A sunny summer Saturday at Alki Beach might make you feel as if you’ve taken a wrong turn and ended up in Southern California by mistake.  Sunbathers, volleyball players, in-line skaters, beach cruisers, cyclists, and joggers, not to mention the throngs of people just hanging out and enjoying the sand and scene, all contribute to an unmistakable California aura.  The local residents of Alki especially enjoy the fall and winter months, when the crowds have dispersed and Alki’s natural beauty reveals itself in solitude and peace. 

A four mile path runs the perimeter of Alki from Harbor Avenue to Alki Point, with plenty of  incomparable, postcard-perfect views of downtown Seattle, the Space Needle, Elliott Bay, Puget Sound, and the Olympics, not to mention all kinds of marine traffic including sailboats, container ships, ferries, kayaks, and cruise ships headed for Alaska. An occasional pod of whales can be spotted off the point, resident bald eagles are frequently spied overhead, and starfish cling to pilings and rocks at Seacrest Marina.

Restaurants line the beach area and run the gamut from casual to gourmet.  Spud Fish n Chips is a Seattle icon, and Pegasus Pizza and the Alki Bakery are established local favorites.  On Mother’s Day, don’t even try to find parking around Salty’s on Alki as it will be packed with folks enjoying the best brunch in the city. Dine at La Rustica, about a mile south of Alki Point on Beach Drive, and you will be transported in mind to the Italian coast.  

Whether your preference is a luxurious condominium overlooking Puget Sound, a quaint, artistic bungalow or stucco tucked behind lush perennial gardens, or a fine courtyard townhome, you’ll smell the salt air and feel the ocean breezes in the coastal community of Alki.  See you at the beach!