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Floating home used for the filming of the movie Sleepless in Seattle

Westlake

Stay close to the water in Westlake, a slim Seattle neighborhood tucked between Lake Union's western shore and Aurora Avenue N. Here is how to find your way around and what gives it character.

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Map of Westlake in Seattle
Map of Westlake

Frequently asked questions

Westlake sits on the western shore of Lake Union. It stretches between the water and Aurora Avenue N., with South Lake Union to the south and Fremont to the north across the Fremont Cut.

The neighborhood takes its name from its location along the western side of Lake Union.

Dexter Avenue N. and Westlake Avenue N. are the main thoroughfares, carrying traffic north and south through the neighborhood.

Westlake is where Tom Hanks's character in Sleepless in Seattle lived, on a houseboat along the neighborhood's Lake Union shore.

About Westlake

Lake Union is never more than a few blocks away in Westlake, Seattle, a narrow neighborhood stretched along the lake's western shore and named for exactly that spot. The waterline runs along one side and Aurora Avenue N. along the other, with South Lake Union to the south, Fremont to the north and Queen Anne rising just to the west.

Finding Your Way Around Westlake

Picture the neighborhood by its edges and it falls into place quickly. Aloha Street marks the southern end, where South Lake Union takes over, while the Fremont Cut divides Westlake from Fremont to the north.

Stroll anywhere here and you are rarely far from the lake, since the area is so slim. Aurora Avenue N. draws a firm line along the west, and Queen Anne begins just on the other side of it.

Read the full Westlake guide

Dexter and Westlake Avenues

Learn two streets and the rest of Westlake becomes simple to navigate. Dexter Avenue N. and Westlake Avenue N. are the main routes through the neighborhood, carrying most of the north and southbound traffic.

Houseboats and Movie Fame

Imagine a houseboat on Lake Union and you may well be imagining Westlake. In Sleepless in Seattle, the character played by Tom Hanks lived on a houseboat here, and for many visitors that film connection is the first image that comes to mind when they picture life on the lake.

A Footnote in Aviation History

Westlake also claims a small place in the story of air travel. West Coast Airlines kept its headquarters in the neighborhood before merging with Bonanza Air Lines and Pacific Air Lines to form Air West.

Places Recognized by the City

Keep two names in mind as you explore the shoreline: the Swedish Club and the American Meter and Appliance Building, both listed by the City of Seattle. Check with each directly for current access and details before you go, since arrangements can change.

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