12th Ave West, North Queen Anne

The west slope of Queen Anne Hill is an absolute labyrinth of twists, one-ways, and dead ends. That means that strangers stay away and the streets are lined with relatively modest (for Queen Anne) homes with lovely gardens and steep driveways. There's not much road noise, though a bit floats up occasionally from 15th at the bottom of the hill and from the railyards.

If you're looking for a view, double check. There are some great view possibilities, especially as you move further south; but you might get stuck with a view of the Ballard shipyards or the railyards that separate you from Magnolia.

There aren't many sidewalks, but there's so little traffic that you can usually just walk down the middle of the road. Still, with all the twists and turns, I would keep kids close to home or with an adult.

So, 12th offers most of the benefits of Queen Anne living, like proximity to downtown and stylish night life, while keeping a quiet, out-of-the-way sanctuary when you just want to cozy up with the fam.