Forget the bridge — ditch the car and explore West Seattle on foot

Glide on the top deck of a high-speed water taxi across Elliott Bay to a scenic peninsula isolated from the water on three sides.

Take a free shuttle to a trendy neighborhood shopping district, lined with cafes, antique shops, two bakeries, and a deli. Then stroll downhill to a paved waterfront path dotted with small parks and pebble beaches.

Where are they?

If you didn’t guess West Seattle then you’ll be delighted. With bridge access closed to most car traffic since March 2020, Seattle’s oldest neighborhood doesn’t seem to fit the description for a stress-free day trip.

Leave the car at home, however, and you have the conditions for a wonderful autumn vacation.

Everything on board the water taxi

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Think of this trip as a look back at a time when crossing Elliott Bay by boat was the only way to get to and from the neighborhood where Seattle’s first European settlers landed in 1851.

Passage back then meant boarding a steam-powered side wheel. The best way to avoid the headache of closing the bridge today is to walk on the King County Water Taxi, which runs daily between Pier 50 on the Seattle Waterfront and Seacrest Park in West Seattle. (See st.news/watertaxi for the timetable.)

Take a seat on the upper deck and enjoy the view of the Seattle skyline and the large container ships anchored in Elliott Bay. The 15-minute crossing is a bargain at $ 5 each way (with discounts for seniors and teenagers). The luggage racks offer space for “fat tires” and electric bicycles, and in order to reduce traffic jams during bridge repairs, the winter service has been extended to weekends and more lunchtime trips.

Shuttle to the intersection

The first ferry commuters took a cable car up the hill to the developing Admiral District. Today, free DART minibuses meet the water taxi and shuttle passengers between Seacrest and the West Seattle Junction shopping district.

If you’re here on a Sunday, check out the year-round West Seattle Neighborhood Farmers Market on California Avenue Southwest and Southwest Alaska Streets. Otherwise, spend an hour or two exploring both sides of California Avenue.

Head to Easy Street Records in West Seattle for a coffee (and maybe browse Brandi Carlile’s new album on vinyl) or check out the shelves of the Pegasus Book Exchange, where 90% of its inventory is used books.

Treat yourself to an ice cream any time of day at Husky Deli, which has been in business since 1932. Order a scoop of Mexican horchata or Swiss chocolate orange and take a seat at a wooden counter across from the shelves with gourmet mustard, coffee and spaghetti sauce.

Take time to peek at the backs of the buildings, many of which are covered in murals depicting scenes from West Seattle’s past, commissioned in 1989 as a collaborative project led by Ombudsman Earl Cruzen.

A list of locations and descriptions can be found at st.news/WS-murals. Outstanding are “The Hi-Yu Parade” by Lanny Little on the back wall of the post office; “Mosquito Boat Landing” by Susan Tooke at 4554 California Ave. SW; and Mural Alley, a passage between Northwest Art and Frame and the Puerto Vallarta Restaurant that has been repurposed as a showcase for community art.

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Take a stroll on the beach

Head out of the Junction for a fall beach stroll and first follow Erskine Way Southwest at the intersection of California Avenue and Southwest Edmunds Street. Look west for Southwest Hudson Street and walk about a mile downhill towards the water along the Hudson to Southwest Jacobsen Road and Beach Drive Southwest.

From here it’s 2.4 miles north on a waterfront path to the nearest shuttle stop (DART 775 bus route) that leads back to the Seacrest dock right on the beach. Rental scooters are available at various points along the way.

Take a look at a couple of pocket parks

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Stroll down Beach Drive Southwest and explore some of West Seattle’s parks with benches, scenic overlooks, and beach access at low tide.

The first is the Emma Schmitz Memorial Overlook, which was donated to the city in 1945 by Emma Schmitz “for a park and … for no other purpose”.

Further north is Cormorant Cove, named for the cormorant birds that can sometimes be spotted here. There is access for non-motorized boats and barrier-free viewing platforms.

Charles Richey Sr. Viewpoint, which includes Constellation Park and a marine reserve, runs parallel to Beach Drive from 63rd Avenue Southwest to Alki Point.

Look out for the tiled interpretation wall with text in Spanish and English. His illustrations of flora and fauna include species found on local beaches. It’s the perfect place to ponder wildlife: this is one of the best places in the Seattle area to see whales and other marine life.

Let’s get home

From here, it’s back to Seacrest Dock, either by shuttle, scooter, rental bike, or on foot the paved path that stretches along Alki Beach.

If the next water taxi is due soon, consider catching a later boat – instead of rushing back, stop for a cocktail or late lunch on the lovely terrace of Marination Ma Kai, a Hawaiian Korean snack bar, according to the Times -Food writer Bethany Jean Clement, “wins when it comes to combining the best food at the best price with the best view.”

Travel to the tropics on a Mai Tai served with a red umbrella – and relax knowing you won’t get stuck in traffic on the way back to Seattle.

https://www.seattletimes.com/life/travel/forget-the-bridge-ditch-the-car-and-explore-west-seattle-on-foot/
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