Alki Ave Southwest, Alki

Alki is Seattle's most popular beach and offers everything a "beach town" could offer. Some terrific restaurants across the street include Duke's Chowderhouse, Sunfish and the Alki Bakery. There are a few little shops for clothing, kites and beach fare, and several quaint little beach houses leading up to the beach.

You can often see beach volleyball and frisbee games, scuba divers at the Junkyard, and sunbathers lining the beach on any given sunny day. The bike trail stretches all the way around the point and down Harbor Avenue where walkers, runners, bicyclists and rollerbladers take in the views of Puget Sound, the San Juan Islands and the most stunning view of the Seattle skyline than you'll find anywhere else. Traffic along Alki Avenue is regulated to 20mpg, and the area is very pedestrian-friendly.

As you crest the West Seattle Bridge, the intensity of the greenery is the first thing to grab you. Take the Harbor St. exit and follow it around to one of the prettiest avenues in the nation. So pretty, in fact, that it has to be experienced in slow motion, on foot. With a walking path paralleling the street from beginning to end, you'll pass fine dining establishments, quaint shops and, of course, a Starbucks or two. The view of the city from Alki is breathtaking, with Puget Sound in the forefront and Mt. Rainier to the south. No tourist should visit Seattle without taking a picture of this view home with them. Outdoor recreation along the avenue includes several popular scuba diving spots, over a mile of sandy beaches for volleyball, sandcastle-building and sunbathing, picnic tables and a pedestrian lookout over the water for a 360º view of everything Seattle has to offer.

Alki Ave SW is truly one of the most beautiful streets in all of Seattle. Clinging to the curves of Elliot Bay, Alki Ave SW provides amazing views of both downtown and the Puget Sound. The vibe is definitely a seaside or beach neighborhood so you can expect things to get crowded on nice sunny days. There are a few original homes scattered along Alki but most of the housing is now apartments and condos taking in the million dollar views. There is a nice stretch of beach and many bars and restaurants to choose from. A walking and biking path along the water is an added bonus. There are a few downsides though (speaking from experience here...) The traffic on nice days can be frustrating if you are just trying to get home with a few groceries. Parking can also be tough so be sure you get a place that offers residents parking (your poor guests so plan on walking a ways or taking public transportation!) During the summer months there tends to be a spike in crime due to the spike in the number of people in the area. Nothing you don't see in other similar areas, but worth noting.

I'm sure it's all in my head, but I feel like when I head to Alki Beach, the sun starts to peak out from behind the clouds and the weather turns much nicer.

I really like this street for three reasons.

1. The beach, and the park right behind it. The facilities here are older, but still pretty nice if you're just looking for a place to relax for a day. There's basketball, tennis, and good biking and walking in the area. Even if you don't go swimming (a lot of people don't, the water is too cool), you can still appreciate the view of the Sound.

2. The neighborhood is one of the older ones in Seattle. Thus the houses haven't all been torn down and rebuilt into condos. People you talk to around there live there, and know something about the history of the area. It has a sense of itself, and a cool vibe. I used to canvas (ask for money for environmental causes) around there, I didn't get a lot of money, but I did get to meet a lot of nice people.

3. You can take a bus from downtown to get there. To get to the beach, take a bus from down by Pike's place market. I don't remember the number, but someone down there can help you for sure. Buses in Seattle are pretty good, and you don't have to worry about paying for gas, or paying to park the car, which can be a problem many places in the city.

Alki Avenue SW in Seattle is a really pretty road that follows along puget sound. On one side is the beach and on the other side are nice houses that over look the water. The houses are very nice, but you pay for the view. This is a wonderful spot to visit and look over the sound.

This is a pretty drive that looks onto the north side of the ocean. You can find Alki Beach located off of this road. Off in the distance you can watch the Seattle Bremerton Ferry shuttle passengers back and forth from land to island. Very pretty drive all year with plenty to look at.