Other neighborhoods to stay in Seattle
South Lake Union
Business, sightseeing, scenic, couples, solo travelers
Just a short distance away via the South Lake Union Streetcar is South Lake Union. Home of the Amazon headquarters and biotech industry, the area buzzes with hip bars and pop-up food stalls filled with tech-industry employees on their lunch breaks and after-work drinks. This is primarily a business area and apartments can be expensive to rent.
The flat, low-lying waterfront is best explored on foot or by bicycle, where a dedicated bicycle lane whisks you around the edges of Lake Union, past Goose Beach swimming spot and Seattle's unique houseboats. South Lake Union is lined with yacht moorings and is a popular spot for water-sports, with summer days seeing swimmers, kayakers and boat cruisers enjoying the sun. Try the award-winning clam chowder at Duke's Seafood, learn more about Seattle's economic makeup at the Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI) or hire a kayak from the Centre for Wooden Boats.
Hotels in South Lake Union
Queen Anne
Business, luxury accommodation, family, tranquility, before a cruise
Queen Anne is linked to the city by a quick (but steep) monorail ride, providing easy access to tourist hot-spot areas like the Space Needle, Seattle Centre and Memorial Stadium and central business areas like South Lake Union and Downtown Seattle, making it a popular choice for both residents working in the city and tourists alike. This is an affluent area filled with genteel cafes and classical, historic homes.
Loftily overlooking the city's skyline and the waters of the Puget Sound, Queen Anne is a leafy residential suburb crisscrossed by 121 staircases that connect various roads and viewpoints for pedestrian access. Urban hikers can stretch their legs on the Queen Anne Stair Climb, which links 43 staircases over 5 miles! One of the best views of the city can be found at Kerry Park, where one can see across Downtown Seattle to Mount Rainer on a clear day.
Hotels in Queen Anne
Capitol Hill
Nightlife, first-time visitors, restaurants, galleries, breweries
Known as the LGBTQ+ capital of Seattle, this gritty, vibrant district overflows with hip restaurants, coffee shops, thrift stores and craft breweries surrounding Broadway and 12th Avenue. Streets are often closed off for day festivals. It's got great nightlife too, from dive bars to nightclubs - and for that reason, Capitol Hill is known to be a somewhat noisy suburb to live in. For book lovers, Elliot Bay Bookstore is not to be missed. Operating since 1973, it is a double-storey space filled with personal, handwritten recommendations from staff and readers.
Head to the expansive 48.3-acre Volunteer Park during the day for a picnic, and visit the exquisite victorian-style conservancy. This trendy area is easily accessed from the Downtown area, with busses and pedestrians making the walk up and down the hill or travelling to the Capitol Hill Link Light rail station.
Hotels in Capitol Hill
University District
Business, solo travelers, couples, students, restaurants
A quick rail connection via Westlake Station, University District is dominated by football's Husky Stadium and the University of Washington main campus. Founded in 1861, the latter can be accessed by visitors wishing to mosey about one of the oldest public universities on the West Coast and is made even more scenic during March, when the University's 88-year-old cherry trees, bloom with flowers. Like Downtown and Capitol Hill, the area has a range of restaurants serving International and American cuisine, and arguably one of the best sun downer viewpoints from The Mountaineering Club's rooftop bar.
University District is casual, providing a residential area for not just students but locals and visitors too. Head to 'The Ave' for shops and restaurants, visit the state's first public art museum, the Henry Art Gallery' and factor in a visit to Gas Works Park. The eclectic, rust-colored spires of a shut-down synthetic gas manufacturing plant squat on a grassy hillock with a prime view over the waters towards South Lake Union.
Hotels in University District
Northgate
Business, families, restaurants, with a car, more affordable
Northgate is connected to the Downtown area by the Link Light rail and numerous bus routes, although these can be lengthy commutes. Somewhat more residential, Northgate is a good option to stay if you have a car. From here you can access North Seattle and nordic-influenced Ballard with its cafes, Golden Garden beach and many breweries, Fremont and University District. Visit Thornton Place for shopping, eateries and to walk alongside Thornton Creek.
Northgate is home to the newly-built Kraken Community Iceplex, where visitors can learn to ice skate or watch an action-packed ice hockey game. Green Lake Park is a beloved local hangout, with swimmers, walkers and tennis enthusiasts making the regular commute to its shores. If you're a golfer, Northgate is ideally located. Take a swing at golfing destinations such as Jackson Park Golf Course, Sand Point Country Club and the upscale Seattle Golf Club.
Hotels in Northgate
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