Laurelhurst

Just beyond the University of Washington lies Laurelhurst, a hilly peninsula that juts into Union Bay with eastern views of Mt. Rainier and Lake Washington.

The settlement of Laurelhurst during the late 1800s was tied to the development of Madison Park and the building of the Laurelhurst Launch, a ferry that provided access to downtown before the completion of the Montlake Bridge. Henry Yesler established a short-lived saw mill here, removing the trees which had once wooded the peninsula. After a fire burnt down the saw mill, Yesler built orchards and Laurelhurst became a suburban destination.

Today, Laurelhurst is an elegant community with large homes representing more than one hundred years of architectural styles. It’s easy to drive along its streets and daydream about living in this picture-perfect neighborhood.  Here, there are many amenities for residents including a central park with a playground, ball fields, and tennis courts. A community center offers classes and programs, and also community events such as the popular Laurelhurst Salmon Bake. The Laurelhurst Beach Club is an exclusive private park and lakefront beach open during the summer for residents of Laurelhurst and Windermere.

The neighborhood is bordered by the Burke-Gilman Trail, a thoroughfare for walkers, runners, cyclists, and skaters. Occupying an abandoned rail corridor, the trail runs from Ballard to the city of Issaquah. University of Washington’s Center for Urban Horticulture is nearby which boasts the 74-acre Union Bay Natural Area–a publicly accessible wildlife habitat with walking trails and four miles of shoreline.

University Village  is the main retail center with upscale shops such as Tiffany and Co., and Crate and Barrel; a selection of restaurants ranging from Blue C Sushi to Piatti; and many community activities including a popular annual summer concert series and trick-or-treating. But, the heart of Laurelhurst’s shopping district is along Sand Point Way where you can enjoy a sandwich or a treat at The Great Harvest Bread Company, or shop at City People’s Mercantile where you can find anything you are looking for from house wares to hardware, gardening, and toys. Jak’s Grill on 45th is a favorite neighborhood steak restaurant.

As of 1953 Seattle Children’s Hospital has been located in Laurelhurst, it is one of the first hospitals to provide healthcare specifically for children, and in an environment appropriate to children. Currently, there is a master expansion plan to guide campus growth for the next 20 years in the process of being approved.

Laurelhurst Elementary is the Seattle Public School option for K-5 education. The Villa Academy is a  Catholic independent school for K-8 with a beautiful tree-filled campus.