Alki beach -- what a gem! (Seattle, Bellevue: gardens, beachfront, residential)

[usernametaken]

Been in the Greater Seattle area for almost 4 years and traveled to most parts of the region during that time due to my being self-employed and also having one gig requiring travel. Strangely enough, went to West Seattle twice before (house party at night once, and got stuck in summer traffic second time and had to turn around and head back to Bellevue) without seeing Alki.

Finally made it to Alki this past weekend and was thoroughly impressed (they did have a small street fair going on). It is like a mini southern California in our midst with a more diverse range of people in certain aspects.

Does anyone know what times during weekday mornings (early am or late am) one can go to Alki from the east side (via I-90 W) and experience limited traffic? I am thinking of working from the Starbucks with the beach view once in a while. Is daytime parking free in the residential areas near Alki beachfront?

[mkarch]

Winter time. Alki draws in a lot of people from outside the city. During the summer a lot of those types of cars you usually only see in Kent are cruising Alki.

But to answer your question, between about 10 and 2 the traffic to/from the Eastside is much lighter. Getting back shouldn't be as much of an issue as the West Seattle Bridge doesn't have a lot of Eastbound traffic in the afternoons - at that point you only have to deal with I-90 traffic.

[Botev1912]

Parking is always free there, but it's hard to find especially on weekends.

[IDASpaceman]

^ park a mile away and walk or bike down : )

[415_s2k]

You should also chrck out Golden Gardens. Love it there!