Fremont to the International District
Riding from Fremont to the International District is a great way to see a lot of Seattle’s best neighborhoods and get some quality time with Lake Union. A tour through Theo’s will give you just the sugar high to get you through the city biking and shopping in the ID will be a great way to relax after.
This flat ride is an easy one there and back. For full directions you can check out the Google Route here*.
Tips & Tricks:
- When crossing the Fremont bridge, stay on the south sidewalk in order to stay on the Cheshiahud Trail.
- While you are biking along Lake Union, you’ll be on the Chesiahud Trail which is essentially a wide sidewalk along a linear parking lot. You can choose the sidewalk or the parking lot - both require you to pay attention to foot traffic or slow moving cars.
- Right on the sharrows on the left side of one way streets for easier turning.
- Make sure to keep a safe distance from parked cars and an eye out for city traffic while riding on 5th Ave through Belltown and Downtown.
Places to Stop - Fremont:
- Theo’s Chocolate - hop in for the factory tour
- Hub & Bespoke - a new neighborhood bike shop with a great selection of accessories and clothing
- Burnt Sugar - shoes and gifts galore
- Bitters Co. - gifts and homeware from around the globe
- Les Amis - ladies’ clothing and accessories
- Homegrown - a great spot for a quick (delicious) sandwich and homemade potato chips
Places to stop - the International District:
- Uwajimaya - Asian groceries and gifts
- Kinokuniya - an amazing bookstore with lots of import reads, gifts, and journalling goods
- Momo - clothing and accessories
- Kobo - books, gifts and art
- Wing Luke Museum - a beautiful museum space of the Asian Pacific American history
- Bush Garden - sushi and one hell of a dive karaoke bar
Image via Marie’s Shots.
*This route has been updated to reflect reader comments and a test ride - Westlake > Bell St > 5th Ave.
Love it, but this route overlaps with a big part of my daily bike commute and I’d make two safety suggestions:
When riding Southbound from Lake Union, I recommend 9th over Dexter. It’s one-way, has a dedicated bike lane, and much less traffic. Plus you can stop by Banya 5, Venik or Whole Foods.
I also really prefer 3rd to 2nd (or 4th) when riding downtown. This is an easy choice during weekday rush hour when it is bike & bus only, but even on weekends there is less traffic and - more importantly - no street parking on 3rd, greatly reducing worries about the sudden opening of car doors in front of you.
I also have two suggestions:
1. I would recommend Dexter over Westlake. Dexter (not the part that Brad is talking about, but further north) is much less traffic than Westlake, and has a bike lane. It has a gentle hill at the beginning, but it’s not bad at all. This way you avoid either the busy traffic on Westlake, or having to weave in and out of parking lots.
2. I would consider taking Alaskan over either 2nd or 3rd. It’s along the water, so you get a view, and there’s the option of either a bike lane (with at times heavy pedestrian traffic) or a fairly slow moving street. From Alaskan you can take Jackson up to the international district.
The beginning of the route is a little bit unclear - you are essentially following the trail around the lake then turning on Aloha to get up to Dexter (Brad is right though, Ninth Ave to Denny can be a much better ride and Banya 5 is worth a stop). You could take Dexter from the Fremont Bridge on, but that first climb can be pretty exhausting; although, it might be worth it for the sharrows and bike lanes.
Conclusion: Cheshiahud Loop (along Westlake) to 9th Avenue and veer right onto Bell St.
Also, Alaskan is a good call. The traffic is moving faster, but the view is totally worth it. Thanks guys!