Few roads capture the spirit of Maritime Washington better than Chuckanut Drive. Designated as Washington's original scenic byway, this winding stretch of State Route 11 follows the sandstone cliffs of the Chuckanut Mountains where the Cascades meet the Salish Sea, offering riders sweeping views of Bellingham Bay, Samish Bay, and the distant San Juan Islands. Originally developed as a coastal transportation route more than a century ago, Chuckanut Drive still feels like a road built for wandering rather than simply getting somewhere. Along the way you'll pass through historic Fairhaven, a nineteenth-century waterfront district that once dreamed of becoming the largest city on Puget Sound, ride beside the shoreline of Washington's first state park at Larrabee State Park, and discover countless overlooks where sea, forest, mountains, ferries, and islands all share the same horizon. At just over twenty miles, Chuckanut Drive is not a long ride, but it is one of the most memorable in Washington. The curves are enjoyable, the scenery is world-class, and every turn reveals another view of the Inland Sea that makes riders understand why this stretch of road is often called the Pacific Northwest's answer to Big Sur. GMRW Ride Map #4 explores one of the crown jewels of Maritime Washington—a place where the road hugs the cliffs, ferries cross the water below, and the journey is every bit as rewarding as the destination.

The Sunset Run – Tacoma's Waterfront Cruise

Some motorcycle rides are measured in miles.

Others are measured in moments.

The Sunset Run is one of those rides.

This route follows the shores of Puget Sound through Tacoma's historic waterfront, where the road hugs the edge of Commencement Bay and every mile offers another reason to slow down and take it all in. Unlike Washington's mountain passes or remote backroads, the Sunset Run is not about escaping civilization. It is about experiencing one of the state's great waterfront cities from the seat of a motorcycle.

The ride begins among the bustling communities of South Puget Sound before eventually finding its way to Ruston Way, one of Washington's finest urban waterfront roads. Here, motorcycles roll between two worlds. On one side lies the city, filled with restaurants, shops, marinas, and neighborhoods climbing the hills above the bay. On the other lies the water itself, alive with sailboats, ferries, tugboats, fishing vessels, and massive cargo ships moving through one of the busiest maritime corridors in the Pacific Northwest.

This is Washington's Inland Sea.

The saltwater channels of Puget Sound have shaped the history, economy, and culture of the state for generations. Long before highways crossed the region, these waters served as the primary transportation routes connecting communities from Olympia to the San Juan Islands. Even today, the movement of ships through Commencement Bay reminds visitors that Tacoma remains one of the most important port cities on the West Coast.

As the route follows Ruston Way northward, riders are treated to sweeping views across the bay toward the Olympic Mountains and, on clear days, the snow-covered summit of Mount Rainier rising above the horizon. Waterfront parks invite riders to stop and enjoy the view while joggers, cyclists, families, and fellow travelers share the shoreline pathways. During summer evenings the entire waterfront comes alive as restaurant patios fill with people enjoying the sunset over the water.

At the northern end of the route sits one of Tacoma's greatest treasures: Point Defiance Park.

Covering more than 700 acres, Point Defiance is one of the largest urban parks in the United States. Massive old-growth forests, scenic overlooks, gardens, beaches, and winding roads make it a destination all by itself. The park's famous Five Mile Drive has long been a favorite among local riders seeking a peaceful cruise beneath towering evergreens.

Within the park you'll also find the renowned Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, one of the Northwest's premier wildlife attractions. Home to polar bears, tigers, sharks, sea otters, and countless other species, the zoo has welcomed generations of Washington families and remains one of Tacoma's most beloved destinations.

History enthusiasts should not miss Fort Nisqually Living History Museum, located within Point Defiance Park. Originally established in 1833 by the Hudson's Bay Company, Fort Nisqually was one of the earliest European trading posts in the Pacific Northwest. Today, carefully preserved buildings and living history demonstrations provide a fascinating glimpse into the region's fur trading era and the early days of Washington Territory.

The route also passes near Browns Point Lighthouse, which has guided mariners into Commencement Bay since the late nineteenth century. Nearby views of the Tacoma Narrows connect riders to another famous chapter of Washington history—the story of "Galloping Gertie," the original Tacoma Narrows Bridge that dramatically collapsed in 1940 and remains one of the most studied engineering failures in the world.

Yet for all its history, scenery, and attractions, the true magic of the Sunset Run is its atmosphere.

This is the ride you take when the weather is perfect and there is nowhere in particular you need to be. It is the rumble of a V-twin echoing off waterfront buildings. It is the scent of saltwater drifting in from the bay. It is watching ships move through the harbor while the evening sun paints the sky in shades of gold and orange.

The Sunset Run reminds us that some of Washington's best motorcycle roads are not found high in the mountains or deep in the wilderness.

Sometimes they are found right where the city meets the sea.

Kickstands up, ride safe, and don't be surprised if you find yourself stopping more than once just to watch the sun settle over Puget Sound.