'''Montlake''' is a primarily residential district in Seattle, lying immediately south of the Montlake Cut connecting Lake Washington to Portage Bay. It is bounded on the east by Madison Park at the edge of the Arboretum, and on the south by Capitol Hill along Interlaken Drive.

Get in

The SR-520 freeway passes through the north end of the neighborhood, with exits at Montlake Blvd. and Lake Washington Drive. The Montlake Blvd. interchange is also a major bus transfer point [http://transit.metrokc.gov/tops/bus/neighborhoods/montlake.html]. The easiest public transportation from downtown is via Metro Transit route 43 [http://transit.metrokc.gov/cftemplates/show_map.cfm?BUS_ROUTE=043&DAY_NAV=WSU].

See

Montlake is not a common destination for tourists, but does have two features of particular note.

  • '''Museum of History and Industry''' (MOHAI), 2700 24th Ave. E, 206-324-1126, [http://www.seattlehistory.org/]. Open daily 10 AM to 5 PM, first Thursday of every month until 8 PM. The museum focuses on the history of Seattle and the greater Puget Sound region, from pre-European settlement through the rise of today's major local companies such as Boeing and Microsoft. Admission: $7 adults, $5 children and seniors.
  • '''Washington Park Arboretum''', (''directions [http://depts.washington.edu/wpa/general.htm#directions]''), 206-543-8800, [http://depts.washington.edu/wpa/]. Open daily, dawn to dusk. The Arboretum is a 230-acre park additionally serving as a botanical garden and horticultural research center, with thousands of trees and plants from temperate climates represented. An extensive network of walking trails covers the park. The Visitor's Center, near the northeast corner of the park, is open from 10 AM to 4 PM daily, and has limited parking available. Guided tours are offered on the first and third Sundays of every month, and free trail maps highlighting the major parts of the collection are available at any time.
  • *'''Seattle Japanese Garden''', 1075 Lake Washington Blvd E. (southwest area of the Arboretum), 206-684-4725, [http://www.cityofseattle.net/parks/parkspaces/japanesegarden.htm]. Hours vary seasonally: generally 10 AM until sunset, Tuesday through Sunday. Extended hours from May to September, closed December to February; check the link above for more detailed information. A small, formal Japanese garden within the grounds of the Arboretum, recently renovated. Admission: $5 adults, $3 children and seniors.
  • Do

    The northern portion of the Arboretum includes several small islands, and on one of Seattle's characteristically lovely summer days, exploration by water is enjoyable. Watercraft rentals are available from two locations in the University District just across the Ship Canal.

  • '''University of Washington - Waterfront Activities Center''', behind Husky Stadium at Montlake Blvd. and NE Pacific St., 206-543-9433, [http://depts.washington.edu/ima/IMA_wac.php]. Hours vary, call for details. Rents canoes and rowboats, with all the necessary accessories. The ramp is also a good location to launch canoes and kayaks of your own. $7.50/hour, with substantial discounts for UW students, staff, and alumni.
  • '''Agua Verde Cafe''', 1303 NE Boat Street, 206-545-8570, [http://www.aguaverde.com/paddle.shtml]. Rents 1- and 2-person kayaks. $15/hour single and $18/hour double, with discounts for longer times.
  • Eat

    Montlake's small commercial district is centered around 24th Ave. E and E. McGraw St.

  • '''Cafe Lago''', 2305 24th Ave E (cross street: E. Lynn St.), 206-329-8005, [http://www.cafelago.com/]. Established Italian restaurant famous for vegetarian lasagna, apple-wood fired pizza, and fresh hand-made pasta (they have an employee dedicated solely to making pasta).
  • Contact

  • '''Seattle Public Library - Montlake Branch''', 2401 24th Ave. E (cross street: E. McGraw St.), 206-684-4720, [http://www.spl.org/default.asp?pageID=branch_open&branchID=18]. M-T 1 PM-8 PM, W-Th 10 AM-8 PM, F-Sa 10 AM-6 PM, closed Sunday. Public Internet terminals and wireless access available. Terminals require a SPL library card or a temporary pass available from the desk. Wireless is open. Free.