An Afternoon at the Seattle Waterfront

Seattle has perhaps the most beautiful waterfront in the known universe.

On a clear day, glaciers hover in the distance as ferries criss-cross the sound, while the Downtown skyline towers in the background. It’s just stunning.

Unfortunately, the waterfront does not get as much attention as it probably deserves. This may be due to the odd geographic disassociation between the Waterfront and Downtown. The main waterfront area is not exactly attached to the rest of the city. The downtown core rises in the hills above, while the waterfront below languishes under the freeway.

In order to get from one to the other, visitors must utilize a series of staircases and elevators, or use one of the steeper hills at the far north and south ends of the core. In addition, one must also walk under the roaring Viaduct which makes one feel as though they are traversing an industrial zone; the proverbial “other side of the tracks”. It’s an odd juxtaposition.

Supposedly, access to the Waterfront will be made a little friendlier once the deep-bore tunnel is built under Downtown.

Despite the access issues, I spend a great deal of time at the waterfront.

I’ve been to the Seattle Aquarium twice in the last month alone, I take the ferry quite often, the kids like to hang out at Pier 57, and of course Ivar’s is a favorite eating place of mine.

This past Saturday, I once again spent the afternoon at the waterfront, and this time I brought my camera along.

Our initial intent was to check out the “Deadliest Catch” event at the Bell Harbor Convention Center, but the line that greeted us quickly put a damper on that. I would have liked to have seen what was inside, but life is too short to wait in lines.

Instead, we headed down to Miners Landing on Pier 57 where we rode the carousel, played a few games, and got some sourdough snacks. Afterward, we procured some chowder from Ivar’s and spent the rest of the afternoon hanging out in Waterfront Park.

While walking back up toward the marina, I found myself wishing that the Waterfront Streetcar were back in service. If and when the Waterfront redevelopment ever happens, I think the streetcar will be an integral part of its success.

In any event, these are a few of the shots I came back with. If it’s been awhile since you’ve checked out The Seattle Waterfront, you may want to re-visit it now that the weather is getting “better”. Between the Marina, Olympic Sculpture Park, the Seattle Aquarium, Pier 57, Waterfront Park, and The Ferries, there’s a lot to see and do.