There are two unique pet stores in the Ballard neighborhood. Mud Bay and All the Best Pet Care have specialty items and natural food as well as treats for your precious pup. The neighborhood also has schools, libraries, and museums. Where you reside in the neighborhood may affect the walkability of these services as Ballard is a large district with several regions. However, most residents can easily walk to basic shops and eateries nearby.
Seattle weather is warm and sunny in summer and usually ideal for walking with little precipitation and few severe storms or extreme heat conditions. Winters are cooler and wet. Sustained temperatures below freezing are rare, so when precipitation does fall as snow, it doesn't remain on the ground for long.
Train tracks run along the coast on the west side of the district, as does a greenway, parks, and a walking trail. The Ballard Locks are interesting features allowing passage of ships and small watercraft into and out of Puget Sound and are a popular tourist destination.
Homes in the area are older, vintage single-family dwellings. Houses are situated on beautifully landscaped properties with lots of trees and lush greenery. The neighborhood is situated on some inclines and, although they are not steep, these hills can be long on a cold, wet winter day or a hot sunny summer one! There are separate pedestrian paths with grass berms for dog walkers and pets to stay separate from area roads.
The Burke Gilman Trail continues south along the waterfront, parallel to the train tracks, allowing you to continue your hike with your pet and take in the sites of Puget Sound. Numerous other smaller parks abound in the Ballard neighborhood with trees and open spaces as well as walking paths. These include Sunset Hill Park, Loyal Heights Playfields, Salmon Bay Park, Webster Park, and Ballard Commons Park.