The West Seattle center is about 1 mile south of Alki Beach and 1 mile east of Alki Point Lighthouse.
Seattle, Washington may bear the brunt of lots of weather jokes, but there's more to the climate than just gray skies, drizzle, or relentless rain. It's true that the average yearly rainfall in West Seattle is between 34 and 36 inches, and around 150 days a year will see some rain, but that leaves quite a few days without rain to go out and enjoy all that West Seattle has to offer.
October through March are the rainiest months, with 3–5 inches of rain per month and average high temperatures in the 40s or 50s. But June, July, and August average less than 1 inch of rain, and the highs are pleasant in the low 70s. If you live in a climate where summer is a hot, humid, months-long ordeal, visiting West Seattle in the summer might be just the change of pace you need. Expect hotel rates to be higher then, since that's when most tourists choose to visit.
Though the average air temperatures at the beaches in West Seattle, Washington, aren't like being in the Caribbean, a sunny day in the summer can be a beautiful day to relax in the sand. At that time of year, the water temperatures average around 56 degrees.
The best discounts to be found in the vicinity of West Seattle are just a little bit south, near Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The Motel 6 Seattle Airport has 109 rooms with outdoor entrances, free Wi-Fi, and free parking, and some rooms have a fridge and microwave. The rooms have been upgraded to include better bed linens and a manufactured wood floor and are available at a very affordable rate, with discounts for seniors and military personnel. Pets are allowed.
For a room with a kitchenette just off Interstate 5, the Extended Stay America Seattle Tukwila has budget rates with outdoor entrances. Enjoy a free continental breakfast, free Wi-Fi, and free parking, and pets are welcome. AAA members, seniors, and military personnel can receive a further discounted rate.
Alki Beach is rich with Seattle history, along with being a beautiful and relaxing spot for recreation. Alki Beach Park is open from 4 a.m. until 11:30 p.m. so you can take advantage of the colors of the sunrise and sunset with downtown Seattle and the Olympic Mountains in the distance. The park begins at Alki Point and extends 2.5 miles to Duwamish Head, the mouth of the Duwamish River that separates Seattle and West Seattle.
Alki Beach allows bonfires on the beach in designated areas and has beach sand volleyball courts and public restrooms. Take a walk along the 2.5 miles of beach, partly protected by a seawall, in the morning and look for bright and colorful sea glass — the remnants of bottles and jars that get tossed in or near the ocean and break up into little pieces and get bashed and tumbled and brought ashore by waves. You can also hunt for the wood piling remnants of Luna Park, a facsimile of New York's Coney Island that dates from the early 1900s.
If your game is golf, play round at the public West Seattle Golf Course. The front nine is fairly flat, but you can challenge yourself on the more hilly back nine and enjoy some wonderful views of downtown Seattle and Elliott Bay. The course was designed by the famed architect H. Chandler Egan, known for his work on some of the best modern golf courses. You can book a tee time on their website, where you can also learn about monthly offers for games, food, and cart rental specials. After your game, sit down for a meal at the classic bar and diner Fox Den Grill.
For shoppers, the retail district is called The West Seattle Junction, a three-block radius at the junction of California Avenue SW and SW Alaska Street with unique shops and boutiques. Find a perfect souvenir from your trip to West Seattle, along with the chance to participate in special events like art walks, summer festivals, outdoor movies, and holiday events.
To honor and preserve the Duwamish Tribe's history in the region, visit the Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center overlooking the Duwamish River Valley. Visitors will see the sites of an ancient village where young Chief Seattle grew up and honor the ancestors who've gone before while learning about the preserved archeological items from the tribe's history. The Longhouse represents the village longhouses that stood there, where hundreds of inhabitants lived in the 1800s. You'll gain valuable insight into all sides of the region's history.
West Seattle is just a water taxi or bridge ride away from downtown Seattle, but it boasts a laid-back and eclectic personality of its own. A visit to West Seattle can offer a day at the beach, a bridge to the ancient past and people who've gone before, a glimpse into the future of city planning, enjoyment of public outdoor spaces, or a day of wholesome recreation and dining.
Below are reviews of the city of West Seattle, WA from an actual visitor's perspective.
Just used W. Seattle as a stopping point on way to visit to Microsoft in Redmond. Nice place to stay if you don't want to be in the bustle of the city right away.