Southwest Hanford St, North Admiral

If West Seattle had an "old city", California Ave. would be at its heart. So many unique businesses line this street, from a large natural foods grocery, a farmer's market, and large grocery store chains to specialty shops and theaters. Traffic can be a bit on the busy side, and parking lots have given way to businesses making on-street parking difficult in some sections of California Ave., but the attractions are arguably worth the effort. Several blocks have single-story shops, giving the look of one of those small-community business districts, which West Seattle used to be. People that live close to the area have a plethora of shops, restaurants and entertainment venues within walking distance. Like downtown Seattle, the area has some beautiful architecture with some pretty bland buildings thrown into the mix, and deciduous trees line the street, making it a bit more welcoming. Overall, it's a great place to visit if you live there, but there are more convenient shops offering the same products in other parts of the city.

California Avenue stretches from one end of West Seattle to the other, and provides shops and services of every ilk along the way. Walking from one end to the other, you'll thrill to amazing coffee, cute shops, every major service you can think of (post office, dentists, salons, etc.,) a comic book shop, and one of the best independent record stores in the country. There are plenty of restaurants of every type, and a veritable buffet of Sushi places along the strip. Of note, Husky Deli makes its own ice cream, which can be a real treat in the summer months.