Best Neighborhoods

Best Neighborhood For Holiday Lights: Olympic Manor

Best Neighborhood For Holiday Lights: Olympic Manor

When the December dark settles in, there’s nothing more cheer-inducing than bundling up, grabbing a hot chocolate, and going to look at holiday lights. Bright colors, flashing patterns, giant inflatable cartoon characters—decorations seem to get more and more over-the-top each year. This sentiment rings especially true in Olympic Manor, the neighborhood just north of Ballard,…

New Luxury Homes at Crescent Ridge | Sponsored
Sponsored

New Luxury Homes at Crescent Ridge | Sponsored

Central Washington community opens tasting room, amenities

As spring nudges temperatures higher, Central Washington’s blooming landscape and the glistening waters of the Columbia River beckon sunseekers and recreation lovers east of the mountains. In Crescent Bar, it’s the most anticipated season as powerboats arise from their winter slumber and families take stock of their swimwear and pool floats. For those considering purchasing…

Back to the Future

Back to the Future

Seattle's Central District is reclaiming its rich history

One of the Central District’s original settlers was Black pioneer and businessman William Grose — the owner of the Our House hotel and restaurant on Yesler Way and the first Black person to buy property in what was known as East Madison in 1882.

Illustration by Martin Haake

The One-Stop Waterfront

The One-Stop Waterfront

Everett is in the midst of a metamorphic makeover

For decades, Everett has been associated with Boeing planes and the naval base, where nearly a dozen combined Navy and Coast Guard ships are currently homeported. It’s a bit industrial, and maybe not the location many Seattle-area folks have historically been excited to settle in. That’s all changing with the expansion of Everett’s waterfront and surrounding areas, leading to new, exciting, and walkable spaces to explore, stay, and dine.

Illustration by Martin Haake

An Urban Oasis, a Suburban Sensibility

An Urban Oasis, a Suburban Sensibility

Why Maple Leaf is unique among Seattle neighborhoods

Located northeast of Green Lake between Interstate 5 and Lake City Way, Maple Leaf feels more suburban than much of the city, with single-family homes outnumbering larger apartment complexes. Despite its suburban feel, the neighborhood is firmly within Seattle city limits, and conveniently located with easy access to both the Northgate and Roosevelt Light Rail stations.

Illustration by Martin Haake

The Art of Edmonds

The Art of Edmonds

Picturesque waterfront community carves new identity

Edmonds bursts with the smalltown waterfront charm reminiscent of European fishing villages, but with panoramic views of the Olympic Mountains. The view reflects a community welcoming new life while honoring its history.

Illustration by Martin Haake

Kirkland: It's the Water

Kirkland: It’s the Water

Home to more than 100 tech companies

This vibrant neighborhood is popular with young families and many of the 50 or so city parks include playgrounds often teeming with laughing children. In 2022, Money magazine ranked Kirkland the third-best place to live in the United States. In 2023, Smart Asset rated it the No. 7 most livable small city in the country.

llustration by Martin Haake

The Indie Darling

The Indie Darling

Known for its gritty, industrial past, Georgetown now boasts an eclectic mix of locally-owned cafés, restaurants, and shops

“When I first arrived in Seattle, I was working in a welding shop in Georgetown, and I also lived on Airport Way,” says Tim Ptak, who opened the popular diner Smarty Pants in 2003. “There was nowhere to eat except for grabbing fried chicken at the Shell gas station, and I wanted to open a place where people could get a good lunch and grab something to drink after work.”

Illustration by Martin Haake

Publisher's Note: A Sense of Place

Publisher’s Note: A Sense of Place

What makes Seattle distinctive and unique?

Growing up in Edmonds during the 1970s, many beautiful attributes of the Pacific Northwest became inseparable from my notion of what “Seattle’’ really was. I vividly remember the smell of the beach, the sound of ferry boats, and an indelible sense of community from the city’s small-town feel…

Seattle's Best Neighborhoods in 2020

Seattle’s Best Neighborhoods in 2020

Find yourself a place to call home

This article appears in print in the March 2020 issue, as part of the “Best Neighborhoods” cover story. Click here to subscribe. Whether you’re searching for your first house, a promising investment or the best place to raise a family, seeing your personality reflected in a neighborhood is just as important as making sure the home’s foundation…

Seattle's Best Neighborhoods: Ones to Watch

Seattle’s Best Neighborhoods: Ones to Watch

As neighborhoods throughout the city grow and change, here’s a handful of hot areas to keep an eye on

This article appears in print in the March 2020 issue, as part of the “Best Neighborhoods” cover story. Click here to subscribe. InterbayExpedia’s newly opened waterfront campus is a shiny bellwether of things to come in this decreasingly industrial neighborhood, yet this strip separating Magnolia and Queen Anne has caught the attention of enterprising small-business owners, too….

Seattle's Best Neighborhoods: Sunset Hill

Seattle’s Best Neighborhoods: Sunset Hill

A neighborhood perched on Seattle’s western edge provides ample views and beach-town vibes

Liquid Assets: Sound views from Sunset Hill Park

Seattle's Best Neighborhoods: Everett

Seattle’s Best Neighborhoods: Everett

A former mill town ready for liftoff

Flight of Fancy: Locals love the new passenger terminal at Paine Field, as much for the luxe finishes as for the fast-moving security lines

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