SeattleRobert

I live just off 30th, north of 125th. Being so close to Lake City Way and all the traffic and car dealerships and fast food, I expected it to be a noisier and busier place. But really, the street is lined with trees. The houses have hedges or fences and large front lawns, which give you a sense of relief from the urban mess just a couple blocks away.

Because it's such a great alternative to Lake City Way, there's fairly constant traffic, including a couple regular bus lines; but it's not bad. If only the city would spring to fill those potholes!

There are no residences on West Green Lake Way N, which is a real pity. This street basically runs between Green Lake Park and Woodland Park, connecting Aurora Ave with Wallingford. But with all the trees and open fields and the lake itself, it's a perfect place to start, or to finish, an afternoon's jog or bike ride. Take the dog here. Bring a date. Or, really, why bother with an excuse? Just stroll to relax and enjoy one of Seattle's jewels.

NE 137th forms a quiet residential street lined with small houses, mostly single-level, built well back from the road at a time when a decent front yard was normal. Fences and tall trees give some definition to the neighborhood.

Stretching between 15th NE and Lake City Way, this is hardly the most glamorous zip code in Seattle, and some of the homes have become rentals. But, as long as you avoid the industrial mess around Lake City Way itself, the street is peaceful, fairly walkable, and more affordable than the stylish districts that surround it.

I just moved into an apartment on NE 140th near Lake City Way. I'm surrounded by A) other apartment buildings, B) large warehouse and industrial sites, and C) streets notable for their potholes.

That said, it's remarkably quiet for being so close to a major arterial, and it's a great location to get wherever I want to go. I-5 is just minutes away, as is the shopping haven of Northgate and the peaceful retreat of Lake Washington - especially to the north.

As I was hunting for apartments, this corner of Lake City, just south of 145th and just west of Lake City Way, stood out as having the best prices in the north end. Some neighbors have described it as a bit "hood-ish" but I haven't seen any serious problems yet. The worst crime is the litter on the gravel shoulders. There's no gang tagging or other danger signs.

All things considered, it's not the nicest place I've ever lived, but it's a good value for the dollar.

This is the less commercial end of Green Lake, meaning more houses and less high-priced condos, and also fewer upscale cafes and eateries. But that means it's actually a neighborhood. Some of these people have grown up on the lake, and everyone takes great pride in living in such a beautiful part of Seattle.

The view is of trees in the park as much as it is of the water, and the jogging path stays well away from the street itself. But there's no escaping the summer traffic of lake drivers. That's just part of living around Green Lake: everyone wishes they were where you are.

Then again, if that's the worst complaint of your day, you're doing pretty well, don't you think?

Despite the name, Green Lake Way doesn't actually go around Green Lake. Instead, it offers access from Aurora to the south end of the lake. For that matter, I find it's a great way to get to Aurora (heading south) from N 50th - which is terrific if I'm trying to avoid I-5 for whatever reason.

Even if there are no views of the lake itself, there are some terrific views of the ball fields in Woodland Park north of 50th. And even if there are no views along the diagonal cut over to Aurora, it's still a decent middle-class neighborhood with some good local businesses nearby. The Kidd Valley at the corner of GLW and Stone is delish!

Whether you love the park and the lake, or want to hop over to Fremont or up to Phinney Ridge for some culture, Green Lake Way offers easy access to everywhere and everything.

It's easy to get confused by the street names around Green Lake. Green Lake Drive N doesn't actually circle the lake itself; rather, it's a straight-shot connection between Aurora and the lake, cutting diagonally across N 80th.

Most of the street is taken up by businesses: car dealerships, churches, insurance offices, restaurants. But a couple apartment buildings stand among them, offering great access to I-5 and Aurora, and from there to downtown or the north end or pretty much anywhere you want to go.

If traffic doesn't bug you, and you don't need that view of the lake, this just might be the place for you.

Luxury condos and retirement communities offer great views of Green Lake, and all the people who jog or skate or bike or push strollers around the lake. Then there are the people who just drive around the lake, slowly, along Green Lake Way. But if you're around Green Lake, the point is definitely not to move fast. This is the place to relax, enjoy the sights, grab a cup of great espresso or delicious ethnic food from one of the local eateries, and just be alive. In the summer and autumn, the boaters come out to pepper the lake with color. In the spring, people plant their fishing rods on the shore of the lake. But there's really no bad time of year to be at Green Lake.

20th NE embodies a number of contradictions. For example, where it runs into NE 45th St, right across from the UW campus, you find a couple frat houses as well as the Catholic campus ministry chapel. It's a fairly small side-street, but the curb and shoulders are packed with cars so that parking is almost impossible to find. A modern new apartment building stands next to a house in serious need of repair, and down the road is a beautifully restored house from the early 20th century. It's a fascinating place to visit, but there's no way anyone but a student would want to live there.

That's the south end of 20th. Further north, say, north of 65th St., 20th becomes a respectable middle-class neighborhood with regular street parking and good access to Lake City, Wedgewood, and Northgate. But I mostly know that end of the street from getting lost looking for friends' houses.

By far my favorite part of 20th NE is where it crosses Ravenna Park, roughly between 58th and 61st. The street narrows and crosses a gorgeous bridge with a magnificent view of the forest below. There's nothing like it in Seattle or anywhere else.

Far enough from Broadway to avoid the noise, but not quite in the upscale homes with the Lake Washington views, 12th is good for anyone who wants to be close to the action - but not so close that you can't escape once in a while.

12th offers a clear route along the whole length of Capitol Hill from Volunteer Park in the north all the way down to 1st Hill. But because it's not an arterial, there's not a ton of traffic. Residents range from old timers to hip college grads, and young families in between. Good sidewalks make walking enjoyable, and don't miss the beauty of the parks!

Just minutes brings you either to the UW or to Seattle U, though it's hard to afford rent on a student's budget. It's also a straight shot down the hill to downtown, or to head the other direction to Lake Washington and the east side.

Any way you're headed, 12th will set you in the right direction.

Densmore does the job a residential street should do: it holds up good, solid houses, and connects you to arterials without getting clogged up itself.

Other parallel streets, from Greenwood to Wallingford to Fremont, take more of the glory, but also more of the traffic and noise. Densmore keeps a discreet distance and maintains enough quiet to allow kids to play in the yard and street while also allowing adults to get to and from their destinations easily.

Densmore is one of the unsung heroes of North Seattle.

I mostly know 9th NE along the stretch from NE 55th down to the water. It's not an arterial, but it's well-traveled enough by locals that the city keeps trying new things to slow down the traffic. Even so, if you're a student not too sensitive to noise, it's a great location.

Easy access to NE 45th, I-5, and the UW, it also boasts one of Seattle's best movie theaters, the Metro, as well as a couple parks. There were days I would just walk up and down 9th Ave and find enough to do to fill the afternoon and call it a day well spent.

One drawback: with all the attention to the Stop signs and speed slaloms, the sidewalks have been neglected, offering some tripping hazards and making it tough for wheelchairs to maneuver.

I like to walk along NW 112th between Greenwood and Fremont, and I find that you leave behind the constant noise of Greenwood after only a block. From there on east, it's just quiet residential housing with little traffic. At the same time, you don't give up access either to Greenwood or to the Northgate area via the Avenues and 105th.

It's a good neighborhood for walking or jogging, with gravel shoulders that serve as soft sidewalks, and a fun variety of architectures among the houses. I haven't had many conversations with the residents, but it's usually raining when I'm walking so spirits may be somewhat dampened.

In any case, the city has its eye on the neighborhood after building a median over on Greenwood. It's safe, clean, and I wouldn't mind putting some roots down there.

Anyone going between Northgate and Greenwood or Ballard uses N 105th. Predictably, residences have given way to businesses and public services along much of its length, but a few houses and apartment buildings still cling to the street.

But be warned: there's road noise at all hours, and while the Greenwood side of things is moving upscale, it still crosses one of the grimiest sections of Aurora.

A special warning for the part of 105th that cuts off from Northgate Way: an increasing number of people have discovered that it makes a nice shortcut to Meridian or to southbound I-5. There's no peace, even there. Sorry!

NE 143rd keeps a low profile: quiet houses and apartments, a slightly winding demeanor, shady trees from the yards. But it's only a block south of 145th, giving great access to I-5 and to Bothell Way / Lake City Way.

It's not the most glamorous neighborhood in Seattle, but it's relatively inexpensive, well-located, and peaceful. I see families walking dogs or just out for a jog, kids playing in yards, kids and adults riding bikes.

I sure wouldn't mind raising my family in such a neighborhood: close to resources, but quiet enough to hear yourself think, and green enough to breathe easily.

Some of my best friends live on NE 98th between Roosevelt and 15th. They've lived in the neighborhood since they got married, and are very happy to be raising their kids there. I get to housesit every so often, and I love to take walks through the neighborhood. There are neighbors of all ages, from young singles to old timers, and they greet me as I walk, sometimes even entering into longer conversations. If the kids are with us, they're fascinated by the various flowers in people's yards, or the animals - several houses have chicken coops, and lots have dogs and cats.

I expect the apartments on the corner of Roosevelt have to deal with some road noise, as do the houses on 15th. But there's very little noise at my friends' house. Even so, getting to Northgate or the U District or to I-5 is a breeze, so they're never disconnected.

It's a great place to visit, and I can see why my friends love to live there.

Some very good friends used to live on NE 94th near 5th Ave, and we would go for walks around the neighborhood over to 15th or down the hill toward Northgate. It really is a lovely neighborhood: an amazing variety of flowers in people's yards, neighbors greeting each other as they pass on the street, conversations across the back-yard fence.

The only drawback is the lack of sidewalks, but since there's so little traffic - and what traffic there is treats pedestrians with respect - it's not that big a deal. Also, there's a bit of rush-hour road noise if you're right on the corner of 5th or 15th.

Otherwise, it's a very pleasant neighborhood, well connected to the city via I-5 and Roosevelt. Great for a young family.

My grandmother grew up on 31st Ave, near Yesler. Her house is no longer standing, but many others from that era between the wars still hold up well. Some have been recently renovated, others simply maintained. And the new houses and duplexes built in the neighborhood have kept the character of the older houses, making it a beautiful place to walk and enjoy life.

The cross-streets provide access to the International District and Downtown to the west, and to Lake Washington to the east.

There's very little traffic, making this area a kind of retreat from the busy hub-bub of the city. But Madrona offers some good eats and cultural attractions, as well as some gorgeous parks. And you're really only about five or ten minutes from almost anywhere you want to go.

I can see why my grandma still misses the neighborhood!

Truly, some of the most incredible views of the Seattle skyline and the Puget Sound are along W Highland drive. There's a reason Kerry Park is always packed, especially on sunny days and clear evenings.

High-end condos advertising retirement amenities line the north side of the street, while further west magnificent houses rise up to take advantage of the amazing prospect.

Frequent police patrols keep the neighborhood clean and safe. But the large amount of tourist traffic makes the locals a little suspicious and less friendly than some other neighborhoods in Seattle.

E Thomas offers apartment buildings and a few houses right near Broadway and all the culture of Capitol Hill's beating heart.

Living on E Thomas is great for anyone who wants to connect to other people, to live the night life, to have an easy commute into downtown. The closer you are to Broadway, the more foot (and car) traffic you'll find, especially on weekend evenings. That's because you're in easy walking distance to great ethnic foods, urban boutique shopping, theaters and bars.

And I have to mention the great view of the Space Needle as you head west across Broadway.

It goes without saying that you shouldn't expect a quiet reclusive retreat. E Thomas is for people who love the activity of social life, the excitement of random encounters with new faces, and the variety of opportunities Broadway provides.

E John forms the main arterial crossing Capitol Hill (occasionally swapping places with E Thomas). It meets the heart of hot culture on Broadway, then turns into a chic residential neighborhood east of 15th Ave, and providing some great views of Lake Washington as it descends the eastern slope of Capitol Hill.

It's ideal for people who want to be at the center of everything: easy commute to downtown, great eats and entertainment and people encounters on Broadway, the sheer beauty of sitting on top of Capitol Hill.

Meanwhile, out by 23rd Ave, a family can find some peace and quiet, without giving up the connections to the rest of the city.

Many of my friends live in houses they rent on 8th NE, and they love the neighborhood. Some are students at the UW, and are glad to be so close to campus. Others are singles, glad to have housemates and a relatively inexpensive place to live. As for me, I'd love to live there just because it's so close to the sorts of things I love to do: parks, the library, movies, good food, even my church! And if I want to go anywhere else, well, the freeway is right there!

There's not a ton of traffic along 8th itself, and I-5 has a sound-wall that dampens the freeway noise, so it's relatively quiet. There's a significant homeless population (as there is throughout the U District) but they know that the police are always right around the corner and I've always found them to be respectful if I treat them with respect.

The houses themselves are older, well-built, often with beautiful hardwood floors and decent-sized yards. It's a great neighborhood for students or people just getting started.

I house-sat and dog-sat for a couple of friends in their condo on N 39th in Fremont. It was one of the most relaxing weeks in recent memory. I would have expected lots of noise, being so close to the Center of the Universe and all. But even with open windows, there was hardly a sound.

Walking the dog gave me a good sense of the surrounding neighborhood, too. I was only three blocks from the heart of Fremont, and a reasonably healthy walk up to Woodland Park. The neighbors all said, "Hi!" as I passed. I'm a musician, so being in walking distance from American Music was a big plus for me.

The only real downside: watch out for the parking nazis. I parked, stepped away from the car to check an address, no more than five minutes - and when I returned I had a ticket. Ah well, it goes to a good cause ... sort of.

11th W runs fairly straight along the western slope of Queen Anne Hill. It's a great opportunity for views, especially further to the south. If you're looking to buy, double check your sight lines: you may find yourself staring at the fishing boats of Ballard or the railyards that separate you from Magnolia.

Hardly anyone wanders down to 11th from Queen Anne Ave, or up from 15th, so the neighborhood has a quiet, almost secluded feel to it. The houses and occasional apartment buildings are modest (by Queen Anne standards) and the traffic is minimal. Some train noise floats up occasionally from the railyards at the base of the hill, but I like trains so it doesn't bug me a bit.

Watch out for some odd twists and one-way spots. This part of the hill can be a bit of a maze, so bring a map if you're not familiar with the area.

The west slope of Queen Anne Hill is an absolute labyrinth of twists, one-ways, and dead ends. That means that strangers stay away and the streets are lined with relatively modest (for Queen Anne) homes with lovely gardens and steep driveways. There's not much road noise, though a bit floats up occasionally from 15th at the bottom of the hill and from the railyards.

If you're looking for a view, double check. There are some great view possibilities, especially as you move further south; but you might get stuck with a view of the Ballard shipyards or the railyards that separate you from Magnolia.

There aren't many sidewalks, but there's so little traffic that you can usually just walk down the middle of the road. Still, with all the twists and turns, I would keep kids close to home or with an adult.

So, 12th offers most of the benefits of Queen Anne living, like proximity to downtown and stylish night life, while keeping a quiet, out-of-the-way sanctuary when you just want to cozy up with the fam.

I grew up just off NE 185th St, with I-5 in my back yard. As a kid, I would walk or ride my bike up the street to school or to buy candy or comics at the 7-11 near Aurora. It was safe, clean, and the neighbors were always willing to help.

I still go back to the neighborhood to visit. The city of Shoreline has added a few improvements, built up the campus of the Shoreline School District to offer services to the local community, and generally kept the street clean and safe.

It's labeled as an arterial, but since it lacks a freeway entrance it doesn't attract the heavy traffic of some other streets, like 175th. At the same time, it's pretty easy to get to anywhere you want to go. Just hop on Aurora or skip down to 175th and you're golden!

I spent most of my childhood just off 185th street - first on the NE end, and later on the NW end. It's technically an arterial, but since it doesn't have a freeway on-ramp, it's a good deal quieter than, say, 175th.

On NW 185th, the arterial has been taken over by Richmond Beach Road, so it becomes a very quiet residential street. The houses have large front yards, and the gravel shoulders are very safe to walk along.

I used to deliver newspapers around there, and I found both homeowners and apartment dwellers to be friendly, low-key people enjoying the benefits of living near - but not too near - to the activity of Seattle.

For me, it will always be home. It was a great place to grow up, and I wouldn't turn down a chance to move back.

I grew up near Meridian, north of Haller Lake, where it's a north-south arterial that gets busy around rush hour but is pretty quiet most of the rest of the time. North of the county line, it continues up into Edmonds, and it's the road I used to take to visit my grandparents near Lake Ballinger.

Haller Lake, then North Seattle Community College, then Green Lake break up the street, but south of about N 50th it runs straight and true down to Gasworks Park.

Schools and parks dot the whole length of Meridian, whether it's marked as an arterial or not. This makes it a very green street in an already very green city, and a great place to raise kids. There's not much retail right on the street (except through Wallingford) but it gives easy access to retail areas and to Downtowon via Aurora or I-5.

NW Richmond Beach Road (or RBR to the locals) really is an access road from the Richmond Highlands down to the beachfront area. There are views from a couple big houses, but they aren't as good as those you'd find in Innis Arden a block away. And the traffic is busier than normal for a street in a suburb.

That's the whole downside, though. On RBR, you have a number of Shoreline's best restaurants, a public library, and (of course) a straight shot down 20th to the beach. The road noise is nothing compared to a main street like Aurora, or even Greenwood. And you have excellent sidewalks and beautiful neighborhoods with lots of trees to walk through.

The Shoreline School District is one of the best in Western Washington, so if you have kids, that could be a major factor.

Eastlake, true to its name, runs along the east side of Lake Union between the University Bridge and Downtown, connecting into Union St at its southern terminus. This means it also runs pretty much directly under or right next to I-5. There are a few apartments and condos built along the street, but it's too noisy for most people.

On the up side, it's packed with interesting places to eat, shop (esp. REI's flagship store!) and a few clubs to party at.

More than that, it's a fantastic alternative route into Downtown, especially if the freeway is jammed up (as it often is during rush hour).

10th Ave E connects Capitol Hill to Eastlake and the U District, running through both commercial and residential areas between Roanoke in the north and Broadway (at Roy). There are some gorgeous high-rent homes with walls and gates and amazing views, as well as some more affordable middle-class houses - mostly on the east side of the street. Beautiful institutions, such as the main campus of Cornish College for the Arts, and St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral, dominate the west side of the street. So even the homes that don't have a view aren't stuck looking out at ugly brick walls.

It's a great street to walk or bike up and down. Just be ready for a bit of a workout going up the hill! And some great hole-in-the-wall Italian restaurants are planted up near Roanoke. Of course the cultural explosion of Broadway lies just to the south.

Access to Downtown or to I-5 or to the eastside via 520 all are fairly easy. There's usually some car traffic along the street, but the road noise isn't distracting. All things considered, a very convenient and rather beautiful neighborhood!

I mostly know Aloha down toward 23rd Ave, where my grandparents lived for many years. Grand old manors with views of Union Bay or Lake Washington slowly faded into more reasonable middle-class houses moving west up toward the top of Capitol Hill. Today, the prices have gone up a bit, but the neighborhood seems very much the same: a mix of younger and older families wanting to be close to the beating heart of the city.

Aloha is marked as an arterial, but the road noise isn't bad. The sidewalks are in decent shape, and people use them - always a good sign! And, of course, you're close to some excellent private schools (such as Seattle Prep and Seattle U) as well as to all the cultural amenities of Broadway, and some great views of the water.

You can still find the old-school Scandanavian fishing families in Ballard, but the gentrification of the past fifteen years or so is expanding through the neighborhood, spreading out from 15th Ave and 65th St. As far as I can tell, it's all about the easy access to Downtown and to Phinney Ridge. It used to be about the local flavor, too, but I keep seeing locally-owned shops closing down or moving out, and being replaced by national chains. Market Street isn't quite the adventure into another world it was when I visited there as a kid.

In any case, it's still a great place to live, at least for a while. The condos and apartments have brought a younger and more mobile population to the area, so the night life has improved in the past decade. And there's still plenty of great retail therapy available on a walk down Market St.

I guess I'm just caught by a bit of nostalgia, and I worry about the long-term future of the neighborhood. I don't see as many families as I used to. But maybe I just need to wander further into the residential streets beyond the commercial core.

This is the premier street to live on in Magnolia. Large, well-kept houses with gorgeous lawns and gardens line the east side of the street. The west side of the street is almost entirely city park land, meaning that the houses have completely unobstructed views of the Sound, including Alki and several islands, to say nothing of sunsets over the Olympics.

It just doesn't get much better than this.

Driving along the street the other day, I noticed several houses up for sale. I'm guessing the recession is hitting somewhat hard. These houses are not for shallow pocketbooks! But, this also means there's real opportunity to live in an absolute dream home.

Only a couple minutes' drive from The Village means that amenities are readily available. And you're in easy driving range of downtown for anything that isn't available in Magnolia. Meanwhile, nothing's going to bother you as you gaze out over the water.

My mother grew up on Howe Street, when Queen Anne was still an affordable neighborhood. As far as we can tell, the only thing that's changed is that lots of people have noticed how great a place it is to live and raise a family.

The houses all are well-maintained, and the owners take excellent care of their yards and gardens. Walking on a Saturday afternoon, you meet the neighbors walking their dogs or taking their kids to the park. There aren't views from the houses themselves, but come on, this is Queen Anne and some of the best views in Seattle are ten minute's walk away!

You're far enough from Queen Anne Ave that you don't get the road noise or the late night activity. But you're close enough that you can have a great night out at a moment's notice.

It's too bad we can't all live on Howe St!

Beautiful homes, breathtaking views, top-rate amenities, easy access to downtown - what's not to love, except the price tag?

Just walking through the neighborhood gives a sense of what makes Seattle one of the most beautiful cities in America: flowering trees and gardens line the sidewalk, with restored original houses giving character and comfort to every block. Well-kept parks, schools, and churches all provide places to get to know your neighbors. And Queen Anne Ave provides terrific shopping and eating opportunities.

The only drawback is the price. Even in this recession, houses run well over half a million. And this is one of the few neighborhoods I've seen where the European cars outnumber all others by about three to one.

Still, if you can afford it, you won't find a better place to live!

The only real draw-back to 12th NE is that, between Ravenna and NE 75th, it runs one-way north-bound, and essentially forms the north lanes of Roosevelt. That means cars will be running up the street pretty much constantly, day and night.

Even so, the residents show a certain pride of ownership, mostly keeping lovely flower gardens and clean yards. And the local businesses keep things low-key, respecting their residential neighbors.

Further north, it turns into a quiet residential back-street with gravel shoulders, good fences and good neighbors. I have some friends just off 12th in the Maple Leaf neighborhood, and it's common to see families walking their dogs, or pushing strollers with little kids. The rare car that drives through that stretch tends to yield politely to pedestrians. Can't ask for much better than that!

The first clue about 11th NE is that it's one-way northbound from the ship canal up to Ravenna (where it morphs into 12th NE). That's because Roosevelt is one-way south-bound through that neighborhood, making 11th NE essentially the north-bound lanes of Roosevelt.

That's no big deal, unless you're sensitive to noise. There's no time of day or night that you won't find cars running up the street.

The houses along 11th are generally older residences, mostly well-kept, but the general population of the area is, understandably, students. So late-night parties and drinking are occasional annoyances. That is, unless you're attending one yourself.

The sidewalks are good, and there are good connections to all sorts of local resources - parks, the freeway, all the fun of the U District, etc. So if you can put up with the noise, it's actually a great place to live.

West of Roosevelt, N 50th is a delightful residential neighborhood: relatively quiet except at rush hour, lots of parks (at 9th NE, at Meridian, and Greenlake/Woodland Park, of course!), a couple churches, friendly people who walk their dogs and plant flowers in their yards. And yet, it leads right into the U District, with all that provides, and up onto Phinney Ridge with its great eats and great views. And with its own ramp onto I-5, it gives easy access to downtown or Northgate or wherever you want to go.

The Meridian playground is a personal favorite of mine. Ever since I was a kid, I loved the stone arch gates that led into the park. It made me feel like I was passing into an adventure novel.

I haven't gotten involved myself (I need to get a little more in shape!) but I know that a few neighborhood league softball and soccer teams meet up at the 9th NE park.

And then, there's the beautiful Library building right on Roosevelt and 50th. The library is bigger than it looks, too, so it's a great place to beat the heat or dodge the raindrops.

Aurora is the historical north-south highway through Seattle, and so is prime retail business real estate. It's actually hard to find apartments built right on Aurora, but there are plenty within a block or two on either side for most of its length.

You can find pretty much anything on Aurora - both the good and the bad. You're never more than a couple blocks away from something to eat, and it's a great place to look for local businesses as well as a few big box stores up toward the city limit. On the other hand, there's no avoiding the seedy hotels and "adult" shopping south of 105th.

After dark, it's not a comfortable street to walk along, though the frequent police presence keeps it fairly safe. The city's revitalization plans to broaden sidewalks and add more trees are still years away.

Finally, Aurora still offers a great alternative route to the Seattle Center and to the Alaskan Way Viaduct, through downtown, and to SeaTac Airport.

Dayton looks like most any residential street in North Seattle, but it has a place in my heart because I would walk along it to school growing up. As an adult, I still rank it above average, mostly because it's easy to get around from Dayton.

It runs straight and uninterrupted from 130th St. in the north down to the Woodland Park Zoo, and then picks up again to jog down the hill into Fremont. You have easy access to major arterials like 105th and 85th, as well as to Greenwood and Aurora. Meanwhile, you avoid the traffic and road noise, just by being a couple blocks off the main drag.

The only drawback is the lack of sidewalks, but the streets are safe enough for walking as long as you keep your eyes open.

Two of my closest friends have lived for almost a decade on Greenwood near the Holman Rd cut-off, where their only complaint is rush-hour road noise. The recent resurfacing has helped ease a bit of the congestion and has added a boulevard-like median planted with leafy trees.

It's amazingly easy to get around from there, whether grabbing some great food around 85th and up on Phinney Ridge, or skipping over to Northgate for some shopping, or down to Ballard for fun. It looks like parking would be tight, but I've never had a problem finding a spot.

My grandmother used to live a little further north, in one of the several retirement facilities available. She very much enjoyed the easy access to city amenities while being just a little off the main traffic lines.

An added bonus: both my friends and my grandmother love the view of the Sound, available even from some second-story apartments.

This park is almost like those books I loved as a child in which you start in a place familiar and innocuous and three steps later find yourself surrounded by wild and wonderful mystery.

From the corner of NE Ravenna Blvd and Brooklyn Ave, you can see a grassy lawn, some swing sets and picnic tables, a smallish attempt at a ball field - all standard fare for a small city park. But follow the trail downhill, and suddenly the evergreens tower over your head and a stream trickles alongside the path and the undergirdings of the 15th Ave bridge rise up before you like the gateway to a magical kingdom.

The well-maintained dirt trail continues for almost a mile along the valley floor, merging seamlessly into Ravenna Park, and branching off into a dozen or more side-trails, each of which rewards exploration. The natural beauty of the stream and the wooded hillsides stirs the Pacific Northwest heart, but what sets Cowen/Ravenna apart is the sudden absence of road-noise and even of aircraft noise, only five minutes from I-5 and directly under 15th Ave.

Joggers and dog-walkers know and love the area, and on weekends you might encounter small groups re-enacting medieval battles for entertainment. For me, it's my favorite place to take a quiet walk-and-talk with a good friend. It amazes me that I've met so many people living within a mile or two of the park who never have heard of it!

Sure, you can take I-5, or Aurora, or Roosevelt, to get around North Seattle, but why fight all the traffic? 5th Avenue provides easy access from the U District up to the county line.

5th NE runs alongside I-5 for most of its length, so don't buy a house there if you're sensitive to noise. Also, it lacks sidewalks along several stretches of road. But living just off 5th on any of the E-W streets might be a great choice.

5th Avenue passes through family neighborhoods like Wallingford and Maple Leaf, as well as retail districts like Northgate. 5th is an avenue with much to offer.