Just a few minutes northwest of downtown Seattle, on a large peninsula, sits the upscale
neighborhood
of Magnolia. Here
you’ll find elegant
homes, meticulous
landscaping, lovely
public parks and
sweeping views.
Surrounded on three
sides by the waters
of
Salmon Bay, Puget Sound and Elliott Bay,
and accessible only
by three routes¾
the Magnolia Bridge, West Emerson Street, and West Dravus Street,
Magnolia is
definitely
off-the-beaten
path. But it’s
Magnolia’s isolation
that makes it so
attractive. Along
West McGraw Street
you’ll find all the
trappings of a
charming
self-contained
village¾coffee
shops, banks,
family-run
restaurants, gift
shops, a post office
and more.
The neighborhood’s
own community center
and playground are
nearby.
Two main hills rise
from “The Village”.
To the southwest,
the hillside is
dotted with homes
that feature
million-dollar views
of downtown
Seattle,
Puget Sound, Mount
Rainier and the
Olympic Mountains.
The homes further
inland and eastward
tend to fetch more
moderate prices.
Residents along the
northwest
slopes might enjoy
views of nearby
Ballard, Queen Anne or the Ship Canal.
The area has a
mixture of
architectural styles¾Tudors,
Colonials, Ramblers
and new
construction. But
the real hallmark of
this neighborhood
is the landscaping¾-meticulously
trimmed shrubbery,
green velvet lawns
and lovely flowering
gardens.
Magnolia residents
have their choice of
parks for
strolling, hiking
and picnicking. At Commodore
Park, you can follow the
connected walkways
down to watch the
swimming salmon at
the fish ladder
or the floating regatta at the
Ballard Locks.
For sweeping views of Puget Sound
and Downtown
Seattle, follow the
strip of parkland as
it borders Magnolia Boulevard
for
nearly two miles.
Watch the sunset
silhouetting the
lacey branches of
the Madrona trees,
whose reddish bark
seems to glow in the
late afternoon
light. Back in
1865, early visitors
admired these trees
with their shiny
evergreen leaves,
and misnamed them
and the neighborhood as Magnolia.
The northern end of Magnolia Boulevard spills into Discovery Park, an urban oasis. This former
army base is Seattle’s largest park. It
sprawls over more
than 500 acres. A
2.5-mile loop trail
meanders behind a
set of tennis
courts, past picnic
tables, under a
sheltering canopy of
cedars, and opens
out to a broad
grassy meadow. At
the edge of the
meadow is the South
Bluff, which
features
breathtaking views
of Mount Rainier,
Puget Sound and the
Olympic Mountains.
The park also
features a beach, a
lighthouse and a
pair of eagles.
Each year, they
build a nest in the
branches of the
park’s tall trees
and raise their
family.
With its ten-minute
downtown commute,
its gorgeous
views, its
spectacular parks
and its small-town
feel Magnolia offers
something for
everyone.