dont forget to stop by the visitors center and the rose garden. You might just see someone famous going through the locks. Plan to spend hours here, you will be amazed at how fast the time goes by. Pros: free, free, free more

I have lived near the locks all my life, and have always been fasinated with it. It is so much fun to just go and spend a relaxing day there watching boat traffic and the fish go through the latter, and the occassional train rolling over the nearby trainbridge. Discovery Park (Magnolia Side) and Golden Gardens Beach (Ballard Side) are very close as well. Hit up all of these places to make your day perfect. Pros: fun, interesting, free more

This is a great, inexpensive way to spend an afternoon. Take a break and stop in The Lockspot Cafe for great food and service at good prices. Make sure check out the fish ladder with underwater viewing windows and watch the salmon migrate. Drive less than a mile past the locks and you are at beautiful Golden Gardens State Park and Shilshole Marina. Pros: Inexpensive, Educational, Art/Gardens Cons: Not for rainy day more

My parents live in Florida + come to visit about once a year. This is the one place they refuse to miss every time they come. Make sure to go when the salmon are running, they are the best part of the trip. Pros: salmon ladder, peaceful, inexpensive more

I have never managed to enjoy the Ballard Locks, except when kayaking once through them. Pros: food nearby, salmon spawning Cons: crowded, bad parking more

Amazing when the salmon are jumping!! A great place to take out of town guests to enjoy the beauty of Seattle. more

The locks are a must see to explain the constant water level of the lakes versus the tide action of the oceans. The locks are the gateway to Seattle! more