Walking Tour of West Seattle Landmarks

Wow. It has been over a whole year since I’ve updated my blog. In that time period, I’ve had inspiration for articles and the motivation to write, but never both at the same time. My job requires me to compose articles on a daily basis, which wears me down for recreational writing. But I’m trying to get back to posting on a semi-regular basis, so let’s see how that goes.

For my first blog since the wildly popular Dual SurvivalDrinking Game, I have a walking tour of West Seattle that hits some unheralded and unknown landmarks. Any true West Seattleite knows about Lincoln Park, Husky Deli, and Alki Beach (if you haven’t been to these, VISIT THEM), so I want to shine the spotlight on some quirky spots that you may not have seen.

You can certainly drive the route, but with the recent warm weather, I recommend getting out and stretching your legs. The walk is around 4 miles, so it isn’t short, but it is a fun way to spend an afternoon. Special thanks to my sister, April, for helping with the photography. I hope to do more of these, so this blog will focus only on landmarks west of California Avenue. Enjoy!

1) Circle in the Sky (SW Fontanelle St. & Vashon Pl SW)

Officially titled “Solstice Park,” you can tell a person is a West Seattle native and not someone with a Google Maps App if they use the local name, Circle in the Sky. Located directly above the Fauntleroy tennis courts, this round gravel area overlooks Lincoln Park and the Puget Sound, allowing a chance to survey the grand scope of both locations. At night, it serves as an excellent vantage point for meteor showers and underage drinking.

2) Mythical Wood Sculptures (corner of 44^th & Brandon)

Not quite sure what to call this particular domicile, though Dragon House could work as well. Although entirely unimpressive, cluttered with scaffolding and unfinished reconstruction projects, this house also contains some of the coolest wood-carved statues I have ever seen. Just check out the picture to the left, with tree trunk carved, bomb-diving dragon in foreground. What captivates me most about the piece is the artist’s precision in conveying the twisted body, wings, and limbs of the daring aerial maneuver.

Of course, many casual observers never even notice the dragon, as their eyes are immediately drawn towards and locked into the naked fairy on the roof; an erotic Tinker Bell on LSD. Fully painted and fully nude, this controversial work is the bane and main attraction of the neighborhood, depending on the viewer’s artistic inclinations. Personally, I believe more homeowners should adorn their chimneys with lighthouse-straddling sprites.

There is also a statue of a Mighty Minotaur with fist raised to the sky and three stripped trees ready for an inspired chainsaw (or whatever tool is used) to release the form hidden within.

3) Slanted Roof House (45th and SW Stevens)

Just so you’re prepared, this is the longest leg of the journey without a landmark. It is still a pleasant jaunt and you have the option of cutting through local neighborhoods or simply walking up California through the downtown district (including a stop at the aforementioned Husky Deli for world-class ice cream and homemade cones).

When you do finally reach this location, you probably won’t notice anything significant about it. If you were jogging by, you wouldn’t look twice. Even this photo doesn’t do it justice, but this house has an incredibly steep roof. The peaks form extremely acute angles (the prettiest angles) and create walkways that would give Santa nightmares.

What’s most impressive, and partially mind blowing, is that this phenomenon occurs on all four sides of the abode, creating a tee-pee-like effect. I’ve tried to wrap my brain around what the uppermost floor (attic?) would look like but can only visualize the inside of a steeple. Whatever the case, it is certainly worth seeing for yourself.

4) The Painted Lady (1603 45th Ave SW.)

Although very famous (and expensive!) the brilliance of this historic West Seattle landmark still goes unrecognized. Over a hundred-years-old, the Painted Lady is one of two historic landmark homes in West Seattle (the other is the Hainsworth House).

You will immediately be mesmerized by the architecture and color scheme. Intricate patterns of shingles in various shapes and sizes cover the façade.

On the street corner of the Painted Lady is a cylindrical tower with steeple roof and bed knob pointing skyward, like a rocket. The back side features a porch, second story balcony, and third floor balcony. The décor has a minor sunburst theme; hand-carved details in the rails and pink roses embedded in stained glass windows display the personal touch evident in construction of this beautiful home. Once again, you need to see this lovely landmark firsthand to understand its historic classification.

5) Seattle & Sunset Lookout

The Corner of Seattle and Sunset sounds like a Nora Ephron movie, but it is actually the location of this terrific lookout, and the end of our tour. You can see Bainbridge Island directly across the Sound, Queen Anne to the right, and the tip of Alki peeking out to the left. Of course, watching ferries is always enjoyable.

Thanks to April for taking pictures, you can see more photos from this tour on her personal tumblr account.

Hope you had fun and I'll try to stay up-to-date with more posts!

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