The Water Taxi running between downtown Seattle and West Seattle is not just for commuters: it’s a blessedly traffic-free way to take the kids (and your visiting relatives) to Alki Beach and the journey itself is loads of fun.
A white catamaran that holds 147 passengers, plus bicycles, departs from Pier 50, one block south of the Washington State Ferry terminal downtown, for its 15-minute crossing. The views are incredible. On the way, watch the city from the upstairs outside deck and the Olympics from the indoor downstairs benches. On the return, savor the breeze, while the kiddos look for jellyfish in the boat’s wake.
The water taxi deposits you at Seacrest Dock in West Seattle If you’re hungry, scrumptious Korean/Hawaiian sliders and tacos and rainbow-colored shaved ice or ice pops are only a stone’s throw away at Marination Mai Ka.
You could call the outing a rousing success after kicking back on the colorful patio at Marination Mai Ka, but we brought along our scooters and headed to Alki Beach two miles west. You have other transportation options: bring your bikes on the boat or rent a bike from Wheel Fun Rentals and cruise the boardwalk to the beach where sand, the bracing water of Puget Sound, stunning views of the city and more restaurants await.
Bon voyage!
