Long before Boeing was known for airplanes mysteriously falling out of the sky and a too-cozy relationship with federal regulators, it was known for seaplanes. Bill Boeing’s first flying machine, built in 1916, had pontoons rather than wheels.
A fine specimen hangs from the rafters at MOHAI, just a stone’s throw from a very active seaplane runway: Lake Union. You’ve probably seen Kenmore Air’s planes while lazing away a summer afternoon, wondering if any of them has ever accidentally decapitated a stand-up paddleboarder.
Watching seaplanes is a summertime delight. Even better? Flying in one. I will not mince words: They are a splurge. One-way flights start at $149 to take you to places like Vancouver, Victoria, and the San Juan Islands—and it only goes up from there—while some combination of ferry, train, bus, and/or car can get you to and from those destinations for much less.