Alaskan Way, Seattle

Seattle didn't let an inch of space go to waste in the downtown area. Alaskan Way snakes along the downtown waterfront. All of the piers offer a ton of attractions, restaurants and sightseeing opportunities that many residents of the city miss because it seems like a tourist area. But don't miss out. The Seattle Aquarium, IMAX theater and Argosy cruise terminal are just a few of the things you can visit while you're there. Not to mention the culinary fare at Ivar's, Steamer's and Elliott's Oyster House. The Edgewater hotel gives guests a sweeping view of Puget Sound and Alki beach not to be missed. Several of the piers also house some cute little shops and most of the time, the salty air is simply scrumptous! The trolley car that travels up and down Alaskan Way takes you from one end of the street to the other so you don't have to miss a thing.

While many other cities have bustling waterfronts where locals go to get away for an evening, Seattle has made a colossal blunder in cramming the waterfront with wasted potential. Along the strip of piers, everything is geared toward tourists, from the aquarium to Ye Olde Curiosity Shop. There is not one business that does not scream "Buy a t-shirt and salt water taffy here." Add that to the fact that so much of the area is dominated by a very ugly and utilitarian ferry terminal, and there is literally no reason for a local to want to hang out on the waterfront. It should also be mentioned that the Alaskan Way Viaduct (a double-decker highway) floats above the waterfront in all of its loud and dirty glory, as it provides one of two major N/S highways in the city. Due to instability from previous earthquake damage, it is being torn down and replaced by a tunnel, so maybe it will improve the area.

Alaskan Way in Seattle is a very interesting place to visit. It now combines the industrial feel of a working port area with a touristy water way with nice restaurants and pretty parks. The Olympic sculpture park at the northern end of the street is a really neat park. There are alos a number of piers and docks for leisure boats as well as working boats.

Alaskan Way is Seattle's waterfront street. Once devoted to warehouses and ship terminals Alaskan Way now boasts the fine Seattle Aquarium, several fine restaurants, beautiful views of Elliot Bay and the Olympic Mountains (on nice days) and is a short walk (uphill) to the famed Pike Place Public Market or to Pioneer Square, and professional baseball and football a few blocks south. Stop in at Ivar's, a Seattle institution for lunch or at least a bowl of their famous clam chowder. Cruise ships and ships to Victoria, BC dock here as well.