Queen Anne is the largest of Seattle’s hills (though not its highest point) and the most varied. The hill is so large it forms two fairly distinct neighborhoods Lower Queen Anne and—you guessed it—Upper Queen Anne. Upper Queen Anne is largely residential and upscale, though its northern slope includes
Seattle Pacific University and some of the naturally associated cheaper houses and apartments associated with college proximity. It also has a small shopping district and some great cafes.
In order to distinguish from its neighbor up the hill, Lower Queen Anne has taken on the hipper “Uptown,” though the name hasn’t really stuck among other Seattlites. Lower Queen Anne is a much more bustling neighborhood and encompasses the
Seattle Center—the former fairgrounds from the
1962 World’s Fair now converted into a permanent set of attractions—including a small amusement park, a sports and concert arena, a children’s theatre, the
Seattle Opera, and two major museums (
Pacific Science Center and the
EMP). More than just home to tourist attractions, though, Lower Queen Anne has a well-run
movie theatre, a larger shopping district, some small high-tech and printing companies, and some of the best dining options in town.
What unites these two disparate neighborhoods besides a hill? Well, despite its lofty (altitude and price) status, Upper Queen Anne, being sandwiched between
Fremont and Uptown could hardly be a bastion of stuffiness. A cultural bond tends to unite the more successful middle-aged top of the hill with the younger folks at the foot. You don’t necessarily change your attitudes when you grow up--you just get a better view.
