North Beacon Hill Seattle, WA

North Beacon Hill stands as the northernmost municipal subdivision of the Beacon Hill neighborhood, with its sister subdivisons Mid-Beacon Hill, Holly Park and South Beacon Hill.

North Beacon Hill was settled in the 1850s by two men who are commemorated with namesake streets, South Holgate and Hanford. The area later became home to Asian immigrants, whose descendants comprise half of the diverse population.

Admire North Beacon's rich cultural tapestry by visiting the Dai Bai Zan Cho Bo Zen Ji temple, a peaceful, Rinzi-style zen temple where you can participate in a daily session or a week-long retreat and learn the calming, meditative art of zen.

For another taste of the area's culture, don't miss Mt. Baker Neighborhood Center for the Arts, a place that celebrates artists of all backgrounds and abilities. Sign up for a workshop, and enjoy making new friends.

Seattle exists as a mecca of great coffee, food and a vibrant nightlife, and North Beacon Hill does nothing to disprove that notion. You'll find plenty of good cups of joe, local beers on tap and locally-based dishes to dine on in a little neighborhood that's a-buzz with nighttime activity.

Power your day first thing with a stop at The Station, a cozy, community-friendly coffeehouse with friendly baristas who pull a great shot. Try the sweet-spicy, addictive Mexican mocha and a locally made fruit scone. You're welcome to bring your four-legged friend along and hang out on the ample back patio.

You'll need something more substantial than coffee when you hit the town at night. Head out to the local favorite Tippe and Drague Alehouse, a friendly place that serves up high-quality pub food and a rotation of 16 brews from featured local breweries. You'll be greeted with free popcorn, but don't fill up yet -- order the French steak sandwich, a mess of flavor with sauteed mushrooms, bleu and gruyere cheeses and a toasty baguette bun. Order something from Deschutes Brewery to wash it down, and if the weather's cooperating, enjoy your meal out back on the dog-friendly beer garden patio. If you'd rather do brunch, the place serves up a mean "Beacon Breakfast" -- a plate of pancakes, cage-free eggs cooked your way and locally raised bacon.

You'll find another great watering hole at The Oak, a pub with a good rotation of brews on tap and tummy-warming comfort food. Settle in with an Austin Mule cocktail with the house ginger beer, then grab one of the IPAs on tap to go with your meal. Try the homemade chicken pot pie with its flaky crust, or indulge in the "Overtime Burger," a double-decker classic burger with local beef, aged cheddar, arugula, special house "CBGB sauce" and tomato. If it's on the menu, try the "Charcuterie Burger" with house IPA mustard, pickled onion, and blue cheese, and don't forget to order a side of the garlic "Rally Fries" for the table so your friends don't keep stealing the fries off your plate.

With the efficient public transit systems in Seattle, you can easily navigate North Beacon Hill via the light rail or King County bus line, which you can catch at the Beacon Hill Station at 2702 16th Avenue South. The King County line also makes stops at Beacon Hill Avenue at Jefferson Park and Myrtle Street. The light rail is situated on the Central Link line, which runs between the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and downtown Seattle. Whether you're trying to catch a flight, head downtown or visit a Beacon Hill pub, you'll be able to travel with ease.

If you want to enjoy the beauty of the neighborhood on foot, luckily North Beacon Hill has great walkability. With the neighborhood's Walk Score of 61, you'll be able to do a lot of errands in the neighborhood on foot, and a Bike Score of 70, you'll be sitting pretty on that Schwinn in the neighborhood's many bike lanes and bike-friendly roads.

If you're coming in to the area via the freeway from the east, you'll take the I-90 W and get off on the 3A Exit. If you're headed into the neighborhood from the north or south, you'll be able to take the I-5 easily. Of course, if you're just driving locally within the neighborhood and downtown Seattle, you'll find the neighborhood roads, like Beacon Avenue and Rainier Avenue, to be an efficient way to travel.

Enjoy nature in one of North Beacon Hill's many lovely parks. Jefferson Park, with its tennis courts, running paths, well-kept playgrounds, a skate park, and incredible view of the Seattle skyline and Olympic Peninsula, will become one of your favorite spots to recreate and relax.

To enjoy a Seattle sunset after a long day, head up to the 12th Avenue viewpoint. Another great spot, the Dr. Jose Rizal Park, lets you bring your favorite four-legged friend along for a romp and Frisbee toss. Spot will be happy, especially because there's a watering hole for when he gets parched.

One of the most innovative parks in North Beacon Hill, the Beacon Food Forest is a community-powered edible urban forest garden where you can volunteer to help propagate the local food supply. The Beacon Food Forest not only acts as a park but a way to tie the local community together.

North Beacon Hill's economic diversity comes from its widespread appeal to folks of varying backgrounds, some with higher-paying jobs who are settled into their homes living side-by-side with their neighbors working on their fixer-uppers with help from the city. Many North Beacon Hill's characteristic box homes and Craftsman bungalows are relatively affordable, and in a friendly neighborhood with amazing views and a cost of living that's lower than the city it overlooks, it's hard to resist its charms, especially when you only pay about $5 for a pint of locally brewed beer.

If you're not ready to dive into purchasing a home, a one-bedroom apartment averages $1,300 per month, though there are some that go for as low as $850.

Though gas prices always fluctuate, North Beacon Hill's prices average about 1 percent above the national average gas price. You'll want to save on gas and take public transit anyway, as Seattle's focus on sustainability makes it very easy and affordable to do so. Catch Sound Transit's express bus for $2.50, and if you're going outside of the county you'll just pay a dollar more. Or, take the light rail, and you'll only be out $2 to $2.50, depending on where you're going. Better yet, save some money and make things easier by getting an ORCA pass that lets you choose your type of fare plan with reduced rates.

You can find most of what you need and more without having to venture outside the neighborhood. For basic needs, the Cash and Carry offers items in bulk for thrift shoppers. Conveniently buy vegetables for dinner when you pick up toiletries and batteries. If you just need that prescription filled, a Rite Aid sits on Rainier Avenue.

Just find a killer apartment and need to furnish it? Head over to Dixon's Used Furniture and save cash and the environment by buying cool, used vintage furniture. For more home furnishings, visit 12th Avenue Iron, a showcase of incredible craftsmanship in iron furniture, gates and other items. Stop by Swithyco Furniture while you're at it, and you'll want to take home a gorgeous salvaged steel piece from one of Seattle's most esteemed furniture craftsmen. If you need supplies to fashion your own furniture or a box garden, stop by Stewart Lumber for helpful customer service to help you with your project.

Reward yourself with some hand-crafted jewelry at Plum Blossom Designs, a place that combines East and West artistry in its jewelry.