
On a sunny day in Seattle, the hot spot is Alki, a long strip of beach that extends from Alki Point to the Duwamish Head on Elliott Bay. It’s the perfect place for a stroll any time of year, but especially in the spring and summer, it draws joggers, roller bladers, volleyball players, beachcombers, sunbathers, bicyclists and of course, dog lovers. We get lucky. Today is one of the first sunny days after a long, wet winter and Alki is hopping with two- and four-legged alike.

For a little pick-me-up post pizza, we hop over to Pioneer Coffee, located right next door. The interior is tiny, but the outside seating area is spacious and we meet a bunch of new four-legged friends as their humans enjoy a cup of joe. We grab a latte and mingle for a bit before meandering north on Alki Avenue for a stop at the Statue of Liberty, a gift from the Boy Scouts of America in 1952 and popular gathering place.

With so much to see and do, we hop in our car for the short jaunt up to Admiral Way and California Avenue for a stop at Mud Bay. Mud Bay is a locally owned business, with 20 pet stores throughout the Puget Sound area. In addition to more than 500 formulas of cat and dog food, Mud Bay carries a wide assortment of treats, toys and accessories as well as features local artists and photographers. As of this printing, swing by and you will see photographer Julie Clegg’s dog photos on display.


One spot in the Junction we can’t resist is Clementine Shoes. Clementine owner Linda Walsh opened her shoe and accessories boutique in 2006 to share her passion for beautiful shoes, unique style and well-made finds. Speaking of, we find a pair of funky, blue Fluevogs to drool over while Gus is plied with treats for his patience.

Side note: Not that you’ll need them on a dog’s day out in West Seattle—or we hope not anyway—but we thought it worth mentioning nearby Greentree Animal Hospital, where CityDog top dogs Scout and Ziggy are long time patients of Dr. McKim’s.

As the day closes, it’s time for happy hour, so we head back on Fauntleroy Way to the Morgan Junction. The Morgan Junction is not as bustling as the Alaska Junction, with as many shops and restaurants, but it is home to one place not to be missed—the Beveridge Place Pub. The Beveridge is a dog friendly oasis, with 25 beers on draught and over 100 bottled selections as well as wine, sparklers and ciders.

Also located in the Morgan Junction is the Wash Dog, a do-it-yourself or they-can-do-it-for-you bathhouse and spa for your dog, complete with all the ingredients to make your pooch sparkle. Further south on California Avenue is Stella Ruffington’s doggy playcare and kennel free boarding for your pooch to stay while you are away. And, be sure to swing by Pet Elements for high quality food and treats plus toys and other pet accessories.

Also located near White Center, is Westcrest Off Leash Area. Westcrest is a mixture of developed park and second growth forest covering 80-plus acres, and is adjacent to portions of the Duwamish greenbelt offering plenty of exploring opportunities. The park offers many on-leash trails and the off-leash area features a large fenced play area plus a small dog/shy dog play area.
If all of this “dog-friendliness” has you itching to move to West Seattle then the newly-built Link Apartments and sister property, Mural Apartments, have you covered. Both are pet friendly and located within walking distance to the Alaska Junction.
Whether you live here, are moving here, or just visiting, West Seattle is a dog lover’s paradise, providing plenty of places to sit, stay and play for humans and hounds.
Gear up for West Seattle at the CityDog Shop.
More Information
Slices
2600 Marine Ave SW
206.935.0178
slicesonalki.com
Mud Bay
2611 California Ave SW
Seattle, WA 98116
206.932.0911
Mudbay.us
Pioneer Coffee
2536 Alki Ave SW
206.937.0920
Muttley Crew Cuts
4200 SW Admiral Way Seattle, WA 98116
206.932.6888
muttleycrewcuts.com
Hotwire Coffeehouse
4410 California Ave SW
206.935.1510
hotwirecoffee.com
Clementine Shoes
4447 California Ave SW
206.935.9400
Clementines.com
Greentree Animal Hospital
4440 California Ave SW
206.932.5593
Next to Nature
4543 California Ave SW
Seattle, WA 98116
206.935.1134
Beveridge Place Pub
6413 California Ave SW
206.932.9906
beveridgeplacepub.com
Wash Dog
6400 California Ave SW
206.935.4546
thewashdog.com
Stella Ruffington’s
7003 California Avenue SW
206.932.RUFF
stellaruffingtons.com
Pet Elements
6701 California Avenue SW
206.932.0457
petelements.com
Pioneer Coffee
2536 Alki Ave SW
206.937.0920