Seattle/West

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.

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 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 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.

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.

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.



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.

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.

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



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



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.

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.