SOUTH LAKE UNION

In the shadow of Seattle's quintessential houseboats and seaplanes on Lake Union, a new neighborhood is rising (quite, literally) as the place to be for business, retail, food, and a flood of young, tech professionals. Heralded as a model of urbanization at its finest, South Lake Union could almost be accused of showing off.

This buzzing, accessible neighborhood manages to be leading edge (yes, they have their own electric car dealership) without losing the heart and soul of a true community. And from the looks of things, this little corner of Seattle has just gotten started.