Seattle
Tech Hub of the Northwest
Seattle is the largest city in Washington State and in the Northwest Region of the United States. A wide variety of neighborhoods give Seattle residents unparalleled opportunities to embrace a range of lifestyles. Here are a few of your options:
South Lake Union (SLU)
Move here to enjoy high walk score condo living among trendy restaurants and a host of tech workers. You’ll find the Amazon Headquarters, the famous Amazon spheres, the street car to downtown, a Whole Foods, and Cornish College of the Arts. Take a seaplane from Lake Union to the San Juan Islands or just enjoy watching more than 300 boats and yachts at the annual Wooden Boat Show, one of the most anticipated shows in Seattle.
Capitol Hill
East of South Lake Union there’s Capitol Hill, although no Capitol is to be found there. Rather, there’s a mixture of old, old money mansions and a hodgepodge of apartments perched around the center of Seattle’s LGBQT community, the Alternative Lifestyle scene, and the scenic Volunteer Park with its brick tower and conservatorium. A plethora of ethnic restaurants line Broadway Avenue and the annual Capitol Hill Block Party, a large-scale musical festival, is second to none. Great musicians and great fun to be had by all.
Belltown
Between South Lake Union and Downtown there’s the ever vibrant Belltown community, the most densely populated area of the city. See some of the best national talent at Jazz Alley. Great restaurants and night clubs everywhere keep the streets hopping late into the night and early morning. Enjoy the high energy but be careful, it can get a little rowdy.
Fremont
Self proclaimed as the Center of the Universe, Fremont is quirky with the city’s only troll (under the bridge) and a Czechoslovakian statue of Lenin next to Taco Del Mar. Fremont has a history as a haven for artists but most of the little old houses are gone now and Google moved in. Still, the views of the canal, the proximity to South Lake Union, and of course the quirky attitude is still alive and well in Fremont. Of course, if you attend the annual Solstice Parade, you’ll get the bare facts.
Ballard
Once its own town, Ballard was absorbed by Seattle back in double aught something or other. The Ballard Avenue Historic District was listed on the National Registry of Historic Places in 1976. Walk along Ballard Avenue just south of Market Street and you’ll find great restaurants, bars, live music, and the best gelato shop in Seattle. There’s a vibrant nightlife and a great farmers market every Sunday from 10 till 3, year round. Eat out or grab your fixins and invite friends over for a homemade meal.
Queen Anne
Named for the architectural style of its first houses, Queen Anne is the area just to the north of the Space Needle and the hill north of that. Lower Queen Anne is populated almost entirely with apartments and businesses while Upper Queen Anne (the Hill) is primarily single family homes with yards. Visit Kerry Park to see the view point where the most iconic Seattle photos were taken. And, for the best Rueben sandwich in Seattle, stop by the Hilltop Alehouse. Pair that with a cold IPA and you’ll be in heaven.
Magnolia
One early European explorer thought the Madrona trees along the shoreline were Magnolias and thus the area was endowed with its name. Magnolia, the hill west of Queen Anne, feels like an island with its north, south and west edges fronting Puget Sound. Railroad tracks along the east side constrain easy access, making it feel very private.
The views of the city and the sea are spectacular and the inventory of mid century homes is probably the largest in the region. Have a morning coffee at Uptown Espresso (or Starbucks) in Magnolia’s commercial district, also called “the village”. Pick up a baguette at Petit Pierre and spend the day exploring Discovery Park, the largest park in Seattle. Come back in time for lunch or dinner at one of the village’s several restaurants. Take Magnolia Boulevard around the west side of the hill for wonderful water views and beautiful sunsets.
West Seattle
Alki Point was the landing site and first home of Seattle’s original settlers. Of course, Seattle’s name sake Chief Si’ahl and a horde of First Peoples were already living here. Alki Beach is one of the best in the area and packed full of sun worshipers in the height of summer. Alki also provides the best vantage point for a 180 degree view of the city skyline. Up the hill to the south, downtown West Seattle is teeming with life, activity and rampant development.
Touted as the most desirable destination for young tech workers from California, West Seattle is rapidly expanding to absorb the new population. West Seattle is home to 53 acre Schmitz park, 30 of which were donated by the Schmitz who immigrated to Seattle in 1887. Lincoln Park, with its 135 acres of trees, lawns, and beach is a favorite destination for locals and visitors. Take the Fauntleroy Ferry for an afternoon on Vashon Island and step back 20 years in time.
Seattle Features and Highlights
- Center of Northwest cultural and business activities.
- Only two and a half hours to Vancouver Canada.
- Fourth largest seaport in North America.
- One hour to ski slopes and hiking trails.
- World class medical research facilities such as Fred Hutchinson
- Home to Amazon, Boeing, and Starbucks
- Ranked by Forbes as the number 5 tech center of the future.
- Place of the University of Washington, one of the oldest public universities, and one of the largest and most prestigious higher education institutions on the West Coast.
Seattle in Numbers
- Population 704,358 people
- Median age 35.5 years
- Median household income $83,476
- Poverty rate 11.5%
Source : Census Bureau, 2016 yr. – www.Datausa.io
