running groups in Seattle

A Fitness Neighborhood By-and-By

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When it comes to Seattle neighborhoods, some stand apart. That could certainly be said of this week’s spotlight locale: Alki-Admiral. It is Seattle’s first neighborhood, but also kind of the city that wasn’t. It can feel a bit like an island, especially if the bridge to it closes. Let’s take a quick tour through Alki-Admiral’s history. 

The neighborhood is on the northernmost bluff of the Duwamish Peninsula, named after the local indigenous inhabitants and the river that runs adjacent to it. The tip of the peninsula was a native burial ground where artifacts dating to the sixth century have been found. The native folks referred to it as Prairie Point, and likely gathered plant and animal resources from the abundant flora and fauna in salt- and freshwater, fields and dense forests. There were many villages up and down the peninsula around the time that the Seattle-founding Denny Party from the east coast made landfall in 1851.

The name Alki came from the Duwamish language, in which it meant by-and-by, or in a while. It proved to be a tricky place for a town though, being so exposed to wind and tides. And sure enough, by-and-by, the newcomers up and moved further east along Elliott Bay, to our current downtown/Pioneer Square area. Most industry that stayed on the West Seattle peninsula went to the east side of it where there was access to calmer waters, the Duwamish River, and ferries to the new city. The town center moved uphill to Admiral, which was platted in the 1880s. Meanwhile, back down the hill, Alki became a resort destination. It has that beach town feel to this day.

running groups in Seattle

There’s way more history I’m skipping over, and you can read about it here. Suffice to say that Alki and Admiral have a unique identity. They are defined by civic independence–they were a separate city in the early 1900s and campaigned to secede from Seattle in the 1980s and ’90s. The area has close proximity to the wild with old growth forests and wild beaches. And its connection to the native past remains strong.

Alki-Admiral is a spectacular place for fitness and recreation. How about some of this action?

Alki’s waterfront path is one of the most scenic walk, run, skate, bike settings in all of Seattle. It easily accommodates a 5 mile route, and you can continue down on either side of the peninsula for a longer route appropriate for marathon training. If it’s hill climbing you want, that’s easily done. Just head uppity-up to Admiral–steep! And you’ll get great views along the way.

running groups in Seattle

Join regular wild swimmers and cold-dippers year round at Alki Beach Park. 

There is also a serious beach volleyball scene at the park. Or you can freelance a game of frisbee in the sand.

Play sports or make a creative circuit at Hiawatha Community Center, which includes a ball/soccer field, playground and track. 

A hike or trail run in Schmitz Park brings you through 53 acres of never-cut forest, making it not unlike it was when the Denny Party landed nearby.

Rent kayaks, stand up boards and canoes or scuba dive at Seacrest Cove Park. 

While you’re out that way, tour around Alki-Admiral’s vibrant commercial districts. Plenty of fine restaurants, cafés and bars including the launch points of some of our Saturday routes, namely West Seattle Grounds up top in the Admiral, and Ampersand Coffee down low by the beach.

A few more favorites:

This is but a tiny sampling of Alki and Admiral places! Meet us over there this Saturday for our walk and run outing and check it out for yourself. It’s West Seattle Yard Sale Day, so you can get a preview of the sales and then go back for those treasures. 

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