This activity combines urban exploration and a shoreline hike in sight of Seattle. Of course, as Francesco remarked, the hike ends “with feet under the table” at an excellent pizzeria in Winslow.
Starting Point: Downtown Seattle: Pike Place Market
Begin by taking light rail at a station convenient to you and ride it to downtown disembarking at Westlake Station and proceed West to Pike Place Market where we'll meet at Rachel the Pig (near the Pike Place Fish Market) at 10:00AM. From here well walk to the newly finished Overlook Walk down to the waterfront and proceed to Colman Dock.
Ferry to Bainbridge Island
Bring your ORCA card or buy a walk-on ticket for the Washington State Ferry to Bainbridge Island (there is a senior discount). The ferry sailing is about 35 minutes.
Discovering Charles Schmid Waterfront Trail
Once we disembark at the Bainbridge ferry dock, we’ll make our way to nearby Waypoint Park, the start of the Charles Schmid Waterfront Trail. This picturesque trail is easily accessible from the ferry terminal and offers an easy walk mostly along the waterfront. The trail is well-maintained and suitable for hikers of all levels. Although an urban hike, it features lush greenery, shoreline views, and the occasional glimpse of local wildlife. We’ll take the trail to Strawberry Park.
[In conjunction with Bainbridge Island Parks Foundation, we may volunteer for a future work party to help develop/maintain Waypoint Woods at the eastern end of the waterfront trail.]
Lunch in Downtown Winslow
Retracing our steps, we’ll walk to downtown Winslow stopping at Bruciato for pizza.
Return to Seattle
We’ll return to Seattle via the 3:00PM ferry arriving in Seattle about 3:35PM. We’ll head along Alaskan Way to Pike Place Market. Here there’s the option of walking back up the Overlook walk (or taking the elevator from the market garage) to 1st Avenue and continuing to Westlake Station for the light rail trip home.
Summary
Total walking distance is about 6.5 miles, mostly flat (except the slope from Pike Place Market to the waterfront.)
Bring: water, rain gear (who knows?), ORCA card.
Reply to Dave Coder (davecoder AT gmail.com)