Meet me in Madison Park

Madison Park is a classy, somewhat ritzy area of Seattle where the select few who can afford to do so live within a guarded, gated community. Oddly enough, Madison Park is bordered by the contrasting communities of Capital Hill and University District, which in my opinion are as different from Madison Park as possible.

I have worked several jobs in the Madison Park area and have walked the manicured sidewalks and admired the fancy houses on many occasions. On this trip to Madison Park I was determined to find the quaint side to Madison Park, the side that makes it accessible to all people from all walks of life.

As I wandered around I discovered many unique antique shops, restaurants, and boutiques. Some shops were more inviting that others -- I happened to pass this storefront which I found oddly humorous.

Apparently an afternoon of coffee drinking and lingerie purchasing is all the rage with Madison Park moms.

I veered off the main drag and strolled the residential streets where I found myself within a neighborhood containing a mix of young parents pushing strollers, middle-aged dog walkers, and kids on scooters. This was the Madison Park I was searching for. The area where parents watch their own kids, animal owners walk their own dogs, and kids play freely in their yards.

I then met up with my friend Laura at Café Flora, one of the Pacific Northwest’s most revered vegetarian restaurants and a Madison Park staple. The food was fresh, original, and the service impeccable.

We decided to walk off our dinner with a stroll through the Washington Arboretum – who knew vegetarian food could be so filling? We made our way around the grounds as the sun set and the hot afternoon air cooled down.

Although Madison Park seems slightly stuffy as you pass the stately gated community with towering trees and brick walls, there is still a side to this exclusive community which I found accessible, interesting, and unique. Driving past the million dollar mini mansions, I went back to my closet sized apartment with the tattered furnishings and severely lacking wardrobe – ah the bliss of the penniless. I may not own anything flashy, but I am much more content to spend my hard earned money on trips and experiences rather than material possessions. True happiness does not come in shopping bag or fancy house, but is experienced when living life to the fullest.