As a celebration of the last days of summer, my friend and I decided to venture downtown to take the passenger ferry from Downtown Seattle to West Seattle. Located in the heart of Seattle’s tourism and leaving from Pier 55, the passenger ferry is great for residents and tourists alike because it gives a fantastic view of the skyline as it zips across Elliot Bay. We missed the 2:30pm ferry so we stuck around for an hour (it runs every hour on the weekends and more frequently on the weekdays) and walked along the pier. I hadn’t done anything like this since I was a kid, so it was great to walk into the Olde Curiosity Shoppe, grab an ice cream cone and enjoy the sun. We also shared a basket of Ivar’s Fish and Chips, which I will never grow tired of; it’s in my English ancestry to love it. With vinegar and tartar sauce in little to-go carriers, it was the perfect snack before venturing over to the distant West Seattle.

Thank god we ate a meal before hand because we ended up doing a lot of walking in the oldest neighborhood and Seattle’s birthplace.. After riding the short 12 minute water taxi over to Seacrest Park and snapping way too many pictures of Seattle’s urban beauty, we hopped on the free and frequent West Seattle shuttle to take us to Alki Point. Once there, we enjoyed a day at the beach, basking in the sun, throwing rocks and walked ourselves the two miles back to where the ferry could pick us up. I love visiting this part of Seattle because it always feels much different than the rest of Seattle. The sun shines brighter and it gives off a Southern California vibe (although that might just be because of the condos). When I look west, I feel like I could be standing on one of the San Juans instead of being so close to the city. It’s a great place for an escape.

After walking the two miles back (the free shuttle also runs along the road but we just chose not to take it), we were exhausted and felt that a much deserved drink at Salty’s was in order. Salty’s is a classy seafood restaurant located right on the water, facing east to give customers that magical view of the skyline. We initially went there to enjoy Happy Hour but unfortunately, the hostess seated us in the dinner section, despite us specifically asking if there was a difference in menus based on seating. We split their delicious butter clams and some garlic mashed potatos, and each had a glass of wine. It was hard to not get wrapped up in the view and to truly have a wonderful time there. But make sure it’s either a special occasion or be prepared to spend some money. My friend and I were a little taken aback when we received the bill. At Salty’s, you definitely pay a little more for the view. So, if you want to spare yourself some cash, make sure to make it there for Happy Hour and be sure you’re sitting at the bar. There are windows everywhere, so, no matter what, you can see the view.

Following the shock of paying for the luxury “dinner”, we decided it was time to call it a night and take the passenger ferry back to downtown. We went to the dock and waited…and waited.. and waited. It turned out I had misread the ferry schedule and it does not run as late on Sundays, meaning we had missed the last water taxi home. The frequent, free West Seattle bus wasn’t so frequent anymore and we did not have a car, nor did we want to pay (or see) a taxi So, our only option was to walk another mile to the West Seattle bridge, where the King County bus would drive through downtown and take me back up to Ballard.

I urge all future foot travelers to West Seattle to double check the ferry times back home. Although West Seattle is part of Seattle, it is like another world away and isn’t as accessible and easy to get to as Ballard, the U District or Downtown. Although, that is what maintains its charm and keeps it different and separate from Seattle, while still being within its limits.