Ballard

Understand

Historically, Ballard was a working-class area supported by several sawmills and a fishery, and the original home of Seattle's Scandinavian immigrants. As a result there's hardly a Seattleite who hasn't heard of lutefisk (preserved whitefish) or lefse (a flatbread made with potatoes). Due to its close proximity to Downtown Seattle, Ballard's property values have soared and many long-time residents have been displaced by a young and diverse population. Though now trendy and upscale, Ballard still clings on to its working waterfront and its Scandinavian roots. Phinney Ridge and Greenwood are residential satellites of Ballard, with a single shared commercial strip running along Phinney and Greenwood Avenues (forming a single street with a jog in the road at 67th Street).

Getting there

By car From Downtown Seattle, the simplest way into Ballard is to drive north on 1st Avenue, veer left at the foot of Queen Anne Hill (where 1st Avenue N and Denny Way meet), then follow the arterial northward (it changes names from Western Ave to Elliot Ave to 15th Ave) until you cross the Ballard Bridge. The center of Ballard is just to the west, via Leary Way or Market St. For the Phinney-Greenwood corridor, take Aurora Avenue north across the Aurora Bridge, then exit at Green Lake Way; take a left on 46th Street, then four blocks later take a right onto Greenwood Avenue.

By bus In Downtown, you can catch all northbound King County Metro routes to Ballard on 3rd Avenue.

RapidRide Route D is the new primary Ballard-Downtown connector, continuing north along 15th Ave NW. Exit the distinctive red-and-yellow bus at 15th Ave NW and NW Market St, then walk a few blocks westbound on Market. Route 40 heads north from Downtown along Westlake Ave N before crossing the canal and turning west on Leary Way NW, meeting NW Market St at Ballard Ave NW (the heart of Ballard's shopping, dining and entertainment district) before turning right and continuing north on 24th Ave NW. Route 17 Express connects Ballard to Downtown Seattle with limited stops in between operating between about 6AM and 9AM during the morning and about 3:30-6:30PM in the evening. Route 44 runs east-west connecting the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks through Market Street in Ballard, continuing east via N 45th Street to the University District (where it connects to, or turns into, the 43 to Capitol Hill and Downtown). For Phinney Ridge and Greenwood, Route 5 offers the most direct connection from Downtown, running from 3rd Avenue in Downtown up via Fremont before continuing along Phinney Ave N and Greenwood Ave N. The RapidRide Route E skirts the east side of both neighborhoods along Aurora Ave N, making a useful stop at 85th St N. Route 48 cuts east-west through Greenwood along 85th St N, continuing southeas

See

1 Hiram M. Chittenden Locks (Ballard Locks), 3015 NW 54th St (at junction with 32nd Ave, served by bus route 44), ☏ +1 206 783-7059. 7AM-9PM. Linking the freshwater Lake Union and the salt-water Puget Sound across a height difference of 22 feet, the locks allow boats to cross the Lake Washington Ship Canal, relying solely on the force of gravity. A salmon ladder with a viewing gallery allows visitors to witness the salmon migration, which with different species allow for viewing throughout most of the year, but preferably mid to late summer. Adjacent is the Carl S English, Jr Botanical Garden. Guided tours weekdays 1PM and 3PM; weekends 11AM. Free. (updated Jun 2023) 2 National Nordic Museum, 2655 NW Market St, ☏ +1 206 789-5707. Tu–Su 10AM–5PM. Documents the history of Scandinavian immigration to Seattle, with rotating art exhibits and a permanent collection of historical artifacts. Julefest includes discounted admission and a Christmas market. $20 adults, $16 seniors, $15 college students, $10 children above 5 yrs, under 5 free. (updated Jul 2024) 3 Edith Macefield "Up" House, 1438 NW 46th St (in the Ballard Blocks). Edith Macefield received worldwide attention in 2006 when she turned down an offer of $1 million to sell her house to make way for a five-story commercial development. Instead, the Ballard Blocks project was built surrounding her 108-year-old farmhouse. While production of the film Up, based on a strikingly similar premise, started two years before, Disney acknowledged the story with a promotional tie-in. (updated Feb 2025)

Do

1 Ballard Commons Park, 5701 22nd Ave. NW. Ballard Commons Park features a playground, skate bowl, water feature, engaging public art, relaxing seating areas and lawns and ADA accessible walkways. (updated Sep 2024) 2 Golden Gardens Park. A wonderful saltwater beach park in Ballard, past the locks and Shilshole Marina. Water around here is too cold to swim except for crazy and determined kids during the hottest months, but you can wade a little, walk the beach, make sand castles, claim a fire pit, and watch wind surfers and ships go by. On clear days there is a magnificent view of the Olympics on the other side of Puget Sound. Kids of all ages have endless muddy fun trying to dam up or re-route the fresh water stream flowing across one end of the beach.

3 Greenlake Park. The focal point of the Green Lake neighborhood. The 2.8 mi (4.5 km) loop path around the lake is frequented by cyclists, runners, rollerbladers, and walkers. The lake is swimmer friendly; algae growth and closures were sometimes a problem before 2004, when the City of Seattle performed a comprehensive cleanup, and it is now one of the cleanest public swimming areas in the Seattle area. (updated Jun 2023) 4 Sacred Rain Healing Center, 1100 NW 50th Street, ☏ +1 206 7896288, [email protected]. 10AM-10PM every day. Connect with yourself. Seattle's only indoor/outdoor, all-gender clothing-optional hydrotherapy spa. Therapeutic massage, acupuncture, chiropractic, naturopathic physician, yoga, sacred music, nature-bathing. 18 and older. $35. (updated Sep 2024)

Festivals 5 Greenwood Classic Car Show. Jun. Outdoor car show with all types of cars and food vendors about 1 mile along Greenwood Ave North. Free for spectators. 6 Ballard Seafoodfest. Typically mid-July. A parade, a salmon barbecue, local musicians and a lutefisk-eating contest. Most businesses along NW Market St participate by holding sidewalk sales. Free. (updated Jul 2024) 7 Greenwood/Phinney Art Walk, 6532 Phinney Ave N. July. Sh

Buy

Ballard Wander along Market Street and then down to Ballard Avenue, and you'll find a plethora of boutiques and boutique spa/salons for every price range.

1 Ballard Goodwill Store, 6400 8th Ave NW, ☏ +1 206 957-5544. As long as you're here you might as well see if you can find a bargain or a treasure. (updated Sep 2024) 2 Sonic Boom Records, 2209 NW Market St, ☏ +1 206 297-2666. Record store (updated Jun 2016) Phinney Ridge/Greenwood

3 Pema Kharpo, 8554 Greenwood Ave N, ☏ +1 206 297-2054. Exotic Tibetan, Nepali and Buddhist items coming straight from the region. Get ready for the smell of incense and a greeting from one of the two female owners as