North Beacon Hill

Today's 5.9 mile walk took my pastry-loving pal and me to North Beacon Hill, the International and the Industrial Districts. After talking with some friendly neighbors who were out walking their dogs, we started our walk near Katie Black's Garden, admiring its beautiful design. Then we walked south along the streets closest to (but well above) I-5. The area is a mix of older single family homes and newer multifamily dwellings.

We walked along Beacon Avenue (noting a few restaurants and shops) to 15th then south to Lander where we stopped at the Delite Bakery. Our croissants were quite large and what they may have lacked in flakiness, they more than made for with large quantities of yummy fillings. We were fueled to continue our walk but first we went into the Beacon Hill Light Rail Station and admired the artwork before boarding a train to the International District.

We did not walk any new streets in the International District and only walked two new streets in the Industrial District. We had a good view of the downtown skyline and passed the Seattle Police Support Facility before crossing the Holgate overpass back to Beacon Hill. On the Beacon Hill side of the overpass, we found ourselves at the starting point of the Mountain to Sound Trail.

We admired the view as we walked a few streets south of the overpass. We observed some newer single family homes on the dead-end street paralleling I-5 then turned north and filled in streets west of 13th.

This area is home to Beacon Hill International School

and Beacon Hill Playground.

Along the way, we came across beehives,

a cobblestone street,

a staircase,

a house with a putting green and the Helen B. Ratcliff House Rain Garden.

Another great Seattle walk.

North Beacon Hill

Today was another beautiful late fall day and I returned to North Beacon Hill to explore the area west of Beacon Avenue. I really enjoyed my 8.2 mile walk along the streets between I-5 and Beacon Avenue from S Lander to S Spokane. The highlight was the 12th Avenue S Viewpoint which offered spectacular views of the Seattle skyline, the cascades, Seattle's container port and Puget Sound.

Once again, most of the streets had well-tended sidewalks (a few close to I-5 had no sidewalks)




and lovingly tended gardens.

Sculpting trees and hedges seemed to be in favor.

There were a few apartment houses near Beacon Avenue and near Spokane Street. This one named "Golf Court" was very close to the golf course. There were a few other older, well-maintained, two story, brick apartment houses with names. Some of the newer apartment houses were not as architecturally appealing.

I passed one apartment complex that had multiple buildings and was very well maintained. With very few exceptions, the entire area was tidy and showed real pride of ownership. This neighborhood is high enough above I-5 that the noise level is much lower than in a similar neighborhood to the south.

Along Beacon Avenue, in addition to what I'd seen yesterday, I spotted two pubs, a few more dental offices, a taco truck and an Italian restaurant. I could see that there were more restaurants north of Lander. The Delite Bakery is at 15th and Lander. I stopped in and observed a busy business which may be worth a return visit.

The Beacon Hill Branch of the Seattle Public Library was open and cheery.

There is a colorful mural on the side of a bank.

This area is home to the Institute of Divine Metaphysical Research,

Beacon Hill First Baptist Church,

Saint Peter Catholic Church

and Saint John Chrysostom Byzantine Catholic Church.

Along the way, I spotted yard art,

tree swings and tree art





and two Little Free Libraries.

This was a great walk in a great neighborhood. I saw quite a few people out walking children, walking dogs, just walking, working, jogging and shopping.

North Beacon Hill

Today was sunny and brisk, perfect weather for a walk. I returned to North Beacon Hill for a 6.6 mile walk along streets east of Beacon Avenue S from S College to S Spokane Street.

Beacon Avenue S is the main street and the location of the Beacon Hill Light Rail Station. The train runs underground (16 stories down) through this area and there are apartments and commercial businesses near the station. I've taken the light rail through this station but never gotten out or ridden the elevator. I hope to return and do just that and enjoy the station's artwork.

The Beacon Hill Branch of the Seattle Public Library is across Beacon Avenue,

a bank, a supermarket, a medical/dental center, an auto repair shop, a few tax preparation offices, a few cafes, a yoga studio, a travel agency, a gas station/food shop, a bike shop, a TV/VCR repair shop, a few salons, a few restaurants - I noted El Quetzal and Kusina Filapina (with a mural on its side) - and a storefront for the Lee Family Association are nearby.

The streets were not filled with parked cars, probably because of the 2 hour limit for non-neighborhood residents.

Half a block from Beacon Avenue, the neighborhood becomes mostly single family homes - a mix of many older but with some modern homes.

Beacon Avenue is at the top of a hill and the adjacent streets are flat but a few blocks east, they slope down - necessitating a few staircases. Today, I could see Lake Washington and the Cascades.

This area is home to Christ the Son of God Lutheran Church,

El Centro de la Raza (in the old Beacon Hill School) and Santos Rodriguez Memorial Park (an adjacent street is named S Roberto Maestas Festival Street)

and a small triangular park (Stevens Place) with a large tree and a bench.

Along the way, I spotted a few tree swings, a porch swing,

garden art,










and some lovingly tended gardens and parking strips.

This walk was made even more enjoyable by the quality and quantity of the sidewalks in the neighborhood. In many areas, I walk in the street because there are no sidewalks or the sidewalks are poorly maintained and pose a risk of tripping or slipping on leaves or moss. With the exception of 21st and 22nd Avenues between College and Bayview, all the streets had sidewalks and only one small stretch was covered with leaves.