It's only 1 mile (north) between Cal Anderson and Volunteer Park but the surrounding neighborhoods could not be more different. I have a more generous and somewhat different view than fourfortravel. In that I wouldn't send a visitor to Wallingford (although it's a great area if you live here) but a smidge less convenient for transportation, restaurants nearby, etc.

3rd avenue "downtown" IS indisputably a "homeless corridor".

As is 4th avenue by the stadiums, and much of 2nd avenue in that area as well. Not to mention Pioneer Square. 6th ave near/under freeways, etc.

You can "love Capitol Hill" all you want in one post, and then call it "dicey" in the next one.

Wallingford might be great... but if you're "walking 2 blocks to your car" then you can do a lot better elsewhere.

For (all we know about the OP, which is "walking to restaurants" and "being near public transportation" ) the mall/rail area in Lynnwood easily tops Capitol Hill for both safety and restaurant density/variety in safe areas.

They didn't offer us many hints about what else they'll be doing, and obviously if we knew that, then we could narrow their options, still based common sensibly on safety and convenience.

Capitol Hill is "dicey" on so many levels. Anybody from Lynnwood can be there in 30 minutes via that public transportation should they wish to be immersed in the homeless culture and the gay and lesbian bar scene.

All you seem to be offering is greater cause for safety concerns, and with no upside.

I am not going to get into it with you. But I've lived in Seattle for a very long time. First in Wallingford, Greenlake, Fremont, Central District rentals, to when I settled into a condo I own on Capitol Hill.

Yes precisely correct because "Capitol Hill" covers a huge area and it is a completely different reality down on Pike/Pine, Broadway these days, 12th Ave E, 15th Ave E, 19th Ave E... whether you are by Cal Anderson or up by Volunteer Park, they are not the same. That is why I called some streets 'dicey' for what you will encounter there. No one who lives here would say differently.

suze, clueless in seattle

Thanks, all! I found a place closer to Volunteer Park.

Hooray! Let me know if you have any questions. I've been living in that neighborhood for 30+ years

thanks! I’ll check back closer to our time there in June,

We have enjoyed our time in Seattle. Thanks for the comments on where to stay. As Suze suggested we stayed closer to Volunteer Park. We were on 12th Ave NE about two blocks from the park. It was a lovely area to stay. I would agree the area near the other park I did not love. We had no trouble using public transportation and got around easily with the Orcas Card at the senior rate of 1$ per ride. I think we spent about $20 on trips for our 6 days here including the trip from the airport. So that was quite the bargain.
BTW we didn’t find Ch “dicey” at all. Parts definitely had much younger maybe alternative for lack of a better word “kids” around. We liked the area years ago and still did. We ate at Rondo on CH that was delicious and I d say no one was over 30 but us.

Hooray! Thanks for checking in. I wondered when I saw this thread pop up. So glad things worked out. And YES I do love my neighborhood. I'm on the other side of the park (15th Ave E) but within blocks of where you stayed. Agree 100% with your observations suze

ps - tiny correction *We were on 12th Ave NE* ... no you were on 12th Ave East, I know it's confusing the street designations in Seattle, but if you were on NE you'd be out in Ballard or Shoreline or something -lol.

of course, right you are! You would think I would know better as I live in DC which has quadrants too.

An easy mistake to make. I live on East Roy Street on Capitol Hill. There is also a Roy Street on Queen Anne. Someone forgot to mention to me that there was a lake in between the two -lol! Glad you enjoyed our fair city. Thanks for posting about how it all turned out. Fun to read and also helpful for others who might pull this up in the future.