Area west of the Duamish River within the Seattle city limits.
Due to the city's many hills, lakes and bays, all Seattle neighborhoods are distinct, but none is more a world unto itself than giant West Seattle. Only four minutes or so from city center, down Highway 99 and across the West Seattle Bridge, West Seattle's miles of rolling peninsula feature many of the city's loveliest parks and beaches, it's highest hills, a couple of happening retail districts studded with good restaurants, middle class neighborhoods spangled with gorgeous views, and a mix of residents as diverse as any in town.
Truth is, West Seattle ought to be called Southwest Seattle because it occupies that quadrant of the city. The "south" part was skipped because Seattle has long been divided along class lines north and south. As the nicest part of the South End, early boosters called the place West Seattle to distance it from its embarrassingly obvious southern location.
There are poor neighborhoods here as well as very rich ones. It's a big place. Generally, the socio-economic spectrum stretches from the southeast, near immigrant-packed and ironically-named White Center, northwestward until one arrives among the leafy, pricey homes overlooking Alki Beach, the city's favorite strand.
Among its residents, West Seattle features more than its share of famous and not-so-famous rock stars, mountaineers, artists and others taken with its unpreposessing, outdoorsy style.
A few highlights:
• Alki Beach: It's popular for good reason. Restaurants, bars and coffee houses abound at the southwest end, across Alki Ave. Good bets for meals include The Alki Cafe, Dukes, Pegasus Pizza, Sunfish Fish & Chips. For dessert: The Alki Bakery. Or enjoy a sunset barbeque or bonfire at one of the public fireplaces along the beach. Better yet, rent bikes or rollerblades, or bring your own, and wheel off along the Alki bike path, going northward around Duwamish Head and around the peninsula, with stunning city views, to Seacrest Pier (with fishing boat rentals in summer). A libation on the deck at Salty's restaurant is a fine break before heading back.
• Lincoln Park/Fauntleroy: Parks don't get any prettier than this, whose mile of spectacular beach is backed by forested hills laced with trails. A summertime bonues: Colman Pool, a saltwater-filled public olympic-sized swimming pool, perches at the tip of Pt. Williams, in the park's center. Access is by foot only; easiest to come from the park's south parking lot.
Just past the park is the Fauntleroy Ferry Dock, giving access to Vashon Island and Southworth across the Sound. Four blocks east, Endolyne Joe's provides good, moderately priced eating.
• California Avenue: Most head for the beach, but this street's two distinct retail districts provide reasons to visit: Easy Street Records, easily the city's coolest record store and cafe; The Admiral Theater for funky second-run movies; Ovio Bistro for chic dinner fare and a great bar; Metropolitan Market, which pioneered the super-grocer concept appropriated by Whole Foods; Lee's Asian Restaurant, the best hole-in-the-wall Chinese joint in Seattle; several good pubs and bistros include Circa, Elliott Bay Brewing and Beveridge Place Pub; West Seattle Nursery is a first-class neighborhood garden center for plants you won't find at Home Depot; and you simply cannot pass up an ice cream cone or sandwich at Husky Deli, a neighborhood gathering place beyond compare.
• White Center: Genteel it's not, but for the best pho this side of Saigon, or Mexican food made the way Mamacita made it, this is the place. Taqueria Guaymas serves brain tacos, yes they do, but we prefer the BBQ pork super burritos...oh, yeeeesss.
• West Seattle Golf Course: The best public course in Seattle, with long holes, lots of hills and verdant views. Just off the West Seattle Bridge, south on 35th Ave.
• Camp Long: It's a real summer camp, now a city park, and a great place to take kids for a romp among meadows, trails, ponds, and the world's original man-made climbing rock.
• The Seattle Chinese Garden: located at the South Seattle Community College campus along 16th Ave. on Pigeon Hill, it's an excellent, if new, sizeable Chinese pond garden, perfect for a stroll.
See also
External Links
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