Ballard

Ballard is a singular Seattle neighborhood with an unmistakable Scandinavian accent. A city in its own right between 1890 and 1906, Ballard built a handsome business district now preserved as a national and local historic district. The nearby Fishermen’s Terminal, Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, Shilshole Marina, and Golden Gardens Park attract tens of thousands of visitors each year. Ballard is located along Salmon Bay in northwest Seattle, and easily reached from downtown via Elliott and 15th avenues or Aurora Avenue.

Today, Ballard is an enticingly modern, yet humble neighborhood that may have its share of upscale boutiques and medium-rise condominiums, but is holding on to the things that make it unique: the Scandinavian heritage, the century-old buildings and idyllic residential streets.

The entire neighborhood is walkable – from the pubs and clubs of old Ballard Avenue to the retail and entertainment of Market Street, and from venerable Ballard High School to the brand-new Ballard Commons Park and the ultra-modern branch of the Seattle Public Library.

On any given evening, rain or shine, Ballardites will come out in large numbers to enjoy all the neighborhood has to offer: to check out the latest Hollywood epic at the Majestic Bay Theater; to enjoy live music at the Tractor; to dine at Thaiku or Volterra; to shop at one-of-a-kind boutiques like Duque, Romanza and Velouria; to enjoy cocktails and conversation at the People’s Pub, Hattie’s Hat and Bal-Mar; to be groomed and rejuvenated at Habitude; and to take scenic walks to the Hiram Chittenden locks or the nearby Shilshole Marina and Golden Gardens Park.

The adjoining neighborhoods of Sunset Hill, Whittier and Loyal Heights seem to know better than to mess with a winning formula, and exist in a nearly-identical state of timeless charm. The area’s deep Scandinavian roots often blossom into parades and festivals that reinforce neighborhood pride.

Metro buses 44, 15, 17 and 18 serve the area. Your door-to-door to average morning commute to downtown will take 25 to 35 minutes. Saturday night will see downtown in 12 minutes. Getting to I- 5 is a more difficult proposition – it can take up to 20 minutes – and travel time to other Seattle’s neighborhoods is time-consuming and difficult.

That being said, with so much fine nightlife, shopping and recreation surrounding you, it’s rare you’ll need anything that you can’t find just outside your door.