Situated On The Shores Of Lake Washington With Beaches And Tree-Lined Streets Is An Idyllic Seattle Neighborhood

You might come to Seattle for the fresh seafood and Mount Rainier views from the Space Needle, but it's the beauty and eccentricities of the city's smaller enclaves like the artsy Fremont neighborhood of Seattle and uncrowded, secret stretches of Seattle beach that will keep you coming back. With Seattle's Madison Park neighborhood, you get charm and scenic beaches all wrapped into one picturesque place to live and visit. 

The Duwamish people, who first inhabited what we know today as Madison Park, poetically called it "Where One Chops," referencing the abundance of trees that currently canopy the streets, creating a flourishing, fairytale village vibe. The lush landscape also provides natural barriers to give residents a combination of walkability and privacy. Exploring the neighborhood feels like one big secret garden with native evergreens framing character homes around every turn. Adria Saracino of Seattle-centric travel site The Emerald Palette also notes Madison Park as one of the city's best shopping neighborhoods.

Madison Park may not be considered one of the friendliest neighborhoods in the country, but it's arguably the most beautiful, with its landscape and lake views that are hard to match. In Madison Park, you can access Lake Washington from two beaches and also through a botanical lens at Washington Arboretum, with its 230 acres of gardens and wetlands. The Arboretum's main 2-mile loop trail gives you shoreline views of Lake Washington's Union Bay, and takes you past popular attractions like its Pacific Connections Garden.

With a large grassy slope for lounging, a swimming beach, and Seattle skyline views over Lake Washington, it's no wonder Travel + Leisure named Madison Park Beach as one of Washington's 15 most beautiful beaches. A 400-foot swim beach is just one part of the larger Madison Park, which checks off all of the major (sand) boxes: play area, restrooms, benches and tennis courts. A block north, you'll find its smaller, grassier sister, North Madison Park Beach, where you can glimpse Mount Rainier across the lake on a clear day.

As delicious as it is convenient, Madison Park has its share of high quality, park-adjacent food like Cactus Madison Park with its fresh take on Mexican fare and neighborhood cafe Madison Kitchen. It's not a problem that The Independence Pizzeria is to-go only, as you can grab your pie and walk mere steps to Madison Park Beach for a chill sunset pizza picnic. 

About 20 minutes from Madison Park, downtown Seattle is a no-brainer when it comes to lodging with the wide selection of hotels you expect from a major metropolitan area. The Kimpton Palladian has the consistent high-level, localized charm and customer service you've come to expect from Kimpton, with quiet, cozy vibes that make you forget you're in the center of it all. Be sure to grab a complimentary gumball from the lobby to put your mark on the Insta-famous gum wall in the world-famous Pike Place Market, a short walk away. Known as the "soul of Seattle," this special, vibrant market has hundreds of unique shops. You could lose yourself in three floors filled with fresh seafood, flowers, and unexpected finds, like a ballot from Abraham Lincoln's election, for those who appreciate the thrill of the hunt. Music lovers, come as you are to pay your respects to Nirvana's legendary frontman at the Kurt Cobain Memorial Bench. Located close to the home where he died, the iconic Seattle site is just a 5-minute drive from Madison Park.

For the easiest journey to Madison Park, fly into Seattle-Tacoma International airport, and rent a car for the 30-minute drive. If you prefer to use public transportation, you can take advantage of Seattle's light rail and bus system to get around. Bus route 11 between Madison Park and downtown runs several times every day for $3 per ride.