Sustainable living is part of the Capitol Hill lifestyle. Just like we learned on Sesame Street, we shut off the faucet when we brush our teeth, unplug appliances when not in use, and keep six separate bins of recycling. (At least, we try.)

It’s always easier to save the Earth by not doing something. That’s why lots of us opt to help out by not driving. When others would be behind the wheel, we ride Sound Transit everywhere, enjoying the view from the Light Rail with a phone in one hand and a pumpkin spice latte in the other. If you’re new to the Capitol Hill area, here’s a quick look at the Seattle transit system so you can start not driving like a pro.

How to Navigate the Seattle Transit System from Capitol Hill

Walking from Capitol Hill

Many of Seattle’s highlights are within walking distance of Jack Apartments. Here’s a snapshot of nearby hotspots.

Seattle University – .1 miles
Seattle Central College – .2 miles
Paramount Theater – .7 miles
Frye Art Museum – .7 miles
Volunteer Park – 1.1 miles
Amazon Doppler Building – 1.2 miles
Pioneer Square – 1.3 miles
Pike Place Market – 1.3 miles
CenturyLink Field – 1.6 miles
Space Needle – 1.8 miles

Most people in the Seattle area either grab the Sounder Train to CenturyLink Field, take public transit, or sit through traffic on the way to a Mariners game, but Jack residents just walk. There’s no better feeling than showing up to a game feeling energized from a quick jaunt across town. That being said, some things are just easier to reach by bus, so that’s next on the list.

Buses from Capitol Hill

The Jack Apartments neighborhood is one of the busiest parts of Seattle, meaning there’s a bus every 5 to 10 minutes at peak times. The easiest way to find your way around is to plug the route into Google Maps, but here are a few buses to know by heart.

The First Hill Street Car runs from Seattle Central College to Union Station Square.
Bus 2 runs between Queen Anne and Madrona, stopping in Capitol Hill on the way.
Bus 550 runs between Pike Place Market and Bellevue Square Mall.
Bus 522 runs from downtown Seattle to Lake City, Kenmore, Bothell, and Woodinville.

Traveling Out of Town from Capitol Hill

The Link Light Rail has a stop five blocks north of Jack Apartments. Ride north to University of Washington, or take the light rail south for a direct trip to SeaTac Airport, There are twelve stops along the way including Pioneer Square, the International District, and CenturyLink Field.

From the Link Light Rail, there are several public transit options for traveling out-of-state.

From The Union Station Square, take the Amtrak Train anywhere in the US or Canada, or save money on a Bolt bus to Portland or Vancouver. You can also take the Amtrak Train directly from PikePlace Market to Seatac.
From the CenturyLink Field stop, hop on the Greyhound bus to anywhere in North America.
Take the Light Rail straight from Pioneer Square to SeaTac International Airport for a flight nearly anywhere in the world.

ORCA Cards: How Universal Bus Passes Work

ORCA cards can work in two ways: as a debit card just for the Seattle transit system, and as a bus pass. Whether it works best to buy a pass or just transfer money depends on how often you use the bus, and on which routes you take.

By transferring money to your ORCA account, you can ride cash-free on all Seattle area public transit, including Sound Transit, King County, Kitsap County, Pierce Transit, and the Washington State Ferries. Since fares vary by region and transit system, just having the card simplifies travel significantly.

When it comes to buying a pass, things get a bit complicated. You can either buy a general pass, good for any ride under a certain price, or pick one or more passes based on the region you’re in. In fall 2019, we recommend a $99 monthly ORCA pass for the average Seattleite, which covers most local buses, Link Light Rail rides, local express buses, and short rides throughout other counties. If you’re planning to take the ferry or Sounder Train twice a day, you can save big on a monthly pass that covers the ticket. Check out the ORCA pass price breakdown here. If you only plan to take the Sounder Train once in a blue moon when there’s a big game at CenturyLink Field, you may want to choose a pass that corresponds with your daily commute.

Seattle Transit can get complicated, but just remember Google Maps is your friend. It will help you find which bus to hop on when, and provide suggestions between the Link Light Rail, streetcar, bus, and walking routes. Whether you spend a lot of time in one area or love to travel, an ORCA card will save you time and money.

If you’re new to the Seattle area, welcome! We’d love to introduce you to our modern apartments in the heart of the city – we’re pretty proud of them.

6 Best Apartment Dogs

Dachshund

daschund jumping into water at dog park by beach

With their short legs and calm attitude, Dachshunds are wonderful apartment dogs. Dachshunds don’t need a lot of exercise and love taking naps (don’t we all). When you can get your Dachshund off the couch, our rooftop Bark Park is perfect for your dog to get some fresh air. Due to their relaxed demeanor and agreeable nature, Dachshunds make some of the best apartment dogs.

Jack Apartments rooftop bark park with Seattle skyline in background

Prefer long-haired Dachshunds? Feel at ease knowing our vinyl plank flooring is extremely easy to clean. One quick sweep and your dog’s hair will be gone.

Pug and Bulldog

English bulldog relaxing on lawn with volleyball and toy ball

Both Pugs and Bulldogs are typically lazier than other dog breeds. They love lounging around and taking naps. What better way to spend the day indoors napping than with smart home AC? Go to work or school knowing your dog won’t melt in the summer heat. Also, Pugs and Bulldogs are more prone to heavy breathing and panting in the heat due to their shorter snouts. Feel at ease that your Pug or Bulldog will stay cool in your apartment all day and all night long. Pug and bulldogs generally prefer low activity levels, and in fact are healthier with minimal exercise, making them some of the easiest to take care of in an apartment.

King Charles Spaniel

King Charles Spaniels are also great for small spaces. They become very attached to their owners and enjoy being able to see their owners frequently. They would much rather spend time with you in your cozy Jack apartment. This dog breed also enjoys plenty of time outdoors (also a perfect match for our rooftop Bark Park). One downside is that King Charles Spaniels are sometimes hard to potty train and take longer than other dogs to be trained. Luckily, our vinyl plank flooring in all of our apartments is both gorgeous and easy to clean, so no sweat. While not the easiest apartment dogs, King Charles spaniels are near the top in terms of popularity.

Boston Terrier

Boston Terriers have all of the playfulness and energy of a large dog, while also having the benefits of a small dog. If you want a dog that loves being outside and taken on lots of walks, this is the dog for you. Boston Terriers are also very independent and not a “lap dog”. They enjoy having the apartment all to themselves while you’re out and about. Boston Terriers are often hyper, so you will most likely be a regular visitor of our Bark Park on the roof. And with this amazing view, it’s not so bad hanging out on the roof with a drink (or two).

Corgi

Last but definitely not least, Corgis are also great for apartment life due to their small size and cuddly nature. Don’t let the Queen’s corgis fool you – they do not need to live in a castle to be happy pups. Corgis also love looking out windows and people-watching. It’s a perfect match for our large, windowed balconies. Your Corgi will be able to hang out in the cool AC and watch the birds outside all day long. These cuddly creatures are great apartment companions.

Insert Corgi here:

Jack Apartments dining room kitchen area by balcony

With our rooftop Bark Park, easy-to-clean vinyl flooring, and super cool AC, we want your pups to be as comfortable as possible. Your dog will feel right at home at Jack Apartments, and we want you to as well. Check out our apartments here, or go straight to our applications if we’ve sold you on it already.

Navigating the Seattle Transit System from Capitol Hill