For anyone considering a move to the Pacific Northwest, Seattle is one of the first destinations on the radar. But a glance over Seattle’s map and surrounding areas quickly shows that choosing the right neighborhood is a pleasantly overwhelming affair.

Each of Seattle’s unique areas and neighborhoods offer something worth moving for. If you’re an art enthusiast who loves an edgy vibe on your home streets, Fremont is ready to welcome you. If it’s the waterfront beauty of the Puget Sound, head to Ballard, one of the oldest neighborhoods in Seattle.

But if you feel like you want the very heart of Seattle, with the right touch of luxury and community warmth, then Queen Anne should be your go-to. Queen Anne is a centrally located neighborhood. Besides its proximity to Downtown Seattle, it offers access to Lake Union and Puget Sound.

Below, the team from Prevu Real Estate has put together the top reasons you should consider Queen Anne as your neighborhood of choice when moving to Seattle.

A luxurious array of housing options

In the early 1800s, the wealthy elite of Seattle took to building up what is now known as Upper Queen Anne. The mansions they built were in the Queen Anne style, giving the neighborhood its name. 

Many of those mansions still dot the northern sections of Queen Anne and offer a chance to purchase some of the most desirable real estate in the area. Some of these homes date back to the turn of the century and provide an unprecedented level of luxury. From expansive lots to high-arched facades, anyone who has the capital to purchase a home here will find a wealth of housing options that stand out as some of the best in Seattle.

Downtown proximity with small-town vibes

The Space Needle is at the southern tip of Queen Anne. And just a short distance south is the sprawling Downtown Seattle. It is normal to expect the downtown scene to spill into the borders of the nearby neighborhoods and create a lively atmosphere, but Queen Anne is an exception.

Technically, Queen Anne splits into four parts: North, East, South, and West. But to keep things simple, Seattleites divide the neighborhood into Upper Queen Anne and Lower Queen Anne. The southern portion of Queen Anne borders Seattle’s Downtown and naturally continues a little bit of the downtown scene with its bars and restaurants.

But once you take the time to explore Queen Anne, it is easy to realize that even with the magnificent backdrop of the city skyline just a stone’s throw away, the neighborhood is all about small-town charm. The quiet, tree-lined streets and hidden stairways that help navigate the hilly layout of the area are testaments to that.  

Fast access to Bainbridge and Eastside suburbs

Once you’re settled in the city, it almost makes no sense to consider traveling to the suburbs. But Seattle is built differently, and its Eastside suburbs like Bellevue and Kirkland have a city-like pulse all on their own. 

Whether you’re traveling for work to one of Bellevue’s many start-up hubs or big tech HQs or heading over to Kirkland to enjoy its unparalleled access to Lake Washington, getting there from Queen Anne is a breeze thanks to the multitude of public transportation options.

The King County Metro bus system and the Sound Transit Link light rail can take you anywhere from Queen Anne to almost anywhere in Seattle. So, for example, a trip to Bellevue would take about an hour via a bus and rail connection, taking travelers through the famed Mercer Island suburb and into some of the best suburbs of Seattle.

For anyone wanting to enjoy the Puget Sound, a quick trip downtown to the Seattle Ferry Terminal will get you on a ferry directly to Bainbridge Island, which offers some of the best outdoor weekend getaways for Seattleites. 

An abundance of high-profile entertainment

Upper Queen Anne is famous for its vistas and cobblestone streets. This is the part of town where residents come to capture Instagram-quality sunsets, mountain views, and downtown skylines. But the lower half of Queen Anne is where the city-like action happens.

The Seattle Center is the number one stop for anyone looking to discover the neighborhood. The International Fountain gathers a crowd during the summer to enjoy the vast space and snap pictures of the Space Needle. The Center is also a constant hotspot for outdoor events.

Museum-lovers will also find themselves at the Seattle Center often. The famed MoPOP, Museum of Pop Culture, is located here and hosts exhibitions ranging from music culture to Star Trek memorabilia.  

For the concert-going crowd, McCaw Hall hosts the Seattle Opera and the Pacific Northwest Ballet.  

All the amenities you need

Performing venues aside, Queen Anne is also host to an eclectic mix of mom-and-pop shops that define its shopping scene. Boutique stores like Stuhlberg’s, which sells home decor items, and Blue Highway Games, which carries everything from board games to Pokemon cards, are just a few of the neighborhood’s highlights.

Basic day-to-day needs can all be taken care of without leaving the neighborhood's boundaries. Queen Anne Way is one of the area's main thoroughfares, where a Trader Joe’s and Safeway market are located. Banks, grocery stores, hardware shops, and post offices are also conveniently spread out throughout the neighborhood, making errands a breeze to take care of.  

Some of the best parks in the city

Living within proximity to parks makes an area that much more desirable. Access to a quiet oasis for a midday picnic or a weekend outdoors is sometimes a must on homebuyers’ lists before they move. Queen Anne offers a unique escape in its famous parks for those who value outdoor recreation.

Because of the neighborhood’s hilly layout, Upper Queen Anne rises above the Seattle skyline, offering some of the most picturesque views not only from its streets but also from some of its parks.

Kerry Park is the first you might hear about. Though it doesn’t offer unlimited acreage for hiking, it is one of the best views of Downtown Seattle that you will find in the city. For those that want to explore nature trails and catch a panoramic view of the Puget Sound, Kinnear Park is the spot, with a tennis court and dog run to boot.  

The best of both waterfront worlds

The waterfront lifestyle is part of Seattle’s culture. It ranges from boat-owners that embark onto the waters of Puget Sound for a leisurely weekend to the ferry commuters of Bainbridge Island. It also contributes to the impeccable seafood cuisine found throughout the state. 

But Queen Anne is one of the few neighborhoods with access to both Lake Union and the Puget Sound. West Queen Anne touches the coast of Elliot Bay, where multiple parks run along its coast with stunning views of the Olympic Mountain Range. 

On the other hand, East Queen Anne enjoys the quaintness of Lake Union’s shores, with multiple condos and homes that offer impeccable views of the water.  

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