Editor’s note: Originally published May 26, 2017. Updated August 5, 2021.

Washington’s just come out of the wettest winter on record, so nobody will blame you if it’s been too long since you had a nice lunch outside. Outdoor seating at a restaurant is one way to enjoy some sunshine, but your time is limited and so is that seating.

For me, a quick trip to a beach is a much better choice. Everett’s beaches aren’t ones where you’ll lay in the sun for hours or enter a volleyball tournament; they’re much more suited for a short visit. And they’re much smaller during high tide, so check your tide tables before you go and set your expectations appropriately. Bring your sunglasses, and of course, a sandwich.

Edgewater Beach

Nobody would blame you if you thought Edgewater Beach is in Mukilteo, but it’s in Everett. You just have to go through Mukilteo to get there, like our own little Point Roberts. The last thing you see before you momentarily leave Everett is the Soundview Deli and Grocery.

The sign out front lists ham and cheese and pastrami and cheese, and for years I figured they’d mention more if the sign was bigger. As it turns out, they’ve got rows of those two sandwiches wrapped and ready to go, and have been making them for years.

The person who tipped me off said he used to buy the ham and cheese all the time 15 years ago, and that Soundview makes their own bread. While I didn’t verify that, I don’t doubt it at all. Toasting the sandwich and adding mustard are your only options, and I did both.

Soundview is a nice little mini mart, so there are plenty of other treats. It’s your lunch break and if you want white cheddar popcorn or ice cream, that’s your prerogative.

Get back in the car, turn right on Mukilteo Lane, right again at the railroad crossing, and follow the road to the parking lot. This access opened in April 2015 and everything’s still in perfect shape. I especially appreciate that the bench with the best view of the water has been removed so wheelchairs and scooters can roll right up.

Howarth Park Beach

Due to structural issues with the pedestrian bridge leading there, Howarth Park Beach was closed recently for 15 months. But now it’s back and better than ever, with 22,000 more tons more sand and new landscaping.

Before taking the scenic route down on Olympic Boulevard, pop into Lucky Seven AKA Lucky Grocery. They’ve got a selection of pre-made sandwiches and burgers, which are good, and bubble tea, which is great.

The real reason to get excited is the Slush Puppie machine, which I’ll bet good money is the only one in Everett. Maybe even in all of Snohomish County.

Be sure to grab a packet of mayo or mustard for your sandwich, those pre-made ones come dry. There aren’t any tables at Howarth Park’s beach so bring a picnic blanket or sit on a log. Note that the north side of the park is a dog park so we don’t recommend picnicking there unless you’re willing to share with new 4-legged friends. After lunch take a stroll and look for sea glass or watch the birds and waves.

Pigeon Creek Beach

Listen to the Live in Everett podcast and you’ll frequently hear that Pigeon Creek Beach (or Secret Beach) is everyone’s favorite, so it’s funny to go there and realize you have the whole place to yourself. It might be because it’s almost a mile from the parking area to the beach, or because the port entrance as you pull up is kind of intimidating.

It looks like you’ve taken a wrong turn into the port, but there’s a U-turn gap in the median specifically for the beach parking. There are only six or so spots, but I’ve never seen it full. The mile walk is well worth it, and very interesting, with cool views of the cranes and shipping containers.

I wanted to continue the convenience store theme, but was thwarted when I got to Wilson’s. It’s a nice store and has lots of stuff, but no sandwiches, so I bought a Crystal Pepsi and got back in the car. As it turns out, the “delicatessen” sign out front was recently swapped out for a more accurate “market” one.

Choux Choux to the rescue! Even though the sandwich case was empty, the owner was nice enough to make me one of her ham, salami, and provolone sandwiches with dried fig, apricot, cherry, and fresh pear mostarda. (I had to check the online menu to be able to list all that, it’s quite complex and delicious.)

The photo above only shows half the sandwich because I noticed while I was eating that some inappropriate graffiti on the table made it into my first shot. Something to keep in mind if you’re bringing kids. Or your mother-in-law.

Everett has great beaches and you probably aren’t enjoying them as often as you should. It’s fine to keep salt and pepper in your desk drawer, but think about also keeping a beach towel in your trunk.

Christopher Bragg works from home in Everett and loves walking, swimming, and cats. You can find him all over town, but only if you keep weird hours and avoid crowds like he does.