Student or not, you'll learn to love the University District

Home to a vibrant mix of student-friendly establishments, the University District offers budget-friendly shopping; dining and drinking at longtime eateries like Thai Tom, Shultzy's Sausage and Big Time Brewery; plus a variety of recycled-clothing shops and used-book stores.

"The Ave," officially named University Way, is packed daily with students like Trevor Layman, who "enjoy[s] the kitschy atmosphere and cheap gyros at Aladdin."

Some may dismiss the U District as a student haunt, but in it you'll also find cultural centers like the Henry Art Gallery and Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture. University Bookstore often sponsors free author readings and has one of the better selections of art supplies in town.

Down the hill from campus, University Village offers a more sophisticated shopping scene, with higher-end chains like Crate & Barrel, Coach and J. Crew. The open-air mall also hosts a great selection of restaurants, such as Atlas Foods, Blue C Sushi and Piatti.

Heidi Baxter, a buyer, likes U Village for its convenience. "It's great to have so many of my favorite shops in one place, without feeling like I'm shopping at a mall," she says, naming Mercer, Banana Republic and Anthropologie as her favorite places to buy clothes. "I'm so excited for H&M, too." (The famously affordable Swedish clothing chain is set to open in the fall.)

A jump across the Montlake Bridge takes you into the leafy Montlake neighborhood, home to the Museum of History and Industry -- a great look into Seattle's past -- the Washington Park Arboretum and St. Demetrios, a Greek Orthodox church with a huge festival in the fall.

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