West Seattle juts out between Elliott Bay and Puget Sound, offering panoramic views of downtown Seattle. West Seattle is composed of several neighborhoods offering a diverse array of activities. Alki Beach is a waterfront area with a beach, a promenade and a culture geared toward active summer fun. The West Seattle Junction is a walkable neighborhood, home to many restaurants with healthy menus. The Fauntleroy neighborhood boasts Lincoln Park, popular with picnickers, runners and swimmers.
Water
Alki Beach is a staging point for several water activities. Guided kayak tours of the surrounding waters are available. You can rent a kayak for a solo trip if you're an experienced paddler. Stand-up paddle boards and longboards are also available to rent. Puget Sound is a little cold for swimming but some people find it refreshing on a hot day. Lincoln Park is home to Colman Pool, the only outdoor saltwater swimming pool in the city, which is located on the beach. You can rent a fishing boat to try your hand at catching the area's famous salmon. Public fishing is allowed from the dock at Seacrest Park. You can also go scuba diving there.
Wheels
All manner of wheeled vehicles can be rented along Alki Beach. Bicycles and mopeds can take you up the hill away from the beach to Hamilton Viewpoint Park and Belvedere Park, which offer picturesque views of the city. A flat, wide, paved path runs over two miles along the beach from the water taxi dock at Seacrest Park to the west end of Alki Beach, where you can see a small replica of the Statue of Liberty. Pedal-powered chopper bikes, tandem bikes, scooters and surreys are available to take advantage of the path. Skateboards, roller skates and inline skates round out the wheeled offerings.
Trails
There's plenty of beach to wander on in West Seattle, but if you want trails that are less sandy, three large parks offer miles of gentle trails through the woods. None of the trails are strenuous. Schmitz Preserve Park trails wind through the only old-growth forest left in Seattle. Lincoln Park faces Puget Sound with over five miles of trails through woods and along a bluff overlooking the water. The park trails are popular with runners. Camp Long is a 68-acre park with five miles of well-maintained, moderately sloping trails. One trail is wheelchair accessible.
Sports
West Seattle has enough unorganized recreational opportunities to keep you busy. Many of the beach volleyball games on Alki Beach are organized matches, but it's possible to get in on a pick-up game if you ask around. A golf course owned by the city is open to the public and known for the challenges of its hilly terrain. West Seattle is home to one of the few bowling alleys in the city. Camp Long boasts the oldest artificial climbing rock in the country. Schurman Rock is free and accessible to the public.
Dining
With a variety of fresh seafood and ethnic restaurants, including sushi bars, you have plenty of healthy dining choices. Many establishments source their food from local and organic farmers. The West Seattle Farmers Market is held every Sunday year-round in the middle of the West Seattle Junction neighborhood. Dozens of farmers offer organic foods of all kinds and vendors sell street food. You can make a picnic from food purchased at the farmer's market and head to one of the many parks in the area.
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