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Northwest Seattle

Some consider it the northern portal to downtown Seattle. Northwest Seattle lies north of Lake Union's ship canal and west of Interstate 5, extending to King County's northern boundary.

The area comprises several quiet, established, middle-class neighborhoods. But there are exceptions…and surprises. Like quirky, artsy Fremont. And the recreational pleasures of Green Lake. And the "creature comforts" of the Woodland Park Zoo.

Houses tend to sell like hotcakes in this region. Most are moderately priced, from $200,000 to $500,000. Price tags can double for homes with a view of Puget Sound.

Northwest Seattle's neighborhoods include:
Ballard
Fremont
Green Lake
Wallingford
Other Northwest Seattle neighborhoods

View healthcare facilities in this district.

Ballard
Nordic immigrants settled this area more than a century ago, becoming fishermen and mill workers. They are gone, but not forgotten. Ballard maintains a distinct Scandinavian flavor, and celebrates it with the annual Norwegian Constitution Day Parade and the Nordic Heritage Museum. And while embracing its Old World roots with one arm, Ballard has used the other successfully to welcome a lively arts district and busy nightlife.

If Ballard's creative boutiques and gourmet bistros draw its visitors, its quiet side streets and affordable homes draw its residents. Set amid the small-town feel are residences that can be anything from 1920s or 1930s bungalows to modern new construction. Swedes, Finns, Danes, and Norwegians figure into the predominately white (92 percent) racial mix.

Visitors here often stop by the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, commonly called the Ballard Locks. Operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the locks allow passage for ships moving between Lake Washington's fresh water and Puget Sound's salt water. One also may catch an underwater view of salmon migrating up the fish ladders.

Ballard is located on the north side of the Lake Washington Ship Canal, across from the neighborhood of Magnolia.

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Fremont
Your first clue about Fremont's personality is the sign proclaiming: "Welcome to the Center of the Universe." Your second clue is the 48-foot, Korean-built rocket bearing the motto De Libertas Quirkas ("Freedom to be Peculiar"). Bohemian and eccentric, Fremont also is fun, from the naked cyclists in the Solstice Parade to the giant concrete troll devouring a Volkswagen Beetle under Aurora Bridge at 36th Street.

Once a mill town, Fremont grew popular during the 1960s' counterculture movement, an attitude now reflected by a bronze statue of Vladimir Lenin. Eclectic shops, ethnic restaurants, European-style pubs, antique stores, and art galleries blend together in this walking community. Warmer weather allows a weekly outdoor cinema, flea market, and Farmer's Market.

Those who identify with Fremont's funkiness can find modestly priced single-family homes, including a few pre-1900 and early 1900s houses. Druggies, hippies, and bikers once ruled the streets here, but the neighborhood now embraces the innocuous side of hipness.

Ten minutes north of downtown Seattle, Fremont is bounded by North 34th Street, North 50th Street, Phinney Avenue North, and Stone Way North.

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Green Lake
The feel-good quality of Green Lake has always made it a recreational mecca. Now, the commute to downtown Seattle has been shaved to 10 or 15 minutes, making Green Lake a residential magnet and pushing up its housing prices.

Half of this neighborhood is occupied by its headlining glacial lake and park, used by about 1 million people annually. Bikers, runners, and in-line skaters use the 2.8-mile paved trail around the lake, the waters of which are ideal for windsurfers, kayakers, and canoeists. Along with crew races, the lake hosts the decades-old Milk Carton Derby, in which contestants race boats made from milk cartons. The lake also features facilities for golf, tennis, soccer, baseball, and basketball.

Green Lake's natural amenities include its proximity to Woodland Park and the Woodland Park Zoo. Homes are mostly single-family bungalows, although multi-unit apartments and Tudor styles can be found. Residents tend to have college degrees and show community spirit, as with the lighting of paper-bag luminaria during the holidays.

Boundaries for Green Lake include Aurora Avenue North, West Green Lake Way, NE 60th Street, and North 85th Street.

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Wallingford
The running gag about Wallingford residents is that they eat sprouts, and lots of them. And it's true that many of this walking neighborhood's grocers sell plenty of natural foods. But a more accurate depiction of residents here is citizens who actively improve their neighborhood, helping to convert a defunct energy plant into Gas Works Park, and a former school into a shops-and-restaurants complex.

Sandwiched between Fremont and the University District, Wallingford is a quiet, middle-class neighborhood colored with an artistic flair. Along with offering upscale shops and trendy eateries, Wallingford abuts Woodland Park and its zoo. Annual events include hundreds of costumed children in the Seafair Wallingford Kiddies Parade and the Oktoberfest-flavored Wallingford Wurst Festival.

Founded in 1883, Wallingford grew by leaps and bounds in the early 1900s, reflected in the architecture of many bungalows here. Modern multi-family apartments and condos can be found in abundance as well. While the community's demographics favor younger families, community centers for the elderly also exist.

Wallingford is bordered in part by Lake Union, Stone Way North, Green Lake Way North, Northeast 60th Street, and Interstate 5.

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Other Northwest Seattle neighborhoods

• Bitter Lake's namesake, just under 20 acres, is named for a bitter tannic acid left from sawmill activity in the early 1900s. The quiet residential community around the lake is more palatable. Housing ranges from multi-story apartment buildings and condominiums to simple family cottages and contemporary homes. The neighborhood also features a park, library, elementary school, and community center.
• Blue Ridge, a little and little-known nook of Northwest Seattle, appeals to its residents for its out-of-the-way privacy, views of Puget Sound, and neighborhood feel. The affluent planned community offers covenant-restricted access to such amenities as a swimming pool, tennis courts, and private beach.
• Broadview, in Seattle's northwest corner, offers wide views of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains to its most expensive houses. But the community is not entirely affluent. Low-cost and middle-level homes and rentals are available, as are apartments, condos, and multi-unit senior housing. The neighborhood features a community center, library, and large park with hiking trails.
• Crown Hill offers a small-town feel as a bedroom community to Ballard. The peaceful neighborhood, atop one of Seattle's 12 hills, remains affordable and well-suited to raising a family. Its small commercial area offers various services, plus specialty stores and antique shops.
• Greenwood's active commercial core is known for its antiques stores, evening art walks, ethnic restaurants, and diverse mix of shops. That's the trendy edge to an old-fashioned residential neighborhood with clean and quiet streets. Residents' ages and housing costs span the gamut.
• Licton Springs' selling points include proximity to Northgate Mall, North Seattle Community College, the interstate, and Highway 99. The residential neighborhood is named for a mineral spring that still flows at Licton Springs Park. Most residents own their homes, some of which offer views of the Olympic Mountains.
• Phinney Ridge abuts the Woodland Park Zoo, close enough for residents to hear the animals' calls. Such fun attributes make this neighborhood a favorite and its homes hot properties. Shops, restaurants, and taverns are a stroll away. The active neighborhood association sponsors a community-wide garage sale, wine- and beer-tasting parties, and a series of intimate concerts.
• Shoreline, Washington's 12th largest city, boasts multiple parks and a respected school district. Occupying the northwest corner of King County, the semi-rural community envelops the upscale Richmond Beach and Innis Arden neighborhoods. Yet, it also includes some affordable housing, such as homes from the 1920s and 1930s. Shoreline's population is nearly 15 percent Asian, thanks to a strong representation of Korean Americans.

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Healthcare facilities in Northwest Seattle:
Northwest Hospital and Medical Center
Regional Hospital for Respiratory and Complex Care