Westlake, Seattle

Named for its position on the shores of Lake Union, Westlake is defined by its crowding condos and some of the most fashionable boutiques in Seattle. It truly is a shoreline community, where houseboats and seaplanes are common enough and the Lake’s central focus also makes it a marketable point for Seafood restaurants. The seaplanes make their takeoff from Kenmore Air Seaplane Terminal, so if you’re seeking out this uncommon site, you’ll know where to find it. There’s some utility here, too, because getting to the San Juan Islands or the Olympic Peninsula is easy if you’re going by air.

The main roads in Westlake fill up during drive time because they lead to the popular areas for work and play. No matter if you’re trying to get to Seattle Center, downtown, or Pike Place Market, Dexter Avenue and Westlake Avenue are starting points. Of course, the accessibility also means that this neighborhood is on several major public transportation routes, though the pricey offerings tend to attract people who prefer their own transportation (which is somewhat ill-advised because parking can be pretty terrible in this area).

I sort of hate to mention it because there’s so much more to the neighborhood than movie appearances, but this is the neighborhood in which Tom Hanks’ character was said to reside in Sleepless In Seattle. There, I said it, it’s done, now let’s just move on.

Westlake is named for its location on the western shores of Seattle's Lake Union. Bounded by Aurora Avenue on its western edge, this shoreline community is known for trendy high-rise condos and some of the best shopping and dining opportunities in Seattle. Some of the many attractions packed into the small neighborhood of Westlake include the pool hall Jillian's and an Outback Steakhouse.

Not to be confused with Westlake Center, located in the downtown retail core, Westlake is a waterfront community where you are likely to spot houseboats and seaplanes. Many of the activities happening in Westlake are centered on the water, from the seafood restaurant McCormick and Schmick's to large fisheries and piers jutting into Lake Union. Watch the seaplanes taking off from the Kenmore Air seaplane terminal, or the local fishermen on the piers. In the movie "Sleepless in Seattle," the character played by Tom Hanks lived in one of these houseboats.

The main roads through the area are Dexter Avenue and Westlake Avenue; both tend to carry heavy traffic during rush hour, but are relatively open at other times of the day. From the Westlake neighborhood, it's a short bus trip to downtown Seattle, Pike Place Market, Seattle Center, and many other attractions.

A friend of mine asked me to meet him at his office near Westlake Avenue. It was the lunch hour and parking was difficult. Finally, after about thirty minutes of quick calls and text messages, we rendezvoused. The hassle was worth it, as we had a tasty lunch at Pasta Freska across the street. Note, they are only open for lunch on Wednesdays.

Westlake is predominantly businesses, restaurants and marine-related industry. There is very little residential housing, except for the houseboats (similar to the one in Sleepless in Seattle). The house Tom Hanks lived in during the movie is a bit north of the Westlake area and may actually fall in the East Queen Anne neighborhood. Anyway, a few months back my son and I ventured out to find this house and eventually discovered it after having to ask a guy cleaning boats.

One of our (my wife and I) favorite seafood places is McCormick and Schmick's, just north of Kenmore Air. The entrees are a deep stab to the wallet, but the taste makes up for it. Fish are flown in fresh several times per week. The best time to dine here is about an hour before sunset, then you can observe the change in light on the lake and surrounding structures. If seafood is not your gig, then try the China Harbor Restaurant further north that features delicacies from well-known Chinese provinces.

If you want to live close to your north downtown office and still see water, this will be your spot. It may be difficult to ever own a home, since selection is slim and houseboats can be pricey. One dimension of the neighborhood that can be frustrating is the Highway 99 corridor - limiting access to the West except on a couple of streets. We stumbled on this reality July 4, 2008 by seeking to navigate a group of fifteen people from the Hampton Inn in Lower Queen Anne to a spot further north on Lake Union. We continually hit dead ends until finally walking under Aurora on Mercer Street.

With a Kenmore Air seaplane terminal in your backyard, it makes hopping to the Olympic Peninsula or San Juan Islands a snap. There is something about the thrill of watching planes landing and taking off from the lake.

Westlake and Dexter Avenues give simple arterial passage to the north and to the south. A friend of mine even mentioned today how he enjoys riding his bike via Dexter for morning commutes.

The Mariott Courtyard has settled here, making for a great location for out-of-town guests wishing to be close to it all.

This community is robust with food, fisheries and flying. Whether you grab lunch on your way to see other sites, dine on the water, or have an office on the pier, Westlake can satisfy.

There really aren't many homes in the Westlake area of Lake Union/Queen Anne, but those that are there enjoy some giant trees enveloping them against the traffic on Westlake Ave to the east and Aurora Ave to the west. Mostly, the area is filled with nautical and marine businesses, some great restaurants on the lake and one of Seattle's longest running pool halls - Jillian's. Westlake Ave doesn't really see much traffic and most people don't even know there are homes up in all of those trees, offering a degree of privacy to the residents. Public transportation is good in the area, offering a cheap, quick trip into the city. There is no beach on Lake Union, but there are some pretty great spots to watch the fireworks shows over the lake during the 4th of July and New Years.

The neighborhood of Westlake Seattle is a narrow strip of land along the western edge of Lake Union. The Westlake community is largely commercial with a little bit of residential running through it. It is home to many large companies, and nicer chain style restaurants such as McCormick’s and Outback.

Living in Westlake gives you very quick access to South Lake Union, Uptown, Denny Triangle, and Fremont.

This is also the neighborhood in which Tom Hanks’ character in Sleepless in Seattle had a houseboat. Of course, when in the area, seeing the houseboat is a must. I have only been in this area once, saw the houseboat and ate at McCormick’s, then it was off to shop at Pike Market.