It’s not surprising that our staff loves our local nabes. But which ones are our personal favorites, you ask? Don’t even get us started. From waterfront views to downtown shopping, here are a few reasons we love our hoods:

Kirkland: “Living in Kirkland feels like you’re on vacation. I love the downtown for shopping, eating and walking. And I love anywhere I can see water and be near water.” —Sheila Mickool, Seattle magazine research editor

Rainier Beach: “You can see eagles every single day and hear loons calling on the lake.” —Elaine Porterfield, Seattle magazine contributing editor

Georgetown: “[It] reminds me of the Seattle of my youth. Motorcycles and tattoos, metal fabricators and real beer, guys with dirt under their fingernails and affordable houses (thanks to airplanes roaring just overhead)—it’s a link to our blue-collar roots.” —Allison Austin Scheff, Seattle magazine food & dining editor 

Ballard: “You don’t have to ever leave Ballard. With its shops, restaurants, theaters, music, it’s a city within a city. I absolutely love Ballard Avenue and the Sunday farmers’ market.” —Rachel Hart, Seattle magazine editorial director

Greenwood/Phinney: “ ‘Phinneywood,’ as we like to call it, is awesome for its walkability and super-friendly neighborhood feel. In minutes, I can walk to Herkimer Coffee and Ken’s Market, casual eateries like the 74th Street Ale House and Red Mill Burgers, gourmet spots like Carmelita and Stumbling Goat—and all of the above with amazing views of the Cascades and Olympics.” —Brangien Davis, Seattle magazine arts & culture editor

Squire Park: “It’s one of Seattle’s up-and-coming cultural centers and the friendliest neighborhood in the city.” —Ali Basye, Seattle magazine contributing editor

West Seattle: “There’s a certain small-town essence here with everything you could want close at hand, including live theater, fine dining, a great brewery, chic shops and long stretches of beachfront. And you can stand where the city’s forefathers first came ashore.” —Cynthia Nims, Seattle magazine contributing editor

Eastlake: “Many Seattleites just drive through Eastlake but this lakeside neighborhood is worth exploring. Busy eateries (Louisa’s Bakery, Sitka and Spruce, and Serafina), bars (Zoo Tavern) and a bustling houseboat community are just a few of the reasons I love this hood. Transportation is also a breeze here, with I-5, buslines and the SLUT (South Lake Union Streetcar) close by.”—Karen Johnson, Seattle magazine online editor

Upper Queen Anne: “It allows us a peripatetic lifestyle—similar to what my husband and I enjoyed while living in Manhattan. He can walk to work, and I don’t have to jump in my car when I need to buy an onion or a gallon of milk.” —Elizabeth M. Economou, Seattle magazine contributing editor

Crossroads (in Bellevue): “The diversity here is amazing. At the Crossroads mall, you’ll hear dozens of languages spoken.” —Virginia Smyth, Seattle magazine managing editor

The University District: “It has the best concentrated selection of ethnic restaurants anywhere in or around Seattle—just take a stroll down the Ave for a few blocks to see for yourself—as well as the city’s biggest and best farmers’ ma