5 Neighborhoods Seattle

Why it made the list: The century-old Pike Place Market, all flying fish, flower stalls and hidden lower levels, tumbling down toward a rebuilt waterfront of piers, the Great Wheel and Elliott Bay views. It's the busy, iconic center of the city.

Why it made the list: Seattle's densest, most energetic neighborhood: indie coffee, record stores, bookshops and the best concentration of bars and restaurants in the city, all walkable along Pike-Pine. It's where Seattle goes out.

Why it made the list: A former Scandinavian fishing town turned buzzy: historic Ballard Avenue is lined with breweries, boutiques and top restaurants, and a beloved Sunday farmers market runs year-round. It's the coolest, most livable corner of the city.

Why it made the list: The self-proclaimed 'Center of the Universe', Fremont is Seattle at its most playful: a giant troll under the bridge, a rocket on a storefront, a Lenin statue, plus vintage shops, breweries and a Sunday flea market. It's pure offbeat fun.

Why it made the list: Seattle's oldest neighborhood, a handsome district of red-brick Romanesque buildings, art galleries, the Klondike Gold Rush museum and the famous Underground Tour beneath the streets. It's the city's atmospheric historic core.