West Seattle

Explore

Picnic, beachcomb, and splash around at Alki Beach, or rent a four-wheel surrey bike from Wheel Fun Rentals for a leisurely boardwalk pedal. Lincoln Park spans 135 acres with a scenic waterfront beach path, playgrounds, and an Olympic-size saltwater pool with striking mountain views. Take in sweeping vistas at Hamilton Viewpoint Park, and explore Schmitz Preserve Park’s urban old-growth forest, with winding trails.

Eat and Drink

Take the water taxi to West Seattle from downtown, disembarking at Marination Ma Kai for Hawaiian-Korean tacos, Spam sliders, kimchi fried rice with a sunnyside-up egg, and pillowy malasadas. Farther down the beach, Cactus is a good time for beachside margaritas and Mexican-style bites, and housemade pastas and seasonal dishes are the draw at Il Nido. In Alaska Junction, Bakery Nouveau turns out decadent brown sugar–pecan brioche pastries and pistachio cassis cakes, along with savory sandwiches and pizzas. Try happy hour at Camp West, which combines a cozy vibe with specialty cocktails and elevated sandwiches, burgers, and shareables like fried peri peri spiced cauliflower. Grab dinner at Itto’s Tapas for tasty Moroccan and Spanish small plates, from spiced lamb skewers with eggplant dip to grilled squid. Then have a decadent float or a sundae featuring Lopez Island ice cream at Shug’s.

Shop

California Ave bustles with retailers; shop Fleurt Collective’s seasonally curated accessories, clothing, and home goods; bring your dog to Next to Nature for treats and toys. Music lovers can peruse the sounds at Easy Street Records, which also has a café and periodic concerts. North of the Junction, find West Seattle Mercantile for jewelry and whimsical cards and gifts, kids’ clothing and toys, and trendy fashion for men and women. Go guitar shopping at Thunder Road Guitars. On the beach, Alki Surf Shop has sports apparel, sunglasses, and other sunny-day gear.