Queen Anne, near Lake Union and also within site of the Needle - whats it like, please? -

We are newly retired and looking for a place to move to. Some realtor has a condo for us in this area. Is it worth our while to fly over there to look? Is it a nice neighborhood for a retired couple? What shops might be within walking distance - one or two miles? How is public transportation? Are there any coffee shops or eat-in delis where old fogies hang out? We know the cost of living is high, but we are in the NY area, and used to that. We don t like the heat and the snow and like rain.

Queen Anne is a very lovely neighborhood, lots of shops, restaurants, and parks nearby. Beautiful view...but that is because the area is HILLS...so be aware that walking may be considerable exercise in some areas. The public transportation is good. It is very convenient to the Seattle Center so lots of live theater, opera, sporting events, etc.Some of the area is yuppies, some areas are long term residents of the retired variety. There are a number of retirement communities like Queen Anne Manor (hosts a farmers market 2x a month), Bayview Retirement, Horizon House, Viewpoint, etc. If you check their addresses against your proposed location, you will find out whether you are in their neighborhood.If you are interested in the history of the neighborhood, seehttp://www.historylink.org/essays/output��It is a beautiful time to visit Seattle, daffodils in bloom, tulips about to open, rhododendrons and lilacs next...so it is a great time to come take a look.