Sunset Hill is home to tree-lined streets filled with stately Tudor and Craftsmen homes that were built between 1920-1950. Though only six miles from the hustle and bustle of downtown Seattle, the calmness and beauty of this neighborhood make it feel like it’s a thousand miles away.
Spectacular sunsets can be seen from Viewpoint Park, which attracts local Seattleites as well as the occasional tourist. The popular Golden Gardens Park offers strolls along a rugged coastline, hikes through forest trails, sunbathing on sandy beaches, fishing from a pier, and a boat launch. The park is also home to an off-leash area for dogs.
A strong sense of community is evident by the “Sunset Hill Community Club,” one of the oldest in Seattle, started in 1922. The Club hosts such diverse activities as Wine Night, St. Paddy’s Day celebrations, Friday night movies for kids, as well as the “Thistle Theatre.”
Small cafes and other businesses are scattered throughout the neighborhood and it is just minutes from the trendy urban enclave of Ballard. The Sunset Hill Green Market sells local and organic goods; it is sophisticated and special without being pretentious and pricey.
Situated high atop Ballard's northwest coast, Sunset Hill was originally home to many Scandinavian immigrants who worked in the fishing, shipping, and timber industries. Their cultural history is displayed at the Nordic Heritage Museum.