Alki Beach Seattle
West Seattle Beach Activities
West Seattle is an oft overlooked part of Seattle that offers one of the few
destination beaches on Puget Sound. Alki Beach has a two and a half mile long
pedestrian walkway, and in the summer is populated by beach volleyball players,
sun worshipers, and beachcombers. Most of the beaches on Puget Sound are covered
in rock and shells, but on Alki you can get sand between your toes, get some
exercise, learn about Seattle’s earliest settlers, and take in a great view of
the Seattle skyline.
Location:
West Seattle juts out into Elliot Bay directly West of downtown Seattle. It
can be easily reached by car via the West Seattle Bridge. From downtown Seattle,
follow the signs and find your way to I5 South. Take the exit for West Seattle.
Once across the bridge, turn right onto Harbor Ave SW, and this will lead you
around the tip of Duwamish Head, and onto Alki point. Parking can be a bit dicey
on the weekend, but with patience you will probably find street parking not too
far from the main strip along Alki Ave SW. During the summer, leave the car
behind and take Metro’s water taxi. The Taxi leaves from a location between
piers 55 and 56, and for two dollars (each way) gives you a twelve minute ride
across the bay. At Sea Crest Park, the taxi’s West Seattle terminus, you will
find Metro’s Free DART shuttle is perfectly timed to pick you up and take you to
Alki Beach or to West Seattle Junction.
History:
The Denny party, Seattle’s first white settlers, arrived on Alki Beach in
1851. They were helped through their first winter by a band of the Duwamish
people, led by Chief Seattle. The settlers named the area New York-Alki. Alki is
a native word meaning “by and by”, and the settlers chose it to reflect their
hope that the new settlement would grow to achieve the size and importance of
New York City. After one winter camped on the beach, most of the party moved
across Elliot Bay, to the less exposed shores of Seattle’s current waterfront.
As early as 1888, there was a ferry from downtown Seattle to West Seattle –
it was Seattle’s first bedroom community, though for a time West Seattle had its
own thriving timber industry. In 1907, the area was officially annexed to
Seattle. That same year, Luna Park, an amusement park that billed itself as the
“Coney Island of the West” opened on Duwamish head, at the Northern tip of Alki
beach. Though the park was open only until 1913, it’s legacy is still very much
a part of Seattle history, and the idea of rebuilding it surfaces every few
years. While in operation, the park’s lights could be seen from downtown
Seattle; today people go to the Luna Park Seawall for the views of downtown
Seattle.
Highlights:
Alki Beach Park – 2.5 miles of sandy beach, with a great seawall for walking
and people watching. The park runs from Duwamish head to Alki Point.
Second only to Green Lake in Seattle as the place to see and be seen
participating in something athletic, Alki beach provides great people watching,
as well as sand to relax on, and hopefully some sun to bask in. This maybe the
only place in Seattle where you will see the natives in bathing suits. The water
is cold, but on a hot August day, it can’t be beat. A great place to let the
kids burn off energy, and to enjoy walking, rollerblading, beach volleyball, or
just eating fish and chips are watching others burn calories. Here you can see
an obelisk commemorating the arrival on the Denny party, and a replica of the
Statue of Liberty, meant to remind all that Alki was once known as New York -Alki.
Spuds – 2666 Alki Ave. SW
Spuds has been serving fish and chips on Alki since 1935. Although business
was sold to Seattle’s fast fish conglomerate, Ivar’s, a few years back, the name
and the menu have remained the same. Locals grumble that the fish and chips are
not what they used to be, but on a nice summer day, the line can still reach
around the block. Get yours to go, and walk across the street to the beach for a
picnic.
Salty’s on Alki Beach – 1936 Harbor Ave SW.
Salty’s is something of a Northwest institution. The view is spectacular, and
the romantic atmosphere can’t be beat. This is the only restaurant in town with
a view of the Seattle skyline from the SW side, and they charge accordingly. It
is a favorite destination for couples and those celebrating special occasions.
As you might guess from the name, they specialize in seafood and it rarely
disappoints. On Saturday and Sunday mornings, Salty’s offers a great brunch to
start the day. From Sea Crest park, where the water taxi docks the restaurant is
less than a block to the south along Harbor Ave SW.
Alki Point Lighthouse – 3201 Alki Ave SW
The Alki point lighthouse is one of eight lighthouses on the Puget Sound open
to the public. Built in 1913 and still maintained by the Coast Guard, the
lighthouse has been fully automated since 1984. Inside the house, you can see
old instruments, photographs, and charts of Puget Sound. The view from the top
isn’t anything spectacular, but lighthouse buffs will no doubt enjoy it, and
others will appreciate the immaculately maintained grounds. Admission is free,
and the lighthouse opens daily at noon. Alki Lighthouse is only open on
Saturdays and Sundays in the summer from 1:30 until 4 p.m. Tours of the
lighthouse are offered from 12-3:30 May thru September on weekends and most
major holidays. As times vary - for the most up to date hours-- call (206)
217-6124.
Log House Museum – 3003 61st Ave SW
The museum sits one block south of Alki beach and is run by the West Seattle
Historical society. The museum is meant to honor the Denny party, who landed on
Alki beach in 1851 and also the heritage of the Duwamish people, who were
ultimately displaced by these settlers. The building, which dates to the turn of
the last century was once the carriage house on the estate of a logging family.
A voluntary admission donation is requested. (206) 938-5293
West Seattle Junction – Intersection of California Ave SW and Alaska Ave
SW.
To get to West Seattle Junction by car, from Alki turn south onto California
Ave, which intersects Harbor Ave SW, just south of Duwamish Head. When you reach
the intersection of SW Alaska and California Ave, you have arrived. The
junction, named for the two street car lines that once crossed here, is the
southern terminus for the DART shuttle. The neighborhood, home to restaurants,
coffee shops, books stores and other shops, is popular with both West
Seattleites and the neighbors from across the water. Don’t miss Easy Street
Records, with it’s great, if tiny, cafe (4559 California Ave S.W. ), or the
ArtsWest Gallery (4711 California Ave SW ). On Sunday mornings from 10am – 2pm
the West Seattle’s farmer’s market is held here.
Contributing Editor - Lynn Marshall
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