Seattle, Washington

The Laurelhurst area is even more upscale and has a much higher priced housing market; it’s also rumored to be the home of many stars and one cartoonist. There’s a great Beach Club names after the area and a park that has an amazing water view and it perfect for a day of reading in the sun.

For families with small children Laurelhurst Elementary School as well as a private grade school called Villa Academy. The area also boasts a Midwife school. The Community center is one of the biggest draws in the area with activities and programs going on all the time which makes this neighborhood much more a community that knows each other than most Seattle neighborhoods.

Living in the Laurelhurst area of Seattle isn’t for everyone because of the housing prices, but it’s a great area to visit if you just want to check out the scenery and dream.

Proximity is key when living in Seattle. The city is a busy place so you want to be able to venture out, get stuff done and then get home in a reasonable amount of time. Licton Springs is that place. It’s by everything and still has a neighborhood charm.

On one side you have the Northgate area which host the Northgate Mall and all it’[s shops and restaurants. Then on another side you have Aurora Avenue or Highway 99 whichever its preferred name is. This Avenue also contains shops, chain stores and restaurants, more than anyone person would need.

But the area isn’t just some spot you cross through to get to Northgate or to Aurora Ave. Licton Springs is also known for being a natural spring which in itself is pretty cool. The area is also the home to North Seattle Community College which is a popular 2-year school with an impressive extended learn program. The houses in the Licton Spring area are nice and semi-affordable for Seattle and with its nearness to Northgate and Aurora it’s not a bad place to call home.

From the moment I moved to Washington State I wanted to live in the U District, but as I grew mature that dream changed. The area has a lot of college kids, duh, I mean it is where the University of Washington’s main branch is located and the reason the area is called the amply named U District. The down side of an area housing a campus and its young students and the fact that the average age is around 20 and that will never change. So if you’re past those college days you feel old walking the streets after a while.

There aren’t a lot of condos in the area; in fact the area mostly has apartments and houses that are used as rentals for the students. The Ave area is kind of rundown and that’s where the crime seems to be happening these days. There’s the U-village area that’s newer and safer but probably pretty boring. And the U-village area can have terrible traffic through Montlake. I would probably advise staying away from the U-district.

Some part of Seattle are vibrate with too much to do and see, Beacon Hill is a nice mix, so as you stroll down the streets taking in the scenery you don’t fill rushed to see all you can in your visit. On my Sunday visit I took in the Beacon Rocks festivities on Lander Festival Street which featured rock band performances, from what I found out for the guy next to me this happens a few times during the summer months on Sundays.

Jefferson Park is the spot for golf in the area, it also features a community center and I watched a lively game of lawn bowling when I visited. There’s also Rizal Park which has an off-leash area for dogs, grassy areas with picnic tables and amazing views of Downtown Seattle & Elliot Bay.

The coolest neighborhood hang out to me was the Rockit space which is an art and music space where open night mics and poetry readings take place; it’s a great place to partake local music & art. For yummy cheap eats try the Dim Sum House It’s my favorite in all of Seattle or you can take in the atmosphere of the Beacon Pub which is a great place to go where mostly regulars hang out at the bar and the atmosphere is quiet.

There are very few places in this country that have it all in such a small geographical area. Seattle offers big city entertainment, sandy beaches and all-season activities on the gorgeous mountains, all within 20 minutes of each other. Downtown Seattle offers great history and beautiful architecture in Pioneer Square. The shopping district includes stores to suit everyone, not to mention the famous Pike Place Market. With no fewer than six ski resorts around the city, summer and winter outdoor enthusiasts find plenty to do on the hiking, skiing, biking and walking trails. If you haven't visited Seattle, it's worth adding to the top of your vacation destination list.

You can still find the old-school Scandanavian fishing families in Ballard, but the gentrification of the past fifteen years or so is expanding through the neighborhood, spreading out from 15th Ave and 65th St. As far as I can tell, it's all about the easy access to Downtown and to Phinney Ridge. It used to be about the local flavor, too, but I keep seeing locally-owned shops closing down or moving out, and being replaced by national chains. Market Street isn't quite the adventure into another world it was when I visited there as a kid.

In any case, it's still a great place to live, at least for a while. The condos and apartments have brought a younger and more mobile population to the area, so the night life has improved in the past decade. And there's still plenty of great retail therapy available on a walk down Market St.

I guess I'm just caught by a bit of nostalgia, and I worry about the long-term future of the neighborhood. I don't see as many families as I used to. But maybe I just need to wander further into the residential streets beyond the commercial core.

Seattle has it all, nearby ocean beaches, excellent shopping, world-renowned restaurants, and entertainment upon entertainment. What is there not to love about Seattle? Perhaps the weather? That is my only beef after spending time on the eastern side of the state where the sun shines three-quarters of the year, but I still love Seattle!

Located just across Elliott Bay from downtown Seattle, West Seattle offers its residents tight-knit communities within four main neighborhoods: Admiral, Alki, Fauntleroy and Delridge. The salt-water air and beach charm of Alki is a favorite, with first-rate views of the city, Puget Sound and the mountains. Fauntleroy offers pretty much the same but with a view of the islands rather than the city.

West Seattle living is a mix of traditional mid-century bungalows, single family homes, large craftsman style homes, and modern, million-dollar condominiums that line up along Alki Beach.

For dining and entertainment, California Avenue is one of the main strips, with a wide assortment of shops and restaurants. If you want to get to Seattle, it’s a quick trip across the West Seattle Bridge. Or, in the spring and summer months, hop on the passenger ferry that transports riders across the bay. Don’t forget to breathe in that fresh salty air!

i have traveld to seattle manny times enjoyed it verry much, dont really want to live there, the streets are confusing, the government is bad and just overall to big.