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West Seattle

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West Seattle, a hilly district in the southwest section of Seattle, Washington, encompasses all of Seattle west of the Duwamish River. It was incorporated as an independent town in 1902 and annexed by Seattle in 1907. Among the area's attractions are its saltwater beach parks along Elliott Bay and Puget Sound, including Alki Beach and Lincoln Park among others. The area is also prized for its magnificent views of the Olympic Mountains to the west and the Cascade Range to the east. It is only minutes from city center travelling down Highway 99 and across the West Seattle Bridge.

Alki Point is traditionally credited as the point where the Denny Party founded Seattle prior to moving across Elliott Bay to what is now Downtown. A similar landing at Alki has been reenacted annually since 1950 as part of the colorful, week-long Seafair celebration of Seattle's marine and boating interests. Seafair coincides with the much older Hi-Yu festivities in West Seattle now called the Junction Street Festival.

The heart of West Seattle is the intersection of California Avenue S.W. and S.W. Alaska Street, called "The Junction," the center of a lively business district. West Seattle also has two other major intersections of note: the Admiral Junction in the northern part of the peninsula where California Avenue S.W. and S.W. Admiral Way meet, and the Morgan Street Junction at the southern end where Fauntleroy Way S.W., S.W. Morgan Street, and California Avenue S.W. intersect.

There is a Washington State Ferries dock in the Fauntleroy neighborhood, with service to Vashon Island and to Southworth on the Kitsap Peninsula. A shuttle ferry, the West Seattle Water Taxi, also runs between Duwamish Head and downtown Seattle.

West Seattle Chamber of Commerce

West Seattle Junction Website

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