In no other place on Earth can you get such directions as "Walk past the Troll, take a left at Lenin, walk two blocks past the Rocket until you get to the Dinosaurs." The self-proclaimed "center of the universe," Fremont has historically been Seattle's most oddball neighborhood, with shoe-cobblers, cat clinics and streets filled with shops and restaurants that have European names like 'El Camino,' 'Habitude' and 'Les Amis.'

Although the area is now home to ubiquitous chains like Blue C Sushi, Starbucks and Cold Stone Creamery, it maintains its distinct personality, nestled away not too far from the University District on the 74 bus line. Due to construction on the Fremont Bridge and subsequent re-routing of bus lines, the area has become even harder to find, but is well worth the trouble.