SEATTLE NEIGHBORHOODS
Downtown / Pioneer Square / Pike Place Market / Waterfront
Upscale shopping can be found along Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Avenues, especially between Stewart St. and Union St. Nordstrom has its flagship store here, and Macy’s (formerly The Bon Marche) still holds its venerable downtown spot too. Shopping centers include Westlake Center – which has several stories of shops and restaurants and a popular downtown park area where free concerts and a refreshing wall fountain attract visitors in summer. The annual Carousel and tree-lighting ceremony make this a fun place to be during the holidays too. Up on Sixth, Pacific Place has glittering shops like Tiffany’s and presents its own unique feature during the holiday season – “snow” at 6 pm every evening! Pike Place Market draws locals and tourists alike, with an assortment of fresh produce, meat, and seafood vendors, craftspeople, ethnic foods, and restaurants. Other attractions downtown include the Seattle Art Museum, Benaroya Symphony Hall, and the new Seattle Public Library. At the south part of downtown is Pioneer Square, a lively neighborhood featuring some of the city’s oldest buildings, which now house shops, restaurants, cafes, galleries, and plenty of nightclubs. Continue south a bit further and you’ll reach Seattle’s new sports stadiums – Safeco Field for the Mariners baseball games, and Seahawks Stadium for football. To the west of downtown is Seattle’s Waterfront District, with loads of souvenir shops, boat tours, seafood restaurants, and the noted Seattle Aquarium. Ride the Waterfront Trolley for a nice tour through the area, continuing on to Pioneer Square and the International District.
East and up the hill from downtown, Capitol Hill is a picture of diversity. Huge turn-of-the-century mansions that once housed many of Seattle’s “old money” families still stand tall along the area’s quiet tree-lined streets. But it is also an area with many apartments and condos, and it’s very student-friendly too, with Cornish College of Arts on the north end, Seattle Central Community College midway on Broadway, and Seattle University bordering the south. There are shops and restaurants along 15 th Ave, but its main drag is Broadway, with blocks of hip clothing shops, shopping centers, grocery stores, restaurants, and movie theaters too. Here is where people-watching becomes an art form, as colorful drag queens share the streets with punk rockers and senior citizens who have lived in their neighborhood for years. Capitol Hill is the center of Seattle’s gay and lesbian community, and every June the annual Pride Parade takes to the streets. Other street festivals happen in summer too. For a quieter pace, head to Volunteer Park for stunning views of the city, a flower-filled Observatory (fantastic on rainy winter days), and the cultural offerings of the Seattle Asian Art Museum.
This area northeast of Capitol Hill is close to the University of Washington, making it especially popular with hospital and teaching staff who can bike across the Montlake Bridge to work. It’s also handy to SR-520, the Evergreen Point Floating Bridge that crosses Lake Washington to Bellevue and Redmond. It’s a quiet neighborhood with beautiful and architecturally-compelling homes from the early 20 th century. The Washington Park Arboretum is here, with over 200 acres of prime trees and plant life, and trails for biking, hiking, and jogging. The Arboretum also has a Japanese Garden open seasonally. The Seattle Museum of History and Industry, located at the northeast side of Montlake, is an excellent place to learn about local history, including the natural history of the northwest, industries of the area, and social and cultural history. The Montlake neighborhood has a few restaurants along Montlake Blvd. E (which becomes 24 th Ave E), including the excellent Café Lago, but for most shopping and dining, you’ll need to go up the hill to Capitol Hill, over the Bridge to the University District, or northeast to the upscale University Village Shopping Center.
This popular city neighborhood is bordered by the University District to the east, Fremont to the west, and Green Lake on the north. Its main drag is N. 45 th St., a busy street lined with many ethnic restaurants, pizza houses, coffee shops, and homegrown Dick’s Drive-In for great shakes, handcut fries, and reliable burgers. There’s a shopping center in a former historical school building, and the convenience of both a grocery store (QFC) and drug store (Bartell). Wallingford residents can enjoy shopping, eating out, and even seeing a movie without getting in their cars, as the neighborhood is easily walkable, which is likely one reason this area is especially popular. On the south side of Wallingford, Gas Works Park on Lake Union provides commanding views of the city skyline, a great hill for flying kites, and access to the Burke-Gilman Trail for biking, jogging, and roller-blading. There’s a nice playground at the park, and the former gas plant structures are interesting to explore too. On the Fourth of July, this park is the setting for one of Seattle’s two huge fireworks festivals and displays – the KING-5 Family Fourth, a day and evening of wall-to-wall people and free entertainment. South-facing Wallingford residences can see the show from their own decks and balconies.
Fremont has proclaimed itself the “Center of the Universe” and is known for its “funky” and hip attitude. Even though the purity of its counterculture status may be more challenged now that Fremont has “gone corporate” with the very visible Adobe Systems offices next to the Fremont Bridge, the neighborhood is still cool. This is a high-tech design company after all, and Fremont is all about art and design. It’s got some of the most unique public art in town, including the “Waiting for the Interurban” statue at the intersection of 34 th and Fremont – a statue with an ever-changing look as garments and accessories are added by creative spirits. The “Fremont Troll” makes its home under the Aurora Bridge, and yes, that really is a Volkswagen Beetle in its hand, and a photo-op not to be missed. The art-making reaches a crescendo for the Fremont Parade in June – an only-in-Seattle event where bizarre, creative, and unique entries take to the street. Watch out for streaking bike riders – a parade tradition. Food-wise there’s plenty to choose from, including sushi on a conveyor belt at Blue C Sushi, as well as Thai, Greek, and other international flavors. Shopping is eclectic too – find retro clothes, antiques, boutiques, furniture, accessories, and two good grocery stores for the basics and more. Stop by on Sundays for the Fremont Sunday Market to shop for unique handcrafts.
Settlers first came to Seattle in 1851 and spent the winter here at the place they named “New York Alki”, before moving across the bay to the present downtown area the following year. Alki Beach may not have been the best place to hang out in winter back then, but these days it’s one of Seattle’s most happening places, especially on hot summer days. Like Green Lake, it’s a “see and be seen” sort of place for singles, but its also great for families and anyone who loves the beach. Active folks like to jog, bike, rollerblade, and play volleyball. It’s a great spot for kite-flying, beachcombing, watching ferry boats cross the Bay, having a picnic, and staying for the romantic sunsets over Puget Sound. Even winter storm-watching is a popular pastime. Beyond the beach, West Seattle has a main commercial district at the intersection of SW Alaska St. and California Ave. SW, called “The Junction”, with shops and cafes. In the north part of West Seattle is t he Admiral neighborhood, an affluent part of West Seattle with shops, restaurants, and the historic Admiral Theater. In the southwest part of West Seattle, ferries run between the Fauntleroy station and Vashon Island.