rozella87

Wanting to rent an Airbnb for s week. Which is best location for walkability? First hill.? Queen Ann ? Belltown? Central district?
Thanks!.

Bobmrg

Belltown is closest to downtown and the walk is fairly flat. First Hill and QA means hills. Central district is too far from usual visitor venues (as are FH and QA, but both have better transportation options than the CD if you decide not to walk.

Gardyloo

Where do you want to walk?

Not trying to be snide, but... it depends.

First Hill is steep, has few visitor resources (shops, restaurants, food markets etc.) but is terrific if you're visiting some hospital or another. The top of Queen Anne is quite walkable as long as you stay on the top of the hill; getting anywhere else is a schlep down (and back up) a very steep hill (used to be a cable car route a la San Francisco.) Lower Queen Anne (near Seattle Center) is also walkable but also can be trafficky.

Belltown is walkable to the Pike Place market, most of downtown and to the central waterfront. But it doesn't have much sense of residential neighborhood and there can be a bit of street life at night. The Central District is a big area with some great areas and some that can be pretty dicey.

What's your party like and when are you coming? Kids? Ready to rent a car or ride buses?

I'd also look at Capitol Hill, Madison Park, Ravenna, Roosevelt, West Seattle (Junction, Admiralty, Alki), Fremont, Wallingford, Ballard and Greenwood.

Seattle is very much a city of neighborhoods, so having some idea of your plans and priorities would help immensely.

rozella87

Thank you very much. We want a quieter place but walkable to bars and restaurants. Close to downtown but at least a short uber ride. We want to take a couple day trips. One to BC. Dae a place on lake union that looked nice! But not sure of location. Friend told me the Capitol Hill is primarily LGBTQ and I might feel out of place. Not sure about what that means.
Thanks

marvelousmouse

I'm not sure what your friend means either. Capitol Hill is kind of a happening bar neighborhood, but it's also just a neighborhood where people live- food, coffee, bookstores, etc. I go there frequently and don't feel out of place. Quiet would depend on where your lodging is. I like Ballard/Fremont more, but I think Capitol Hill would be a lot more convenient for tourists.



BC is a long day trip, you may want to consider an overnight depending on what you want to see. Will you have a car?

suze

Capitol Hill best fits your request in my opinion (that's where I have lived for the past 25+ years). And no everyone isn't gay there -haha.

Why I recommend it is because it's an older (historic) established neighborhood (think turn of the century mansions, tree lined streets, parks) but only 1-2 miles from downtown with excellent bus and Light Rail connections.

How are you getting to BC without a car? I'm not sure about the feasibility of various day trips without one.

suze

Less convenient but more quiet neighborhoods, as mentioned, include: First Hill, Central District, Fremont, Wallingford, Ravenna, Maple Leaf, Ballard, Magnolia, West Seattle, Columbia City to name a few.

Bobmrg

"...a place on lake union that looked nice! But not sure of location."?

Google Maps? Google Earth?

Kathie

"a place on lake union that looked nice! But not sure of location." Is it a houseboat literally on Lake Union or is simply near Lake Union. The Eastlake neighborhood might work for you - walkable to restaurants and bars, an Uber ride to downtown and Seattle Center attractions.

Ballard, Wallingford and Fremont are all interesting neighborhoods and walkable to bars and restaurants, and are a bit longer Uber ride away.

The others Suze lists are certainly possibilities, but are farther away from attractions.

I agree that a day trip to Vancouver would be difficult (you could take the train up and back), but you'd spend as much or more time on the train than you would seeing Vancouver. If you want to go, I'd recommend staying a night or two. Another night or two trip could be to Victoria via the Victoria Clipper.

happytrailstoyou

We want a quieter place but walkable to bars and restaurants.

Lower Capitol Hill and Lower Queen Anne Hill are most walkable to bars and restaurants and to Seattle's major attractions. Both neighborhoods have areas that are quiet and areas that are not quiet.

HTtY

suze

<but are farther away from attractions>

I listed them only because of the request for "quiet".

I think as a general guideline, the further away from downtown Seattle you stay the more quiet it will likely be.

Although it does depend... "Lower" Capitol Hill (between I-5 freeway up to Broadway) is MUCH more densely populated (therefore noisier) than "North" or "East" Capitol Hill (say around Volunteer Park, 15th & Aloha, 19th & Prospect area) because it's mostly large single family homes in that part, instead of large apartment and condo buildings.

happytrailstoyou

Capitol Hill and Queen Anne Hill are prized residential neighborhoods. Streets lined with homes are usually quiet unless they provide parking for noisy people visiting nearby restaurants and bars.

Locate properties on google.map.com. and study locations for proximity to commercial areas and apartment density.

HTtY

suze

HTTY, I live on Capitol Hill and have for several decades. I know it really well Lower Capitol Hill is nothing like Upper Capitol Hill as far as density, noise, parking, even population demographics.

rozella87

Thank you all. I appreciate the input very much. All helpful. If you're ever in the Hilton Head area, I can return the favors!!!