North Admiral - Seattle, WA

One of the oldest neighborhoods in West Seattle and originally a separate township, North Admiral was connected to Seattle in the early 1900s and annexed into the city around 1917. Early settlers found the nearby Alki Beach too harsh and moved to the more habitable space on top of the hill.

The neighborhood now serves as the center of West Seattle culture and supports a primarily residential population, along with some unique businesses. The community describes itself as focused on economic and environmental sustainability, with an emphasis on community-driven projects.

No museums exist in the area, but there is plenty of culture to explore, from a kayak tour at Alki Beach to art galleries and national landmarks, including the Admiral Theater. The Log House Museum can also be found just beyond the borders of the neighborhood.

Spend time at one of the local eateries while you’re out and about in West Admiral, most of which can be found on California Avenue SW and the adjoining streets.

Visit the cozy dining room at Circa for brunch. Locals swear that the food in this restaurant is more than worth braving the long wait time for on the weekends. Enjoy banana pancakes with extra pecan praline syrup.

Eat your share of meat at The Swinery, or take a cut home to prepare for dinner. Find a wide range of butcher's products alongside the courtyard cafe that cooks up delicious burgers and sides at affordable prices.

If you’re working on the next great American novel or just need to get out of the house for a few hours, Freshy’s fits the bill. A coffee shop that also serves soups and grilled sandwiches, the real appeal of this place comes from the abundant seating space with plenty of outlets for your laptop. Enjoy your cup of coffee and sandwich while kicking back on one of the sofas. If you don’t see the sandwich you’ve been craving on the menu, talk to the person behind the counter about a custom order.

In the evenings, locals head to Vidiot, a dive bar with a range of free-to-play arcade cabinets, pinball machines which require quarters and an upstairs loft with a variety of consoles to play cartridge games from the 1980s and 1990s. Vidiot offers a limited selection of beers with some inexpensive food options.

Art lovers prefer Treehouse Lounge on California Avenue SW, a combination of art gallery and lounge. Order an inexpensive drink as you peruse the art, enjoy conversations with friends, or ask for a canvas and some paint to create your own masterpiece.

For live music, the Admiral Benbow includes the Benbow Room, which hosts live music from local and national acts from Thursday through Sunday and features acoustic acts in the bar section on Sundays.

The good news for pedestrians is that most amenities in North Admiral are within a short walking distance of one another. To reach the outskirts or other parts of the city, plenty of public transportation is available. Several bus routes take you into the city, and a ferry departs from Seacrest Dock to Downtown Seattle.

A few taxi services cater to the area, with Uber available throughout Seattle, but expect significant wait times for a car. No direct train or subway routes are available in North Admiral, but they can be easily accessed from elsewhere in the city by taking a bus or driving to one of the stations.

If you prefer to travel to a station via bicycle, plenty of bike lanes are available, and most public buses feature in-built bike racks to stow your bike. The mostly residential North Admiral neighborhood offers limited parking on the streets. To access highways and freeways, head towards the West Seattle Bridge, which connects West Seattle with the rest of the city. Ferries allow for fast commutes from distant neighborhoods into Seattle proper.

All parks within Admiral North are free to the visiting public. Schmitz Preserve Park on SW Admiral Way offers a break from city life in unspoiled forests, with hiking trails and walking paths. Dogs must be kept on a leash within the park's 53 acres.

For sports and recreation, head to Hiawatha Park on California Avenue. Kids enjoy the playground facilities, jungle gym and wading pool, while sports enthusiasts spend time on the baseball field, tennis and basketball courts, soccer field and track.

Also on Admiral Way, find a stunning view across Elliott Bay into downtown Seattle at Belvedere Park. On clear days, you can see right across to the Cascade Mountains. A popular place for scenic photographs, relaxation and picnics, the park divides into two parks across Admiral Way.

Another excellent vantage point, with an even higher elevation, can be found at Hamilton Viewpoint Park on California Way SW. Developed in the 1950s, this park features a lawn for relaxing and woods for walking, with public telescopes that allow people to view the sights. The annual Admiral 4th of July Kids Parade terminates at this park, which also features old-school games and concession stands.

Head to Seacrest Park on Harbor Avenue for fishing, boat launches, scuba diving and another amazing view. This is the access point for protected scuba diving on the western shore of Elliott Bay, and expect to pay a fee for the various activities in this waterfront park. Boat launches are also available at Charles Richey Sr. Viewpoint on Beach Drive.

Considered reasonable in terms of the cost of living, amenities in North Admiral are marginally higher than the Seattle average. The area is bolstered by a higher median household income, low crime rate and higher real-estate values. The latter may not be great for the home buyer, but once you own your property, its value can go a long way.

The median one-bedroom rental cost sits at $1,229, which is 16 percent higher than the Seattle average. The price per gallon for gasoline hovers around 10 percent higher than the national average, while a pint of beer costs around $8.50 to $9. Travel to the heart of the city costs just a few dollars on public transport.

Most shopping in this neighborhood is located along California Avenue SW, running directly through the center of North Admiral from north to south. As well as the usual chain stores and amenities, watch out for a few out-of-the-ordinary shopping destinations.

Visit Atomic Boys for nostalgic candy as well as retro toys and some modern soon-to-be-classics. Locals planning a party head to this store for balloons, piñatas and party favors. The Flower Lab across the street creates arrangements for special occasions and sells gifts and balloon bouquets. Further to the south, stop in at Basic Green Box for unique housewares and gifts, from lanterns and linens to kitchenware and baskets.

Head to the Metropolitan Market on 42nd Avenue SW, a local favorite for fresh groceries, pre-prepared meals and high-end gourmet ingredients. Alternatively, visit Safeway on California Avenue SW. The West Seattle Farmers Market is located just to the south of the North Admiral border, but within the boundaries of the neighborhood itself, visit PCC Natural Markets for healthy, organic produce.