Alki Beach - Seattle



 Day View to Downtown Seattle



If you are on a visit to seattle I would highly recommend that you spend your lunch time here at Alki beach. Alki Beach is one of the best secrets of Seattle. Its not really a sand beach but its nice spending time here. Lots of locals

know the area but not many tourists.  Alki Beach is located in a neighborhood called "West Seattle," and faces west to the Olympic Mountains.   There are several restaurants here from coffeehouses (Tully's) to cheap eats (Alki Bakery) to more expensive seafood. 





The water is too chilly to swim in, but there in the summer there are hoards of people roller blading, walking their dogs and trying to soak up as much Seattle sun as possible.  Logs and fire pits complete a 'Pacific Northwest' version of a beach.  At the north end of the strip, turning around the point yields a fantastic view of downtown Seattle and sparkles at night. There are tons of shops and miles of beach. All have magnificent views of downtown Seattle. You can also stop by the Statue of liberty and have some nice shots.

Another interesting place nearby should be seeing is the Alki Point Light house. Just walking distance from Alki Beach. Its a nice calm place away from crowds.

There is one slight downside to getting there. In order to get to Alki from downtown Seattle , you must ride the West Seattle Freeway, a freeway notoriously known for is traffic problems. Once you get there though, you won't regret it. If you would like a restaurant pick, it's Salty's. Great dinning with amazing views. This place can get quite crowded and is expensive, but worth it. Great food.

Some of my shots at Alki



Night View to Seattle Downtown













My sons first Sand Castle



Oregon Scenic Views - 101

If you plan to travel through Oregon and have the time to take the scenic route through the state along Highway 101, you won't be disappointed. It takes around 4hrs drive to reach the ocean shore from Seattle. The views and interesting day trips are many and varied. 45 miles north of the border is the Rogue River. 3 miles south of Florence you'll come to a lot of sand dunes and Honeyman Park. It is the second largest state park campground in the state. There are two miles of sand dunes between the park and the ocean.You can take a dune buggy (holds about 20 people) ride through the dunes. You can rent smaller dune buggies, too.   This is a great place for playing in the sand and freshwater lake.

11 miles north of Florence are the Sea Lion Caves. This is a natural cavern where sea lions live. There are about 200 Steller sea lions that make the caves their home. It's also a great spot to get a great picture of Heceta Head lighthouse, considered by many to be the most photographed lighthouse on the west coast.

Wifey!!

Just north of Newport Bay is Yaquina Head lighthouse and state park. There is a day use fee here, too, but it includes alot. There's a lighthouse which you may be lucky enough to tour---it isn't open all the time. Finally, you'll come to Astoria.  A beautiful hilly town with victorian houses and fishing on the Columbia River.