Madrona

On the east side of the busy city of Seattle is Madrona, a surprisingly tranquil residential neighborhood on the shores of Lake Washington. Many homes here have incredible views of the lake, the Cascades, and Mount Rainier, as well as of the bright lights of downtown. Home to Madrona Park, with walking paths and public beachfront, and just south of the beloved Washington Park Arboretum—which features plants from countries all around the Pacific Ocean—this community is truly a hidden gem. The flurry of activity usually felt in the city melts away after you cross Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., which separates Madrona from the Central District and Pike/Pine neighborhoods to the west. With a small core of local businesses situated along 34^th Avenue, Madrona manages to retain a small-town feel, even in the heart of the city.