Best Beaches Near Downtown Seattle
Alki Beach Discovery Park Golden Gardens
When you think of Seattle you probably think of the Space Needle, flying fish at Pike Place Market, and…rain. And now you’ll think of Prof. Cruise, because that’s where I park my stuff and put my kid on the school bus in mismatched clothes – because I can’t concern myself with trivial matters while planning my next vacation – when I’m not cruising. But what you should also think about is the beach. Yes, what you may not realize is that Seattle is blue skies and sun nearly all summer long and we have some gorgeous beaches to boot!
I’ve visited dozens of them in and around Seattle, but for this post I’m focusing on three that are in close proximity to downtown because that’s where I live and where most visitors to the city stay or cruise out of.
Don’t forget to bring a sweater!
While our beaches offer vistas to rival those I’ve seen the world over, they are not bikini friendly. Now I don’t mean locals will rudely point at your jiggly spots and suggest something more “flattering” – because any body in a bikini = a bikini body and we Seattleites are exceedingly tolerant – I just mean you’ll be cold. A sweater as beach attire suits my northern European genetic weaknesses just fine and saves me on sunblock. And I suggest you pack one too as the temperature in the summer hovers around 70-75 degrees and can feel cooler with a breeze coming off the water. Unless you’re from upstate New York like my husband’s kin, in which case a banana hammock is likely all you’ll need – you’re an exceedingly hearty folk.
Or a snowsuit!
Or you can head out there in the middle of the winter in a snowsuit or full body puffer coat and boots, as my son and I have been known to do.
Regardless of how you choose to hide your naughty bits and maintain your optimum temperature, check out these three beaches near downtown Seattle.
Discovery Park’s North and South Beaches
At 534 acres, Discovery Park is the largest park within the city limits and offers two beaches for the price of one: zero dollars. But they do require payment in the form of calories burned (activity points, ya’ll), as they are hike-in unless you have a young child, elder, or person with mobility issues in your party in which case you qualify for one of a very limited number of free passes to park at the beach. OR if you come on a weekend during the summer, in which case there is a shuttle from the visitor center to the beach.
But I suggest the roughly 3-mile round trip hike in on a weekday to get the full experience and avoid the crowds. Lace up your hiking boots and stop by the visitor center for a map.
North Beach
North Beach is rocky and adorned with driftwood and offers spectacular views of Mt. Rainier and the Olympic mountains on a clear day (“the mountain is out” = a clear day in Seattle-ese). Look for sea creatures in the tide pools at low tide.
South Beach
South Beach is sandier if you’re into castles and holes, but still offers enough driftwood for a pretty awesome fort and boasts views of Shilshole Bay.
West Point Lighthouse
The West Point Lighthouse sits at the point between the north and south beaches and should feature prominently in the photos you take for social media for maximum “likes.”
Extra Credit
Keep your eyes out for a resident eagle – I’ve spotted her several times around the lighthouse. And for a special treat, come at dusk to watch the sunset or around 4:15 during the cruise season to wave at the ships as they sail by. Or better yet, look for Discovery Park from a cruise ship! From land or from sea, it’s a magnificent place to experience the unique beauty of Seattle.
Getting There
3801 Discovery Park Blvd, Seattle, WA 981
Public Transportation from Downtown
Bus: Catch bus number 33 (E Magnolia) at 3rd Ave and Union St.
Cost: $2.75 each way
Golden Gardens
Since moving to Seattle I spend approximately 100% of my time at the water looking for sea creatures. My son has to tug hard on my hand and bribe me with a promised trip to the chocolate store with the apples lined up in the window – apples only recognizable by shape and the tiny circle of green or red peaking through a thick garment of caramel, chocolate, or pink glaze and accessorized with sugary delights – in order to convince me to move on from a tide pool. He’s mostly inherited my love of all creatures of land and sea, but sometimes he has to be the grownup when it’s time to go home.
But good luck getting me to leave the tide pools at Golden Gardens. “Mom, we really have to go. Dad’s going to think you’ve run off with an octopus.” “Well they do have three hearts, which is more than you’ve got for making me leave this magical place to cook you dinner.”
The beach at Golden Gardens Park is situated on the Puget Sound in the neighborhood of Ballard, about 8 miles from downtown. The southern area is what I’d consider a traditional sandy beach, except for the random creepy floating child’s head. You’ll want to watch out for that.
But keep walking north around a little point for the place you should head instead of the Seattle Aquarium if you like seeing saltwater creatures in their natural habitat. If you arrive at low tide, you’ll be gifted with an abundance of sea life to explore: anemones, urchins, barnacles, crabs, sea lettuce, and even an occasional octopus. Often there will be a naturalist present to answer your questions and teach you interesting facts you can share at dinner parties like that barnacles have the longest penises relative to size of almost any creature on earth. Maybe don’t share that one at a work function though.
The beach at Golden Gardens also has volleyball nets, a snack bar, and fire pits available to use for free after 6pm on a first come/first ignite basis.
Extra Credit
Listen for barking from the water as sea lions frequent this area. Or that might be me trying to scare off the officer my family has sent to haul me home.
Getting There
8498 Seaview Pl NW, Seattle, WA 98117
There’s no good public transportation option to Golden Gardens from downtown, so your best bet is to drive or grab a cab/ride-share.
Alki Beach
When we have visitors come to stay, we almost always take them to Alki Beach because it’s fun and easy to get to from downtown and you can make a full day of it. Alki is a two-mile stretch of beach located on West Seattle and lined with great restaurants and coffee shops and a biking/running/barely limping along trail. It will remind you of Southern California until you dip your toes in the water and they come back out purple and resentful. After 4pm you can warm them over a beach fire at one of the designated fire pits, though.
Extra Credit
If you go on a Sunday, make a reservation for brunch at Salty’s, located on West Seattle near the water taxi pier. Then you can rent a bike and ride to the beach to work off the, “just one more dessert” that turned into six. Or you can go with my approach and hop on the free bus and plop down on the sand like a beached whale. Expend some energy to scan the shore with your eyes though – I once saw two bald eagles hanging out on the sand.
Getting There
1702 Alki Ave. SW, Seattle, WA 98116
Catch the water taxi along the downtown waterfront at pier 52 (note this is a temporary pier as they renovate the permanent location at pier 50). Check the schedule here.
Cost: $5.75 for adults and youth, $2.50 for seniors/disabled, and free for children 5 and under.
Once off the water taxi in West Seattle, jump on bus 775 and tell the driver you want to get off at Alki Beach. The bus is free of charge for everyone! Double check the route schedule, because times are limited certain days and seasons of the year.
In keeping with the spirit of today’s lecture, my office hours will be taking place at the BEACH! But don’t tell my family and don’t forget to bring a sweater. See you there!
Class Dismissed.
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