Elliott Bay Water Taxi

 

7

39

Lanny B.

Seattle, WA

I LOVE the water taxi, It really cuts the trip from alki to downtown.

I work on Alki as a nanny, and we love to go downtown and peruse the market or meet my husband for lunch. A LOT easier and more entertaining than a bus ride. I get a lot less "Lanny... I smell something yuck" on the water taxi.

NOBODY stinks on the water taxi. We love it.

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Elite '08

28

56

Sarah P.

Seattle, WA

Can't wait for the Water Taxi to start operations again for 2008!

Pre-spring time makes me antsy & giddy at the same time!! Seattle is the place to be when the sun is out, are we in April yet??! Opens APRIL 27th, I will sail away on Elliott Bay. :) My cheap thrill on the water!~

I work pretty close to the ferries, so during the lunch hour I will put on my shades, grab some fish & chips from ivars, and hitch a ride on the water taxi for a quick trip to West Seattle. (15-20 mins one way)

Since its run by Metro Transit its the same price as bus fare!! $1.50-$1.75/per ride. If you have a monthly bus pass even better! West Seattle residents that work downtown get to commute via water bus~ How awesome is that?!?! (although, caution for those with weak stomachs, minor sea sickness. But so worth it! Rock the boat :P)

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Elite '08

293

791

Maria C.

Seattle, WA

I heart the water taxi. One ride (my first) on a beautiful, warm completely sunny Saturday and I'm hooked. Nearly everyone goes straight upstairs to the open air deck with the cooling breeze and views, so if you're late you're going to be stuck downstairs. Nice big windows down there and views too, but come on, fresh air...! It's a quick trip and worth 3 bucks to be out on the water and end up on Alki. And the walk from Seacrest Park to all the happenin spots on Alki isn't that bad. Don't be a wuss. All right, they do have a bus to take you there. If you have a Metro transfer it'll only cost $1 and they'll also give you a transfer after you pay so really it only cost me $1.75 'cause I'd pay for the bus home anyway. I like math. And I like the water taxi. That's not just the unaccustomed sunshine induced serotonin talking.

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Elite '08

23

85

Erin W.

Seattle, WA

Started taking the water taxi downtown this week to avoid "Freeway Fright 2007" on I-5.  Why have I never used the water taxi before??  The water taxi is awesome!  Tons of other friendly West Seattleites line up with their commuter mugs filled with coffee and a friendly crew greets you as you board.  I feel so I'm-Meg-Ryan-a-la-Sleepless-in-Seattle on my commute.  

Hubbie and I will start using this to get downtown for dinner or an Ms game too.  Wish it was available year-round.

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Elite '08

33

161

Rachel S.

Seattle, WA

The taxi is lovely
It goes on the sea
It takes a bus transfer
Or dollar bills three

For seats they have deck chairs
All lined up in a rows
The sun is all shiny
And burns up your nose

The crew dress in uniforms
Nautical, crisp,
They fit even the girl
(No more than a wisp)

Who hands out bus transfers
As orange as cranes
That unload great big barges
That come in heavily laden with containers full of Chinese manufactures and whatnot that have been making their way along the trans-Pacific shipping lanes

[Darn, there went my meter]

[Uh]

[Oops, sorry about that . . . little lapse of judgment there . . .]

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8

150

Chris F.

San Jose, CA

This is another great way to take in the views of the Seattle skyline without paying for an actual cruise, for those cheap-ass tourists like me. For $3 one way (an extra $1 with a transfer for a round trip), you can get that amazing view for a lot less. I actually wish I lived in West Seattle so I can take the water taxi every day to work (whenever it's available)...that'd always be a great start to any day.

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8

32

Joseph B.

Seattle, WA

The Elliott Bay Water Taxi has started up service for the season (as of April, 29, 2007). If you live in West Seattle and work downtown, you are nuts for not taking advantage of this thing.

Water Taxi 101:

"Where do I catch it?" On the West Seattle side, you board at the dock in Seacrest park, just a stone's throw west of Salty's restaurant. On the Seattle side, at Pier 55,  the main Argosy Terminal - Alaskan Way and Spring or so.

"How much do I pay?"  If you have a Seattle Metro bus pass of any denomination (seemingly), it's free. Otherwise, it's cheaper than parking downtown. ($6 round trip, a buck cheaper each way if you have a bus transfer.)

"Does it take bikes?" Yes. No extra charge (unlike the Seattle ferry system).

"I don't live near the north end of West Seattle. Where do I park?" Do NOT park in the Seacrest Park parking lot - there's a two-hour limit there. However, parking is free all day along most of Harbor avenue. Note that on the West Seattle side, they run two free shuttle buses that go to Admiral/Alki and the Junction, respectively.

"What's the schedule?" Find all the details you need here: http://transit.metrokc...

"Why should I take it?" It's a gorgeous ride twice a day. No West Seattle Bridge. No variable to your commute time. It's full of cool people. The staff (I suppose they prefer to be called "crew") is cool, too.

As an anecdote, here's how great this taxi is. A couple years ago I was in the midst of being aggressively recruited by a large, Eastside firm. Tons more money, career-making position, blah blah blah. The trouble was they always seemed to call me while I was seated on the sunny upper deck of the water taxi, interrupting me from my crossword or trashy novel. And all I could think about was this tranquil boat ride vs. some soul-killing drive to Redmond. Needless to say, I still work downtown.

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Elite '08

181

436

Julia Z.

Bellevue, WA

I thought this ferry ride was awesome, if a little overcrowded, but it was easy to blame that on being free for the first day of the season, and a sunny day at that.

When the fare goes to $3 each, I'm sure the crowds are way more reasonable.

Board at the Argosy docks (pier 55) near the aquarium, and get off at a little park (Seacrest) near Alki that has a bus to Alki's popular beach area, which is probably free with your ferry transfer.

The views from this boat are slightly different than those from the Bainbridge and Bremerton ferries because this ferry goes further south in Elliott Bay than the big boats. A different vantage and definitely super-beautiful (and photogenic!) at sunset.

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8

117

Bonnie G.

Seattle, WA

We wait all year long for the Elliott Bay Water Taxi to start up again.  It is so fun just to bring the kids on the water taxi and go to lunch or the aquarium or even a walk to the Sculpture Park.  Be sure to ask for a transfer for your return trip.  (return trip is $1 with transfer)

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