Dinner on the Water

I wish every Seattle day was prime for dining outside. While drizzly at times, I still find myself pushing the limits of when outdoors is the right choice. Chalk that up to a desperation for fresh air and patio furniture, I s'pose.

Stranger to the city with the same unsatiated desire to dine outside? You're in luck - this city's bursting with al fresco options!

Salty's on Alki (and Redondo) are quintessential outdoor dining experiences, IMHO. Expansive views of Seattle's skyline (or in Redondo's case an incredible water-level view of south Puget Sound), simple nibbles or a full-on dinner, Salty's knows how to bring it to the table! A quick/easy water taxi ride from downtown (or a call to your concierge for complimentary downtown hotel picks) make getting there easy. www.saltys.com

Waterfront Seafood Grill sits perched on the northern-most of our waterfront piers. A little stark on their deck, but with a fun, part-of-the-action feel as strollers, walkers and joggers pass by. Their sequestered seating area affords views west to the Olympic Mountains ... cool saltwater breezes ... and a menu that'll blow your socks off! www.waterfrontpier70.com

Ray's Boathouse is a Seattle institution. A bit of a drive NW of the downtown core (but happy to take one-way cab fare off your bill), it's well worth the trip. Ray's sits at the opening of the Washington Ship Canal, which makes for plenty of boating action and interesting people watching. With their full-on western exposure, sunsets over the Olympic Mountain range are beyond compare. Dine downstairs in their more formal setting (with a menu that holds up to Seattle's best), or upstairs in their casual cafe. Deck space is limited, but arrive early and make an evening of it! www.rays.com

Elliott's Oysterhouse is a downtown staple. Tucked between Argosy ships and curio shops, Elliott's brings excellent, affordable food with impecable service. Sip a drink and watch the tourists walk by, or enjoy a full dinner of northwest favorites on their planked over-the-water pier. www.elliottsoysterhouse.com

Looking for something completely casual, but with amazing Seattle ambiance? Head to Ivar's on Pier 54. Originally Ivar Haglund had an aquarium at this site, but as he so cheesily put it: "More people wanted to EAT my fish than VIEW my fish ... so I opened a seafood restaurant!". Since 1938, their grab-it-from-the-counter-take-it-to-the-pier uber-casual Fish Bar offers one of my favorite chowder & fish experiences. (If you want something in a packed-literally-to-the-gills dining experience, try dinner, lunch or brunch inside in their full-service restaurant with views out to city's fireboats). www.ivars.net

Anthony's at Pier 66 brings an experience you can have 'your way'. Enjoy their casual Bell Street Diner (downstairs) with pier-end deck dining overlooking marina and Elliott Bay, or make a reservation in their more formal dining room upstairs. With views out to Alki Beach (where Seattle first began) and ferries scooting across the bay, it's an affordable, delicious way to dine. www.anthonys.com

European-canal experience in Seattle? Try Ponti's Seafood Grill - on the SW side of the Fremont Bridge. Richard Malia, owner and chief, originally put Seattle on the Asian-Fusion map with their signature Thai Curry Penne dish. Coupled with dreamy views of passing-by boats, you'll find yourself feeling like you're climbing into a Seurat painting here. www.pontiseafoodgrill.com

Need a few more options inside or out? Check out our members website: http://www.visitseattle.org/visitors/memberlisting/ or drop by our concierge center at 7th & Pike. What your choose, you're likely not only to leave full ... but full of memories!

What I Did on my Summer Vacation

Link Light Rail - you done me wrong! My 6th day into summer vacation, I decided to give you a whirl. You started out great - zipping along at lightning-fast speeds (50mph, perhaps?) ... gliding down the rails through havens of Bahn Mi and Pho restaurants ... continuing through neighborhoods filled with sprinkler-wet kids.

Then we saw the city. My eyes widened as I imagined the seemless transition into downtown for the lunchtime outdoor concert. At this rate, I might even be early! And then, you stopped. Muffled mutterings told seatmates and me to exit the train. I stood on the platform wondering what to do ... where to go. Your minions offered nothing. No sign to a quick and easy bus. No offers of help. I wandered.

Suddenly news crews foisted their mics into my face asking how I felt about the "ordeal". 'ORDEAL?!' Was something going on you didn't tell me about when I entered the train? I gave the desperate reporter a quip to hang on to, then followed the lemming-like masses to the first available bus which within a half block came to a screeching halt.

And we sat. Again. No information, again. I asked to be let off (along with others) and wandered back like a refugee to where I'd began, then began my walk into the city.

Sound Transit? Why? Why couldn't you have communicated with me? Why'd you make my inaugural trip so bleak?

Sunny Opportunity

Days of Seattle sun remind me of my eastern Washington roots: temperatures reaching 100 and more and days swimming in the cool Wenatchee River. While I’m not inclined to jump into 54+/- degree Puget Sound now that I’m over 10, I’ve found my city offers a wealth of cool-down experiences –

Washington State Ferries, while a busy part of our State Highway system, are also one of my favorite and most affordable ways to cool off. The $6.70 round-trip to Bainbridge Island is not only a fantastic destination, but a tremendous value too (and where else can you sip a glass of wine and enjoy a cup of clam chowder on your commute?!). Step out on the fore deck and enjoy the breeze!
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/

The King County Water Taxi, part of KC Metro’s transportation system, offers a summer-long treat in a 12-minute/$3.00 commute from downtown’s Pier 54 to the cool shores of Alki Beach. While the trip isn’t long, views of the departing city behind and condo-dotted neighborhood ahead bring a sense of awe (do we really live and play here?!). Opportunities abound when debarking on the Seacrest Park side (West Seattle) from kayak , rollerblade and bike rentals, to a short jaunt down the pedestrian promenade to Salty’s on Alki – a mainstay favorite of locals and guests. Enjoy an hours-long bike ride, or just sit and take in the views of the sprawling skyline just across Elliott Bay. Imagine Arthur Denny and his party of 23 intrepid travelers arriving on a beach not far away 158 years ago dreaming of their New York by-and-by.
http://www.kingcounty.gov/transportation/kcdot/Marine/WaterTaxi.aspx
www.salty’s.com
www.kayakalki.com

Take in Seattle’s expansive collection of parks – including old-growth forest at Schmitz Park Reserve (not a far trip from Alki Beach), or our only in-city wilderness park (Discovery Park in the Magnolia neighborhood). Ample choices with the Olmstead-designed spaces tied within a series of parks known as the Emerald Necklace which dot the lakeshores, boulevards and neighborhoods.
http://www.seattle.gov/parks/horticulture/VMP/LakeWashingtonBlvd.htm

Head north from downtown's Pier 70 into Myrtle Edwards Park and dip your toes in the water to feel why I choose not to jump in Elliott Bay (but imagine an ecosystem that comfortably keeps the world's largest octopi and enough Dungeness Crab to keep me happy for the summer!). Want to add some culture? Step next door to Seattle Art Museum's outdoor Olympic Sculpture Park!
http://www.seattleartmuseum.org/visit/OSP/default.asp


Choose your way to beat the heat ... and enjoy a bit of Seattle's uniqueness!