Boasting the shortest commute to downtown Seattle, an eclectic
population, an array of art house
cinemas, live theaters, museums,
nightlife, restaurants and shops,
Capitol Hill is both an urban and urbane
neighborhood.
Rising eastward, a mere two miles from
downtown Seattle, the slopes of First
Hill and Capitol Hill feature stately
turn-of-the-century mansions, elegant
coops, quaint brick apartments,
craftsman-style single-family bungalows,
and modern condos.
The area is actually of a mixture of
neighborhoods.
At the south end of Broadway you’ll find
First Hill. Most of the neighborhood consists of charming old brick apartment
units, many of which have been converted
to coops.
Heading further north on Broadway you pass the lively commercial
district. For
those who like the nightlife, Broadway
is one of the only areas in Seattle that doesn’t roll up its sidewalks at 5
o’clock. Here, you’ll find eclectic
gift shops, unique bookstores, ethnic restaurants, two cinemas, and many
trendy clubs. Students from nearby
Cornish College of the Arts, Seattle University and Central Seattle Community College
enjoy hanging out here.
The streets that border Broadway are populated with upscale apartments
and condos, many which offer sweeping
views of downtown Seattle and Elliott Bay.
At the northernmost end of Broadway, near lovely
Volunteer Park, you’ll find one of the most prestigious old
neighborhoods
in Seattle. Many of these
majestic homes were built by Seattle’s early industrialists between 1905 and
1920. Today they are listed on the
National Register of Historic Places.
The historic Olmsted-designed Volunteer Park is very popular with Capitol Hill
residents. You can enjoy the trails,
tennis courts and children’s play area.
Or you can climb up the circular water
tower and admire the views of downtown
Seattle and Elliott Bay. The park also houses the
Seattle Asian Art Museum,
which ranks among the top ten
collections outside of
Asia, and the Conservatory, which features an international array of
orchids, cacti and flowering plants.
Volunteer Park’s
eastern boundary borders another distinct neighborhood of Capitol Hill. Defined by 15thAve,
which runs north
to south, this area offers a smaller
quieter commercial district, filled with
cozy pubs, delicious restaurants and
unique shops. East of 15th,
the land forms
a north-south ridge dotted with 1920’s craftsman-style
homes. Those lucky residents of the
eastern slope can enjoy peek-a-boo views
of Lake Washington and the jagged
Cascade Mountains.
If you’re looking for big city amenities and convenience, you can’t beat
Capitol Hill.