Most of my readers and my mailing list are in the greater Seattle area and might have heard the claims about how popular “scenic driving” is along Lake Washington Boulevard (LWB), especially if you are familiar with efforts to provide more space for people walking and rolling along this jewel of the city’s park system. TL;DR: people opposed to re-allocating some space along LWB from cars to use for non-motorized transportation and leisure say that so-called scenic driving is much more popular than activities like cycling — though Seattle Parks’ own data from its most recent survey shows very much otherwise.
Whether or not scenic driving is a thing, or in high demand, the presence across the nation of many so-called scenic byways notwithstanding, I don’t think it’s pedantic of me to note that driving is best an activity one devotes one’s full attention to, given the possible consequences of inattention. Anyway, who wants to split their attention from our region when we’re out to enjoy its natural beauty? Luckily, our transit system doesn’t force people to choose.
Here are a bunch of transit routes in the city of Seattle and the surrounding region that offer high scenic value, so folks can focus their full attention on mama nature, the way she intended all of us to.
Pick a Ferry. Any Ferry.
Short on time? Hop on the King County Water Taxi from downtown Seattle over to Alki and back. Need a personal day or just have a weekend with a lot of free time? Spend a big chunk of it on a leisurely sail on the WSDOT ferry to Bremerton, and combine with a Kitsap Transit foot ferry to Port Orchard and back, and then return. Water, mountains, and maybe some water mammals all await you.
Take Sounder Along the Sound
Hop on the Sounder‘s north route (AKA the N Line) and enjoy some sound-side viewing. The train runs right along the coastline — and I DO mean right along for much of the journey between Seattle and Everett, and you’re almost certain to get up-close views of bald eagles, herons, seals, and even sea otters. Pro-tip: take the early run and return to Seattle on the train. Hall of fame tip: Grab a ticket for an Amtrak Cascades train to Bellingham and back for even more sound-side scenery.
Discover Lake Dell Avenue
Lake Washington Boulevard is indeed a wonderful local destination. While there is an unfortunate lack of bus service along the boulevard — at least right now — when you’re in need of a scenic ride close to home and a bicycle or walk isn’t your thing, hop on King County Metro’s route 27 for a short but sweet jaunt along the lake and a fun, twisty-turny trip up or down Lake Dell Avenue. Take it round trip to downtown and back — the westbound Yesler stretch of the route presents the city and the sound in some of their best light.
Take a Strait Shot
Clallam Transit’s Strait Shot will let you savor the grandeur of the Olympic Peninsula, including breath-taking, soul-refreshing crossings of Agate Pass and the Hood Canal and the soothing expanse of Discovery Bay. Bonus: you get to take the Bainbridge ferry to catch the Strait Shot!
Camano Island
Take Amtrak Cascades to Stanwood, then transfer to take Island Transit (fare free!) Camano route 1 or 2 for marine vistas available as far as the eye can see.
As always, this list is far from comprehensive. Have you got a favorite scenic transit route in the Seattle area? Comment below or use the contact form to tell me about it and I’ll update this post.
Image: View from the deck of the Fauntleroy to Vashon ferry on a late fall morning. Copyright 2023 Transit Trekker/Downshift Outdoors.
Transit Trekker 