West Seattle

West Seattle is the most populous district of Seattle. Separated from the remainder of the city by the Duwamish River, much of it has a decidedly less urban character, and is a welcome change for tourists wanting to avoid the hassle of the downtown area. For those who do visit, West Seattle has worthwhile attractions of its own, including miles of Puget Sound shoreline offering the areas best beaches with unparalleled views of the city, a plethora of restaurants, and a thriving commercial district centered on Alaska Junction.

Alki lighthouse at sunset with state ferry passing on Puget Sound.

Get in

By car

Get on the West Seattle Bridge from either Interstate 5 or from southbound Highway 99. Keep going uphill until you reach SW Alaska Street; turn right and continue to California Ave SW. You will be at Alaska Junction (the intersection of California Ave. SW and SW Alaska St.) where there are several shops, restaurants, etc. To reach Admiral Junction (more shops, restaurants, etc.) turn right (north) on California and continue past the high school.

To reach Alki Beach from the West Seattle Bridge, take the Harbor Ave. exit off the bridge and head north along the waterfront. You'll see the sandy beach when you get there.

By ferry

The 1 Fauntleroy Ferry Terminal at the southern end of West Seattle, south of Lincoln Park, offers frequent service to Southworth and Vashon Island. This terminal is much less crowded than the ferry terminals downtown and offers a more relaxing launching point to explore Vashon Island and the Kitsap Peninsula and offers both drive on and walk on traffic. If you are thinking of leaving your car and walking on the ferry, be warned that parking near the terminal is extremely scarce. Rapid Ride C bus connects Downtown to this ferry terminal via West Seattle Bridge, Alaska Way Jct, California Ave SW & Fauntleroy Ave SW. It continues towards Westwood Center via SW Barton St.

By water taxi

King County Water Taxi

• 2 King County Water Taxi (Seacrest Park). Offers service between Pier 50 on the downtown Seattle waterfront and Seacrest Park in West Seattle with amazing views of the city. Seacrest Park is along the bike trail and offers relaxing beaches and nearby shops and restaurants. The 775 bus connects Seacrest Park (Water Taxi Terminal) to Alki Beach (63rd SW & Alki Ave SW) via California Ave & Admiral Way (Admiral District). Bus comes back towards Seacrest Park along Alki Beach on Alki Ave SW. Bus only goes in a counter clockwise direction between the two ends. Passengers can transfer to other King County Metro buses (50, 55, 56, 57, 128) on California Ave SW & SW Admiral Way. See schedules. Adults ORCA fare $3.50, Cash or ticket fare $4.00, Seniors (65) $1.75 Youth (6-18) ORCA Youth Card fare $2.75 -Cash or ticket fare $4.00 - Children (5 and under) Free. 

By bus

Ride the RapidRide Line C from South Lake Union and Downtown. The bus traverses the commercial area of California Ave SW and Fauntleroy Ave SW towards the Fauntleroy ferry terminal via Lincoln Park and onto Westwood Village on SW Barton St. King County Metro's route 50 runs to Alki Beach and California Ave SW from Othello Station in South Seattle.

By boat

• Don Armeni Boat Ramp, 1222 Harbor Ave SW (Located on Harbor Avenue and Maryland Street south of the Duwamish Head), ☏ +1 206 684-7249. 4AM - 11:30PM except for vehicles with boats trailers and permits. Don Armeni is the most popular of Seattle's saltwater boat ramps for both motorized and hand carried vessels. Don Armeni's close proximity to many favorite fishing spots on the south end of Marine Area 10 and the other south Marine Areas makes it a popular ramp for fishers during salmon season and offers a commanding view of downtown and Elliot Bay. 

Get around

More so than the rest of the city, a car will prove useful. Bus service is no more than adequate; the lower density of the area and frequent traffic jams on the few bridges in and out lead to widely scattered routes on unpredictable schedules. Travel between Alaska/Admiral Junctions and downtown is never a problem, although there's no single bus route that runs the length of California Avenue. Trips to the outer reaches of the area will require some advance planning. Bicycle lanes exist, but the terrain is often hilly and steep. The exception being the north shore of West Seattle along Alki with its miles long perfectly flat bike and walking trail which is amazingly popular in the summer and bike rentals are available.

Locals often refer to areas in relation to their 'junction' with California Ave SW, the main north/south arterial through West Seattle. Restaurants, bars and shops tend to be focused around 3 main junctions. The Admiral Junction is to the north in the Admiral District. The Alaska Junction near the center of West Seattle has the highest concentration of shops and is often referred to simply as 'The Junction' and further to the south is the 'Fauntleroy Junction' or 'Morgan Junction' where Fauntleroy Way SW crosses California Ave SW.

See

the view of downtown from West Seattle

Parks

Seattle's park system was designed by the Olmsted Brothers firm in Seattle's early days, park planners across the country celebrate Seattle's park system as one of the best designed and best preserved in the United States. While many other American cities have only one or two Olmsted-designed parks, Seattle has an extensive multi-park plan linked by boulevards including Alki Beach Park and Schmitz Park in West Seattle. It is this legacy that makes Seattle one of the most livable spots in the country.

• 1 Alki Beach Park, 1702 Alki Ave SW (From the West Seattle Bridge, exit onto Harbor Avenue, and then bear left onto Alki Avenue. The beach runs on the right side), ☏ +1 206 233-1509. Apr 15-Oct 1: 6AM-11PM daily, Oct 2-Apr 14: 4AM-11:30PM daily. Alki Beach Park is one of the best and biggest sandy beaches in Seattle. There's a rollerblade/bike/walking path along it for miles and the beach itself is always busy and fun. Great views of the city, the ferries and the Olympics. There are several great cafes and coffee shops right across the street. Good place for barbeque as well as many outdoor recreations. It has one of the best night view of Downtown Seattle and the city light. Free.  
• 2 Blake Island State Park (located in Puget Sound in the waters between West Seattle and the Kitsap Peninsula). West Seattle is a popular launch site to visit this island state park accessible only by boat that was the birthplace of Chief Seattle and still offers guests Native American style dinners and dancing. 
• 3 Hamilton Viewpoint Park, 1531 California Way SW (between Atlantic St & S Ferry Ave) (Take the West Seattle Water Taxi from downtown Seattle). 4AM-1130PM. Hamilton Viewpoint Park rests above the beaches of Alki facing downtown Seattle. Located adjacent to the Seacrest Ferry Dock. Free.  
• 4 Lincoln Park, 8011 Fauntleroy Way SW (From the West Seattle Bridge, continue on Fauntleroy Way until you reach the park on the right.), ☏ +1 206 684-4075. 4AM-11:30PM daily. Lincoln Park is a big, wild park, next to the Fauntleroy Ferry Dock, serving Vashon Island and Southworth. Lincoln Park has lots of walking paths, picnic areas, beautiful trees, and beach. Unlike Alki Beach, it's quite pebbly and full of driftwood. To reach the park: come across the West Seattle Bridge into West Seattle, bear left at the "Y" intersection at Fauntleroy. Stay on Fauntleroy all the way to the park. Follow the signs to the ferries. Free.  
• 5 Schmitz Park, 5551 SW Admiral Way, 98116. 53.1 acre Schmitz Preserve Park has old growth forest, walking paths and an urban stream.  
• 6 The Viewpoint at Admiral, 3600 SW Admiral Way (From I-5, take exit 163 to the West Seattle bridge, exit onto Admiral Way. Just before the top of the long climb there's a pullout on the right and a fenced viewing area.). Some of the best views of the Seattle skyline are from West Seattle and the Viewpoint at Admiral is the best of the best. You can't miss it as there are usually people there. Bring your camera. 

Lighthouse

• 7 Alki Point Lighthouse, 3200 Point Pl SW. Historic Lighthouse on Alki Point a short walk from Alki Beach sometimes offers public tours but can at be at least partially seen from the road.  

Public art

• The small Statue of Liberty toward the west end of the beach area has just been restored and is much beloved in the neighborhood.

Do

admiring the sunset from Alki Beach Park

Beachcombing

What Puget Sound beaches lack in white sand and warm water is more than made up for in the amazing scenery as state ferries pass under snow peaked mountains on the horizons. Alki Beach is an excellent place to start a beach combing adventure offering beaches from the rugged to the sandy smooth. Sea stars and Moon Snails are common sites in the tide pools to the south of Alki Point can offer hours of exploration.

Be warned that sea shells and driftwood are considered part of the natural environment and should not be removed, however the often rocky and wild shores are havens for creating and revealing beach glass and anything artificial found is fair game for removal. Be respectful of private property and gentle with sea creatures. Keep a wide distance away from nesting birds, seals and other shore animals and always put back anything removed from the shoreline.

Golf

• 1 West Seattle Golf Course, 4470 35th Ave SW, ☏ +1 206 935-5187. This golf course is one of the finest in the city with great views of Seattle. Fox Den Grille is the restaurant inside that offers breakfast, lunch, dinner, and beverages. Rates of the course are fair depending on the days you go, and the course is well maintained. There are many tournaments going on for golf lovers to participate. 

Scuba diving

Scuba diving the cold waters of Puget Sound takes a bit more gear and training than other warm water locations, but the rewards are incredible. The area contains some of the best diving in the world and many areas are accessible from West Seattle. Many dive sites are completely covered with colorful sea creatures that defy description. Giant Pacific Octopus are common, along with friendly wolf eels. Colorful sponges, sea cucumbers, sea stars, soft corals, anemones and fish can be seen on nearly every dive. The state offers a guide to parks with launch sites HERE

• 2 Seacrest Park, 1660 Harbor Ave SW (Boathouse and Pier is located on Harbor Avenue next to Don Armeni Boat Ramp and is accessible by boat on Elliott Bay.). 4AM - 11:30PM. Seacrest Cove 2 is a local dive site in West Seattle, Washington. The site is within Seacrest Park. Cove 2 is often used as a training site for Open Water, Navigation and other scuba classes. The site has a moderate slope leading down to depths greater than the recreational limit of 130 feet (40 meters). Because of the easily reached deep areas Technical Divers also use Cove 2 for training. The site has a silty bottom, but many submerged logs and pilings and sunken boats (the Honey Bear) that are well decorated with Pacific Northwest Marine Life. There are restrooms in the pier building and a great little Fish and Chips bar within easy walking distance. The site sports a nice view of the Seattle skyline across Elliot Bay. There is an exclusion zone of 150 feet around the walk-on ferry dock. Other sites (Coves 1 and 3!) are just to the north and south respectively. Most parking is curbside on the street. 

Sea kayaking

Eagle spotted in Lincoln Park

Sea kayaking can be a rewarding way to explore Elliot Bay allowing the paddler a closer and slower look at their surroundings and making West Seattle a popular area to kayak on Puget Sound with access to both wilderness and industrial areas. Harbor Seals, Otters, Sea Lions, Bald Eagles and Blue Herons are common sites while the occasional viewing of an Orca or Grey Whale is not out of the question.

Kayak tours

• 3 Alki Kayak Tours, 1660 Harbor Avenue SW, ☏ +1 206-953-0237, tours@kayakalki.com. seasonal guided sea kayak tours for beginners and experts exploring the natural & human history of Elliot Bay and Puget Sound. They also offer a range of rentals along Alki beach – including stand up paddle boards, quad and inline skates, bicycles and fishing boats. 

Kayak trails

Organized trails offer overnight camping options and maps of appropriate and scenic travel destinations.

• Cascadia Marine Trail. This inland sea trail is a National Recreation Trail and designated one of only 16 National Millennium Trails by the White House. Suitable for day or multi-day trips, the Cascadia Marine Trail has over 50 campsites to visit. People can boat to the campsites from many public and private launch sites or shoreline trailheads including Mid Puget Sound.  

Eat

Because of its nature as one of the priciest neighborhoods in the Seattle area, the price for most options are between the mid-range and splurge. Generally the price for a plate of main course meal is between $10 and $15. The area also hosts a few of Seattle's famous seafood restaurants.

Budget

• 1 Kokoras Greek Grill, 6400 California Ave SW, ☏ +1 206 913-0041. Tu-Su 4PM-9PM. Great things come from the tiny kitchen in this neighborhood gem. The lamb souvlaki is tender and delicious. The gyro platter is piled high and a great value. Entrees come with salad and choice of Greek fries or, a truly unique, rice pilaf. Trust in the daily specials featuring regional Greek cooking at its best. $8-$15. 
• 2 Marination Ma Kai, 1660 Harbor Ave SW (at West Seattle Water Taxi Pear and Seacrest Park), ☏ +1 206-328-8226. A cross between Korean and Hawaiian (Kalbi Beef, Spicy Pork, Miso Ginger chicken and Kimchi) mostly served in a corn tortilla for excellent portability. Oh, and of course, spam is represented on the menu! 

Mid-range

• 3 Buddha Ruksa, 3529 SW Genesee St, ☏ +1 206 923-6470. Tu-F 11AM-10PM, Sa-Su 4PM-10PM. Away from the busy Junction area, just west of the West Seattle Bridge entrance to West Seattle. Superb Thai cuisine in an elegant setting. The crispy garlic chicken is a favorite. Mains from $10. 
• 4 Circa, 2605 California Ave SW, ☏ +1 206 923-1102. M-F 11:30AM-2PM and 5PM-9PM, Sa-Su 9AM-2PM and 5PM-9PM. Small but good neighborhood restaurant on California Ave a couple doors south of Admiral. Steak salad is the house favorite. Beer and wine. Mains from $10. 
• 5 Chelan Cafe, 3527 Chelan Ave SW, ☏ +1 206 932-7383. M-F 6AM-7:30PM, Sa-Su 6AM-1PM. Famous for their rib-sticking breakfasts, the Chelan is your basic family diner with legions of fans. Their Eggs Benedict is very popular and they have great pancakes, too. 
• 6 Endolyne Joe's, 9261 45th Ave SW, ☏ +1 206 937-6310. Su-Th 8AM-10PM, F-Sa 8AM-11PM. A culinary oasis located in the bedroom community near beautiful Lincoln Park and the Fauntleroy Ferry Terminal. Very popular with locals, Joe's has a rotating menu that focuses on a specific region and its cuisine. Volunteer artists change the decor accordingly. Full bar. $9-$15. 
• Ma'Ono, 4210 SW Admiral Way Ste A, ☏ +1 206 935-1075. Daily 4PM-10PM. Tiny, noisy Hawaiian chicken place that manages to be both experimental and down-to-earth. If you're a foodie, this comes highly recommended. $10-$15. 
• 7 Mashiko, 4725 California Ave SW, ☏ +1 206 935-4339. Su-Th 5PM-9PM, F-Sa 5PM-10PM. One of the best sushi restaurants in Seattle is this tiny, always-packed place on California Ave. Traditional sushi and some very creative stuff, too. Rolls $8-$15. 
• 8 Zeek's Pizza, 6459 California Ave SW, ☏ +1 206 285-8646. Daily 11AM-10PM. Yes, it's just a pizza place, but it's a welcome addition to the cluster of shops and bars around Morgan Junction. If you're next door at Beveridge Place bar, you can grab a slice to have with your beer. Small pizza from $11, large from $16. 

Splurge

• 9 Duke's Chowder House at Alki Beach, 2516 Alki Ave SW, ☏ +1 206 937-6100. Su-Th 11AM-10PM, F-Sa 11AM-11PM. Extremely popular and often times crowded seafood restaurant with a great view, especially from the upper deck when it's open. They're famous for, wait for it, their chowder, but have many other offerings, including salads and burgers for those who don't appreciate seafood. They are also famous for their Duke's Famous Bloody Bloody Mary made with in-house infused vodka and garnished with two prawns. Full bar, with a very good wine list and a great selection of beers. $15-$45. 
• 10 Jak's Grill, 4548 California Ave SW, ☏ +1 206 937-7809. Su 9AM-2PM and 4PM-9PM, M 4:30PM-9PM, Tu-Th 11AM-2PM and 5PM-10PM, F 11AM-2PM and 4:30PM-11PM, Sa 9AM-2PM and 4PM-11PM. Great steaks at Alaska Junction. $20-$35. 
• 11 Phoenicia on Alki, 2716 Alki Ave SW (between 60th and 61st Ave SW), ☏ +1 206 935-6550. Su-Th 5PM-10PM, F-Sa 5PM-11PM. A small, intimate restaurant with a great view of Alki beach. Former proprietor and guest favorite Hussein has sadly passed away, but his children have carried on his hospitality, providing many of Hussein's classics as well as new directions. The food is Middle Eastern, with French and Northwest influences. $15-$25. 
• 12 Salty's on Alki, 1936 Harbor Ave SW, ☏ +1 206 937-1600. Brunch: Sa 9:30AM-1:30PM Su 8:45AM-1:30PM, Lunch: M-F 11AM-3PM, dinner: Su-Th 4:30PM-9PM, F-Sa 4:30PM-10PM. Situated on West Seattle's popular Alki Beach, Salty's offers a wide variety of seafood and steaks. The restaurant offers one of the most amazing views of downtown Seattle and is a popular hot spot with local celebrities. The food can range from catch of the day, various poultry dishes, or top sirloin. Reviews of the food itself and the service are mixed, surprising considering it's one of the most expensive restaurants in West Seattle. When the sun is shining or downtown is lit up, there is no better view of downtown Seattle. The Happy Hour offers live music on some nights and some excellent food bargains from a limited menu. $20-$60. 

Drink

• C and P Coffee Company, ☏ +1 206 933-3125. Offers awesome coffee from Lighthouse Roasters, free wireless access and live music. 
• Elliott Bay Brewery Pub, 4720 California Ave SW, ☏ +1 206 932-8695. M-Sa 11AM-midnight, Su 11AM-11PM. A variety of locally brewed, certified organic beers are the main draw as well as a great selection of burgers and sandwiches. 
• Matador, 4546 California Ave SW, ☏ +1 206 932-9988. 11AM-2AM daily. A strikingly well decorated Mexican, 21 and older only, restaurant just up from the junction. Updated versions of Tex-Mex classics are offered on the menu. Check out their happy hour menu, available from 4PM-6PM and again from 10PM-1AM, which features some interesting $4 & $5 small plates. Full bar with an extensive tequila selection. 
• Skylark Café & Club, 3803 Delridge Way SW (1st building off Delridge exit on West Seattle Bridge), ☏ +1 206 935-2111. Tu-F 11:30AM-2AM, Sa 9AM-2AM, Su 9AM-11PM. Primarily a live music venue with three original bands most nights. All genres, so check the website ahead of time. Popular weekend brunch. All ages until 9PM on show nights except Sunday shows which are all ages until 11PM close. 
• Camp West, 4539 California Ave SW (Just down from the junction), ☏ +1 425-224-6944. A hip/retro vibe permeates, a great place for drinks, but the food is good, too. Different things like steelhead and marshmallows over a flame. 

Sleep

There are few hotels in West Seattle, and fewer still worth considering. In a pinch, most chain motels and hotels have branches a few miles south in Tukwila or SeaTac near Sea-Tac Airport; otherwise, look closer to downtown.

Bed and Breakfast

• 1 The Grove, 3512 Southwest Alaska St, ☏ +1 206 937-9920, info@grovewestseattle.com. One of the only hotels in West Seattle. Located just a few block east of the Alaksa Junction in the West Seattle Triangle neighborhood. 

Camping

• 2 Camp Long, 5200 35th Ave. SW, ☏ +1 206 684-7434. A rare urban treat, Camp William G. Long has a charming 70-year-old stone and wood lodge surrounded by lovely 68 acre forest and features 10 rustic outdoor cabins that each has six double beds. They also offer two separate covered shelter areas with picnic tables that are perfect for group events.