West Seattle Fwy, North Admiral

West Seattle used to be a great place to live. It still has its nice areas, quiet neighborhoods and some fantastic views, but in an effort to be a self-contained community, it's grown to the point that it can't really sustain the traffic that came with the influx of businesses and residents. Now, there is so much in such a small area, there is no way to compensate for the increase in that traffic.

The north end of West Seattle has some nice, quiet neighborhoods, with trees and manicured lawns, though so many people wanted to live there, homes were built pretty close together. No one in West Seattle has a large yard, but many find the trade-off worth it. At least for a while. As you enter West Seattle from the West Seattle Bridge, traffic becomes the stuff that road rage was born from. Access from the south end is inconvenient for those coming from a downtown workplace, and in Seattle, we all must drive, making traffic that much more bothersome in tight (and poorly planned) areas.

People traveling home mix with those taking the ferry from Fauntleroy, which travels through the main part of the community. Aside from the hordes of cars, though, there are some nice attractions for West Seattlites and visitors. There are a couple of beautiful golf courses, including the Rainier Golf Club, which has an outstanding view of the downtown Seattle skyline from the back nine. Some quaint little restaurants can be found, but nothing that can't be found in other parts of the city, so if you don't live there, it's hardly worth the trip. What is worth the trip is the Alki beach. However, parking anywhere near the beach can be a bit of a nightmare.

West Seattle used to be THE place to live and play, but has become so congested with traffic, new condos that line Harbor Ave. and the rising cost of living in such an area, that many people now think twice before spending the big dollars for a little plot of land.