Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Park.
Explore: U District
Head east off I-5 north of Lake Union and suddenly you'll feel as if you're no longer in
Seattle. The U District, named for 'U Dub' (what locals call the University of Washing-
ton, or UW), feels like its own little college town. Just like you, most of the people here
are visitors - they're merely staying a bit longer (several semesters or more).
Nearly everyone gets oriented in the U District on 'the Ave' (University Way,
roughly between 40th and 50th Sts), an atmospheric main drag full of tiny cheap eater-
ies, thrift stores, record stores, secondhand bookstores, tattoo parlors, bars and coffee
shops full of deadline-chasing, laptop-gazing students. Everyone on the sidewalks
around here seems to be between the ages of 18 and 24, but these kids know where it's
at. Read fly-posters on lampposts, eavesdrop on conversations in coffee bars and follow
the action on 'the Ave' and you'll soon feel 23 again (if you aren't already).
The number of cheap places to eat, especially Indian and Asian, makes the Ave the
best place to find an inexpensive meal. Another place to lose your youth is the cav-
ernous University Bookstore, which takes up an entire city block.
Reserve a sunny day to explore the adjacent UW campus, a veritable arbor-
etum-architectural showcase with a couple of top-notch museums focusing on art and
natural history. The campus is made for people-watching (or, more specifically, student-
watching) and you can enter many of the buildings unannounced, including the Suzza-
llo Library and the Hub (student union).
Another great way to explore the university is on a bicycle: the Burke-Gilman Trail
follows the south side of campus, providing easy aceess. Further exercise can be pro-
cured on water: the campus abuts the shores of Lake Union and is one of the best places
in Seattle to hire a kayak.
