Interbay - Seattle, WA

In the mid-1800s, Henry A. Smith made the initial land claim in the area now known as Interbay. From the original settlement near Salmon Bay in the north, Smith and his family purchased more property during the Indian War and extended their land holdings to Smith Cove on Elliott Bay. Smith developed the area along Grand Boulevard, which later became West Dravus Street.

The Seattle, Lake Shore and Eastern Railway bought most of Smith's land and established a rail line from shore to shore. Commercial development followed and the neighborhood took on an industrial personality.

The area hosts the annual Fishermen's Fall Festival to mark the return of the fleet from the northern waters. The family fun activities include boat-building for kids and salmon barbecue for all. Interbay defers to its eastern neighbor for art walks and cultural activities. Queen Ann is home to the EMP Museum and Chihuly Glass and Garden.

Interbay supports a decent selection of eateries, especially along the 15th Avenue West corridor. Casual eats, formal dinners and lots of seafood typify dining options in this neighborhood.

From the foyer of the elegant Palisade Restaurant, take the bridge across the fish pond to the upper and lower dining rooms where you can enjoy your meal next to a wall of windows that look out on the harbor. Try the moist and flaky cedar-plank-roasted king salmon on cauliflower puree for a special occasion dinner. You can take the whole family for Sunday brunch and make unlimited trips to the buffet for pancakes, bennies, salads and signature favorites such as Kung Pao calamari and lobster bisque. For $10, you get free run of the fruit, wine and juices at the bottomless mimosa bar.

With burgers big enough to get the attention of Man vs Food, you can satisfy a burger craving in a big way at Red Mill Burgers. The double bacon deluxe features two quarter-pound patties, crispy fresh lettuce, tomatoes, pickle, red onion, cheese and the signature Mill sauce. That's half a pound of flame-broiled meat. Do your best to find room for the onion rings. Don't expect to swipe your plastic - sales are cash only.

Stop in at Macrina Bakery Queen Anne on McGraw for great homemade breads and special treats. With a focus on local and natural grains, the owner-chef creates baked culinary delights out of simple, whole ingredients. Brides and grooms to be interested in scheduling a wedding cake consultation here should do so well in advance, as the demand for these masterpieces remains high.

Interbay may not be party central for bars, clubs and nightlife, but its convenient location makes it easy for residents to visit pubs and attend events in neighboring communities and the downtown area.

Depending on where you live in Interbay, you can walk to a coffee shop, restaurant or grocery store, but you may not be able to complete all your chores on foot. There are only a few bike lanes in the neighborhood, but one connects to Magnolia's designated lane that takes the scenic route along the coastline into Discovery Park. Nearby Queen Ann also has a number of established bike lanes.

Several buses from King County Metro Transit function on the Interbay roads. For short waits, quick connections and fast rides, locals hop on the RapidRide D Line, which runs along 15th Avenue West on its way to downtown Seattle. If you prefer to do without a car, you can always hail a Seattle Yellow Cab or book a ride with Uber to let someone else to do the driving. When you want to get behind the wheel, check out RelayRides and Zipcar for hourly and daily rental options. In fewer than 10 minutes, you can cross Queen Anne to join the Pacific Highway, or take five minutes more to join I-5 in Eastlake.

Most eateries and retail pockets have some parking of their own, and there are a few lots in the neighborhood for hourly or daily parking. Following Seattle guidelines, on-street parking is free on Sundays and after 6:00 pm from Monday through Saturday.

Interbay provides residents with a mix of small parks, green spaces and areas for recreational opportunities. Locals benefit from ease of access, but visitors are drawn from all over Seattle, especially to the sports facility. Right in the middle of the district, Seattle Parks and Recreation's Interbay Athletic Complex takes the crown for recreational facilities. You can buy a bucket of balls to hit at the driving range, get some practice in on the short nine-hole course or thrill the kids with a round on the18-hole mini-golf course. This venue also holds a soccer stadium and baseball, softball and T-ball facilities.

Smith Cove Park occupies a 7.3-acre linear strip along the south shore of Interbay. Landscaped with grass patches and shade-providing trees, this peaceful park is equipped with walkways, benches and picnic tables that take advantage of the views of the Seattle skyline across the bay and Mount Rainier in the distance.

Interbay P-Patch, one of Seattle's largest community gardens, provides space for individual and food bank gardening and hosts a variety of social events. Two of Seattle's 14 dog parks can be found close by. Take your pup for an off-leash romp at Magnolia Manor Park to the west or at Kinnear Park in Queen Ann.

The cost of living in Interbay sits about 7 percent higher than the Seattle average, but you don't feel the difference in daily expenses. Bus fare for the half-hour trip to downtown costs $2.50 during busy travel times and $2.25 in off-peak times. As part of the Seattle 12th Man community, your cost for each beer that you raise to salute the Seahawks is $6 on average.

Renters make up about 60 percent of the neighborhood's population and their rental rates average approximately $1,955 for a one-bedroom apartment. If you choose to drive, you can expect your gas bill to be about 14 percent higher than the national average.

Retailers favor the 15th Avenue West area and carry products that range widely from industrial supplies, equipment and uniforms to inventories of power boats and sailing yachts.

Captain's Nautical Supplies meets the needs of those who take to the sea for recreation or employment. Shop here for marine charts, spotting scopes, weather instruments and navigation aids, stop in for repairs to your compass or choose a nautical-themed game or gift for the mariner in your life. Consign Design gives you the opportunity to re-purpose your unwanted furniture or to pick up a new-to-you furnishing treasure at a discount price. If you're remodeling and you want to part with some furniture, call the store for pick up. If you're looking to add to your decor, you can browse the selection of pre-owned armoires, sideboards, sofas and lighting fixtures to find something that will transform your home. QFC in the north and Whole Foods in the south look after the area's supermarket needs. Locals gladly make the short trip to the Queen Anne Farmer's Market for fresh produce and community entertainment in spring and summer.