Lower Queen Anne and Uptown
Lower Queen Anne wraps around Seattle Center, so the Space Needle, Pacific Science Center and Seattle Center Exhibition Hall become part of your daily scenery. Stroll past Counterbalance Park on Queen Anne Avenue North, which sits among a cluster of designated landmarks. If you want flatter streets and event venues close at hand, this is a natural place to start your search.
West and South Slopes
These slopes look out over downtown, Elliott Bay and the mountains, which is why so many classic Seattle photos are taken here. Head to Kerry Park to see the Space Needle framed against the bay, with Mount Rainier rising behind on clear days. At Marshall Park, wander the Betty Bowen Viewpoint, where the concrete path is set with unsigned artwork by Northwest painters such as Guy Anderson, Kenneth Callahan and Morris Graves.
East Queen Anne
The east side leans toward greenbelts and gardens. Explore the Northeast Queen Anne Greenbelt, roughly 35 acres that connect to Trolley Hill Park and MacLean Park. On the southeast slope, follow the winding garden trail at Bhy Kracke Park for views over Lake Union and downtown.
North Queen Anne
The north side reaches toward the ship canal and Fremont. Look for the North Queen Anne Drive Bridge, a parabolic steel arch over Wolf Creek built in 1936 and prized as a landmark for its engineering. Coe Play Park on 7th Avenue West sits a short walk from several landmark homes.
Living With the Hills and Stairs
Build the terrain into your apartment search from the start. Queen Anne claims seven of the twenty steepest streets in Seattle and roughly 120 public staircases, so an address that looks close to the main street on a map can mean a serious climb.
Picture your daily routine before you sign. Walk the route from the building to groceries, transit or work, ideally in the shoes you actually wear. If you commute by car, note that drivers usually reach the hill from Interstate 5 using the Mercer Street exit.
Everyday Life Near Queen Anne Avenue North
Up top, the commercial strip runs about 2,600 feet along Queen Anne Avenue North, between West McGraw and West Galer Streets. This is where residents shop, eat and run errands, and living within walking distance of it makes car-free days much easier.
Markets, Library and Pool
On Thursday afternoons during its spring to fall season, browse the Queen Anne Farmers Market at W Crockett St and Queen Anne Ave N. Dates can shift from year to year, so confirm on the market's official site.
The Queen Anne Branch Library welcomes readers in a 1914 Carnegie-funded Tudor Revival building at 400 W Garfield St. Near the top of the hill, cool off at Queen Anne Pool, with lap and family swims, lessons, diving boards, a rope swing and a sauna. Check Seattle Parks and Recreation for current swim schedules.
Green Space for Dogs, Kids and Gardeners
Bring your dog to Kinnear Park's off-leash area, part of a 14.1-acre bluff park on the southwest slope dating to 1887. Families can spend an afternoon at West Queen Anne Playfield, with ball fields, a community center and an indoor pool. East Queen Anne Playground, also called Little Howe, offers a wading pool and playground and has served the area since 1910.
Miss having a yard? Look into the Queen Anne P-Patch, a 73-plot city community garden at 3rd Ave N and Lynn St where neighbors have been growing since 1994.
Historic Buildings and Character
History runs deep here, with 29 official Seattle landmarks on the hill, including 12 historic houses. Queen Anne took its name by 1885 from the Queen Anne style homes that once covered it. Two apartment buildings, the Del a Mar and the Chelsea, appear among the neighborhood's recorded landmarks, a sign of how long people have rented on this hill.
Queen Anne Boulevard loops around the crown, following an Olmsted-style plan lined with old brick retaining walls, balustrades and street lights. Take it as an easy evening walk to get to know the area before you commit to a lease.
Seattle Rules Every Queen Anne Renter Should Know
Rental housing across Washington falls under the state Residential Landlord-Tenant Act, and Seattle layers a number of stricter local rules on top. Those local rules apply to every apartment within city limits, including all of Queen Anne.
The Renter's Handbook
Seattle requires landlords to hand tenants a printed copy of the City's Renter's Handbook when signing an initial rental agreement. A digital version is allowed for renewals, for month-to-month tenants each year, and whenever the City updates the handbook. If you sign a first lease without receiving a printed copy, ask for one.
The handbook walks through each stage of renting, from searching to moving out, and includes an index for looking up specific terms. Download a printer-friendly version from the City's Renting in Seattle website, which also covers fair housing laws, eviction information and ways to get help.
Thinking About Short-Term Subletting
Seattle treats any stay of fewer than 30 consecutive nights as a short-term rental. Operators need a city short-term rental operator license in addition to a business license, and the license must be in the owner's name. Talk to your landlord and review city rules before listing your apartment for short stays.
