Queen Anne Hill

Perched above the Seattle Center, with views sweeping Alki Beach, Mt. Rainier, and the Space Needle, is the community of Queen Anne Hill. At 450 feet above Elliott Bay, Queen Anne is the tallest hill in the Seattle area. With prime real estate, houses sit bunched together overlooking some of the greatest views in Seattle.

I joined one of my best friends to explore this quaint neighborhood on a sultry, sunny Seattle afternoon. The Northwest is not know for sun, let alone heat, so we used every opportunity to bask in the sun’s rays and soak up some much needed Vitamin D.

We met up at the top of Queen Anne Hill and made our way down the steep grade to the Seattle Center where we explored the butterfly house at the Pacific Science Center. Technically the Seattle Center is not part of Queen Anne Hill, but with just a short ten minute walk between the two, it’s hard not to pass up a trip to this Seattle hot spot. Being a weekday evening the butterfly house was practically empty so we took our time to search for some of the more colorful and vibrant species. Watching our step we made our way around the peaceful lush, tropical foliage. That is until a butterfly decided he wanted to attack me and my camera, at which point I freaked out, flailing my arms around as though I were being eaten alive. Needless to say, I might be just a little bit afraid of butterflies. Upon leaving the butterfly house we were inspected by a staff member who checked for any “hitchhikers” and thank goodness no butterflies decided to come home with me.

Finishing up at the Seattle Center, we hiked back up Queen Anne Hill in the scorching late afternoon sun. Between the heat, flip flops, and steep incline, it was slow and grueling, but we made it to the top and we were ready to eat. I had to introduce my friend to one of my favorite Seattle area restaurants, Julia's. We took a seat outside (outdoor seating in Seattle is extremely rare and sought after in the summer months) and proceeded to eat and drink our way through the menu. I have to say, Julia's offers one of the finest happy hour menus around and we easily ate like the Queens of Queen Anne for less than what it costs to park downtown. As if that weren't enough, I had to visit the 5 Spot, which the famed Rachel Ray visited for one of her shows. From the outside, 5 Spot looks like a typical diner, but once inside the bizarre decor and cheesy waiters evoke a sense of random oddity unlike any ma and pa diner I've been to. Lingerie and feather boas hung from the bathroom ceiling and a giant blow-up octopus graced the dining area. Water was served in a caning jar and the waters yelled out orders over the heads of dining customers. I instantly fell in love. My freshly baked pecan chocolate chip cookie with ice cream was just an added bonus.

To end our grand tour of Queen Anne Hill we visited Kerry Park where photographers lined up with tripods erected and cameras at the ready. I had never visited this park, but knew that the most impressive views of the Seattle skyline are found here. On clear days, especially after a rain storm, the sky is crystal clear and Mt. Rainier stands tall and magnificent against the steel and concrete of the city. Unfortunately, Seattle’s been under a bit of a hear wave with temperatures way above normal, so Mt. Rainier disappeared behind a layer of smog and clouds on this particular day. I will definitely return to this spot again in hopes of getting a better shot.

With full stomachs we waddled our way back to our cars, but not before being passed up by a dozen or so spandex clad runners making the trek up Queen Anne Hill in record time. With an “I think I can” attitude, we slowly made it back and I briefly thought to myself that maybe next time I will skip out on dessert, but only just briefly. Life is too short; eat dessert, especially gooey warm chocolate chip cookies with ice cream on top.