West Seattle Travel Guide

  West Seattle and the Alki Peninsula from...
by glabah
 
  • West Seattle and the Alki Peninsula from Ferry
      West Seattle and the Alki Peninsula from...
    by glabah
  • mural in the sidewalk of West Seattle
      mural in the sidewalk of West Seattle
    by glabah
  • Story Pole at Admiral Viewpoint
      Story Pole at Admiral Viewpoint
    by glabah
  • sign at Admiral Viewpoint features area history
      sign at Admiral Viewpoint features area...
    by glabah
  • Avenue of Stars: note stars in sidewalk, lower r.
      Avenue of Stars: note stars in sidewalk,...
    by glabah
 

Explore West Seattle

Things to Do  

Anchor Park / Luna Park

Anchor Park / Luna Park, West Seattle

 glabah Says:  Anchor Park is the name of this park on several tourist maps, but the name "Luna Park" (reference to the old name of the facility here) is still in use to some extent. There is a good view of the Seattle skyline from here, a number of benches, and a ships anchor of some 2.5... 

Don Armeni Park: Boat Ramp with Viewpoint

Don Armeni Park: Boat Ramp with Viewpoint, West Seattle

 glabah Says:  One of the several parks along the base of the hill on which most of West Seattle sits, Don Armeni Park sits just north of Seacrest Park, and has a few small trees and a continuation of the waterfront trail and bike path through it. There are benches that overlook the view... 

Alki Penensula Walkway and Bike Path

Alki Penensula Walkway and Bike Path, West Seattle

 glabah Says:  Running from the edges of the Port of Seattle and Jack Block Park at the southeast edge of the Alki Peninsula and Duwamish Head all the way around to the end of the Peninsula, there is a paved walkway and a parallel bicycle trail along Harbor Avenue and Alki Avenue. If the... 

Seacrest Park

Seacrest Park, West Seattle

 glabah Says:  While it isn't the best park in West Seattle, Seacrest Park is the park in West Seattle that many tourists visit each day during the peak season because this is the end point for the King County Water Taxi.There are great views of downtown Seattle from here, and on a clear... 

West Seattle Farmer's Market

West Seattle Farmer's Market, West Seattle

 nickiejo Says:  Operating since 1999, the West Seattle Farmers Market features over 35 Washington State farmers and small food processors. Fresh fruit from both sides of the state include berries, cherries, peaches, nectarines, apples, and melons. Market tables are also loaded with local... 

Transportation  

King County Water Taxi (an Outdated Tip!!!)
glabah profile photo

2.5 out of 5 starsHelpfulness

glabah 2172 reviews
King County Water Taxi: West Seattle to Seattle
4 more images

NOTE: This tip is out of date. It refers to the service as it existed in 2009, but there were some very significant changes to the service in 2010. I have kept this old tip in place, however, as this service is operated by a contract operator, and should various conditions change, the service could return to the way it looked in 2009 rather than the 2010 service.

Therefore, to see the new service, please see my King County Water Taxi 2010 tip at
http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/tp/2039ea/

I am keeping this tip here for the photos of what this service looked like when I was there, plus as a record of what this service may look like with another change in operators.

*****Outdated information follows*******

The king county water taxi service from downtown Seattle to West Seattle is really more of a tradition than a useful service for commuters - and yet locals do use the service as well. The service only operates when there are tourists around (April to October). Buses running between West Seattle and downtown Seattle are far more frequent and cheaper, and have better connections in downtown Seattle with the rest of the transit system. However, the service is popular enough with locals that special late night services are offered during weekdays that the Mariners have evening games.

On the other hand, this ferry service is what opened up the Alki Peninsula for recreation, and made West Seattle a destination resort location for the population of Seattle to visit the beaches.

The King County Water Taxi is funded by King County Transit, but is operated under contract to a private operator, and therefore you will not find this service intermixed with the regular government run ferry operators - instead, the boats depart from the Argossy Cruises terminal (pier 55), with is somewhat north of the ferry terminal. [NOTE: as of early 2010, this is no longer the case. Despite there still being some signs on the Argossy Cruises Pier mentioning the King County Water Taxi, the service has now consolidated with the passenger only ferry to Vashion Island, located at the far south of the Waterfront area. See my King County Water Taxi 2010 tip] The fact that this service is offered from this location is very hard to determine: Argossy Cruises services are advertised on a huge sign in front of the pier, but only a small sandwitchboard sign on the sidewalk, which is easily blocked by groups of people standing and talking, gives any indication that this is where the King County Water Taxi departs for West Seattle.

The fare here is $3 per trip. This is a bit more expensive than taking the bus over to West Seattle. However, you are issued a bus transfer when you pay this fare. This means that your best bet for getting the best use out of that $3 is to use the Water Taxi as the start of a King County Metro bus trip someplace, rather than use the water taxi as the final leg of a trip.

However, that $3 fare becomes $1 if you present a valid King County Metro bus transfer. So, even if you do use the water taxi as the final leg of a public transit trip, you can get a bit of a discount with a bus transfer.

Free bus services around West Seattle and the Alki Peninsula are offered as part of the water taxi service. They meet the water taxi at its West Seattle destination: Seacrest Park.

There is an upstairs observation deck on the craft. [NOTE: The equipment changed for 2010, and is different than that pictured. See my King County Water Taxi 2010 tip, but keep in mind that the equipment could just as easily change back to the Argossy ship shown here as well, should the operator change again.]

There are tables in the downstairs section, and snacks and some beverages are available from the food vendor window.

While the boat is "passenger only" and therefore no motor vehicles are able to be taken, non-motorized bicycles may be taken on board.

Note about Mobility Devices: While it is equipped to handle a number of different mobility devices, it is advised that tide levels and weather conditions may make it difficult or impossible for the water taxi to take on some or all types of mobility devices. Signs and literature advise people using mobility devices to call Argossy Cruises, who are the current contract operators of the water taxi, for specific access information for particular dates and times.

A Second Note: see my King County Water Taxi 2010 tip as there has been some effort at altering the facilities to more frequently meet the standards of the Americans with Disability Acts standards. The problem is the old dock ramps would be difficult to navigate in a wheelchair at certain tide and weather conditions. It hasn't been completely solved, but it has been improved.

Updated Feb 17, 2012

Website: http://metro.kingcounty.gov/

Related to:
 Cruise
 Budget Travel

Was this review helpful?

Local Customs  

Eccentric Decorations giving way to Big Condos
glabah profile photo

3.5 out of 5 starsHelpfulness

glabah 2172 reviews
older Alki houses celebrate beach, newer boring
4 more images

In years past, West Seattle had a reputation for all manner of eccentric decorations on the houses facing the water. These older West Seattle houses are, today, rapidly disappearang in favor of much less interesting condominium buildings that are basically mass produced housing. However, you can still see traces of this all along the Alki Peninsula.

If you are physically able to do so, I suggest walking for at least a little distance along the Alki Beach Walkway (along the water's edge along Harbor Avenue and Alki Avenue), so that you are able to stop for a while and look at some of the more interesting buildings in detail.

The new, big condominium buildings are a sharp contrast to the older houses, and the older houses are usually the ones with the interesting decorations and architecture. As time goes on, fewer and fewer of these houses will survive, and be replaced by new, larger, and frankly quite boring buildings.

Updated Dec 10, 2009

Related to:
 Arts and Culture

Was this review helpful?

Warnings and Dangers  

Dangers from Puget Sound: Fishing and Animals
glabah profile photo

3.5 out of 5 starsHelpfulness

glabah 2172 reviews
don't try to have contact with marine animals
1 more image

With beaches on Pugest Sound, you can expect a few hazards on the Alki Peninsula and the West Seattle beaches. All of these hazards are clearly marked, but for the sake of completeness I will report the dangers here:

1. Marine animals are heavy and can get angry. Therefore, if one has decided to take up a spot on the beach next to you, don't go walking up to sea lions or seals and expect to pet them. In fact, try not to disturb them if you can avoid it. They are in fact wild animals and are dangerous to have contact with.

Especially don't feed them, as they can get in fights over food, or get over-ambitious in their desires to get food from you. Neither of these situations is a good one.

2. There are a large number of toxic substances in the water of Puget Sound. Therefore, if you come here for fishing, don't eat the fish shown as being hazardous on the signs (carp or pikeminnow) due to the contamination levels in these fish. The maximum level of consumption for cutthroat trout is only once per month, due to contamination levels. Sockeye, Rainbow Trout, Pumpkin Seed Fish, and Yellow Perch are considered acceptable to eat 2 to 3 meals per week due to the relatively low contamination of those fish.

Pictures of each of these types of fish are available on the signs in various locations along the Alki Peninsula and West Seattle.

The web site below is from the Washington Department of Health, and there is a section on this web site about toxic material in fish, and what areas of the state are problem areas for certain types of fish.

Updated Dec 3, 2009

Website: http://www.doh.wa.gov/fish

Related to:
 Family Travel
 Fishing

Was this review helpful?

Off The Beaten Path  

Jack Block Park

Jack Block Park, West Seattle

 glabah Says:  There are several parks in Seattle that are in unexpected locations, such as the middle of industrial areas. This park, owned by the Port of Seattle and located at the border between the Port of Seattle facilities and the West Seattle tourist beaches, is certainly one of... 

West Seattle Murals

West Seattle Murals, West Seattle

 glabah Says:  On the tourist maps of West Seattle, you will find listed the "West Seattle Murals".While they are interesting, I would not suggest coming all the way to West Seattle to specifically see these murals. It isn't as if these are spectacular attractions.These are a series of... 

Admiral Viewpoint / Belvedere Park

Admiral Viewpoint / Belvedere Park, West Seattle

 glabah Says:  Heading towards the "Admiral District" of West Seattle on Admiral Way, there is a wide spot in the road that is intended for people to take a look over the railing and see the wonderful Seattle skyline from this location.It seems to be a reasonably well known tourist... 

Admiral Way Bridge (another view point)

Admiral Way Bridge (another view point), West Seattle

 glabah Says:  While the Admiral Way viewpoint gives a more complete view of downtown Seattle and the Cascades, the view from the bridge also provides a great view of the north part of downtown Seattle and the mountains.Unlike the Admiral Way viewpoint, the view from here provides a deep... 

Admiral Viewpoint Story Pole

Admiral Viewpoint Story Pole, West Seattle

 glabah Says:  At the wide spot in the road known as the "Admiral Viewpoint" on the sign, there is another small attraction here: a story pole. It is only 25 feet tall, but is reasonably impressive and carved from a western red cedar that was approximately 450 to 550 years old, and was cut... 

Comments

Map of West Seattle