Nearby Activities

Nearby Activities The Seattle Duck House is located on the banks of Bitter Lake in the northern part of Seattle. Access to downtown Seattle, via I-5 or SR-99 is about 15 minutes (9 miles). We can offer many suggestions for nearby restaurants - just ask. Nearby activities include:

  • Easy walking distance:
    • Bitter Lake Park (2 minute walk): nice playground, tennis courts, wading pool, baseball diamond, open space
    • Walking trail (3 minute walk): If you walk south from the Bitter Lake park on Linden Ave, there is a nice walking trail which goes 20 blocks south with only 1 road to cross.
    • Starbucks (5 minute walk): Hopefully you've heard of this place. (north of 130th on Aurora Ave, west side of Aurora)
    • Diva Espresso (8 minute walk): smaller chain of fine espresso. (140th and Greenwood Ave)
  • Sports:
    • swimming, canoeing, fishing (your backyard)
    • tennis, playground, baseball diamond: Bitter Lake Park (see above)
    • public 18 hole golf course: Jackson Park Golf Course: open year-round, on the immediate east side of I-5 between 130th and 145th.
    • Indoor rock climbing: Stone Gardens in Ballard
    • hiking: great hikes in the foothills and mountains are a 30-60 minute drive up I-90.
    • skiing: between 45 minute and 3 hr drive to various ski resorts
  • Closest Grocery stores:
    • Albertson's (2 minute drive): This is a grocery store on the northeast side of the intersection of 130th and SR99 (Aurora Ave N).
    • Central Market (4 minute drive): This is a fabulous grocery store!!! You should go here. Drive north on Greenwood Ave, head right at a 45 degree angle after passing 145th, and then turn left into Central Market parking lot.
  • Shopping, restaurants:
    • Greenwood and Phinney Ridge neighborhoods (5-7 minute drive): many restaurants, bars, antique shops, etc. (Greenwood Ave & between N 65th St and N 85th St)
    • Ballard (10 minute drive): large area of shopping and restaurants and bars. Becoming very popular. You'll also find the Ballard Locks here.
    • Northgate Mall (8 minute drive): The first covered mall in the country. Updated since then. Lots of good shopping plus a nearby Target.
  • Parks:
    • Carkeek Park (5 minute drive): large beautiful park on with hiking trails, playground, Puget Sound beach access.
    • Green Lake (12 minute drive): a nice lake and park where the busy paved trail around the lake is about 3 miles.
    • Golden Gardens (12 minute drive): very nice beach on Puget Sound. The expansive Shilshole marina is located here.
    • University of Washington (15 minute drive): not really a park, but it is a beautiful campus to walk around. They have given our family a few degrees.
  • Tourist destinations:
    • Woodland Park Zoo (8 minute drive): great public zoo!
    • Downtown Seattle, Space Needle, Pike Place Market, ferries and many other destinations (15-18 minute drive): Just drive south on SR99 (Aurora Ave N) and get off on Denny (right before the tunnel), or take I-5 South. Usually SR99 is more consistent with regard to traffic. I-5 always seems to be jammed up.

Other great Northwest destinations:

  • Mountains: Mt. Rainier NP, Olympic NP, Cascades,
  • Islands: Bainbridge, San Juan Islands, Fidalgo Island
  • Water: Puget Sound
  • Cities: Bellingham, Vancouver BC