Parking: Please park in either of the 2 spaces closest to the front of our building, in the Safeway parking garage (1 block north of us), or take advantage of the all-day free street parking along 14th Ave, 53rd or 54th streets.
Current Traffic conditions
Click here for lunchtime options. For more info on our neighborhood: inballard.com. (or Wikipedia's entry on Ballard).
Nearby are both high-end and laid-back restaurants, vibrant pubs and taverns, all mixed in with the historic area's vital light manufacturing and fishing industries. Oh yes, and the growing list of galleries means there's always art nearby to inspire. So if the traffic that awaits closer to home is not appealing, why not stay in the neighborhood and relax for a while?
Just below, we have directions by bike, bus, car, ferry and even private boat.
Note that although we're giving directions to the classroom, many students go directly to the Safeway parking garage one short block north (on 54th) for ease of parking.
WARNING: Mapquest will almost certainly get you lost!
How are you getting to us?
You may wish to download and view this PDF file of the Seattle North Side Bicycle Guide Map. It's nice with its elevation shading. We're located in the grid area 5-D (near the west edge of that area)
There are tricky spots in the area to note:
the Ballard Bridge [ PDF Map | JPEG Map ], because, heck, it's a bridge with small sidewalks and no bicycling on the road surface. We're just a few blocks north of this map's area.
You may find other maps at Seattle DOT's Bike Program page.
a pleasant alternate route from downtown, along the waterfront, and through the Ballard Locks.
View From Downtown Seattle in a larger map and step-by-step directions
- Head northwest on 1st, 4th, or 6th Ave
- Turn left at Denny Way
- Merges onto Western Ave W northbound
- becomes Elliott Ave W
- Becomes 15th Ave W
- Go over Ballard Bridge
- Turn right at NW 53rd St or onto 54th to the Safeway garage
View From the North via I-5 in a larger map
- Head south on I-5 S
- Take exit 169 at NE 50th St
- Turn right at NE 50th St
- Slight left at Green Lake Way N—click here for a visual—go 0.3 mi
- Get in right lane and continue under Hwy 99: you're now on N 46th St
- Flows onto N Market St
- Turn left at 14th Ave NW
- Turn right into Safeway garage or take the right onto NW 53rd St directly to Luminous Works
View From the North via Aurora (Hwy 99) in a larger map
- Head south on Aurora Ave N
- Turn right at N 85th St - go 1.0 mi
- Turn left at 8th Ave NW - go 1.5 mi
- Turn right at NW Market St - go 0.3 mi
- Take the 3rd left onto 14th Ave NW - go 0.1 mi
- Turn right into Safeway garage or take the 2nd right onto NW 53rd St directly to Luminous Works
directions from I-90 or SR 520 to I-5:
- First, check the traffic reports and perhaps predicted travel times
- Pick the better bridge, enjoy the wind over the lake, the light on the water, the driving habits of distracted motorists....
- Take I-5 Northbound...
View From the Eastside via 520 in a larger map
- Take exit 169 (for NE 50th St)
- Turn left onto NE 50th St
- Slight left at Green Lake Way N—click here for a visual—go 0.3 mi
- Get in right lane and continue under Hwy 99: you're now on N 46th St
- Flows onto N Market St
- Turn left at 14th Ave NW
- Turn right into Safeway garage or take the right onto NW 53rd St directly to Luminous Works
View From downtown ferry terminal by car in a larger map
- Turn left as you leave the ferry terminal and head northwest on Alaskan Way
- Alaskan Way turns right and becomes Broad St
- Turn left at Western Ave
- Continue onto Elliott Ave W
- Continue onto 15th Ave W
- Turn right at NW 53rd St or onto 54th to the Safeway garage
directions from Puget Sound:
- You'll have to pass through the Hiram M. Chittenden (aka "Ballard") Locks.
- To Starboard (South), you'll see Fishermen's Terminal as you enter Salmon Bay and the Ballard Bridge looms before you.
- For moorage information contact the Port of Seattle/Fishermen's Terminal
- Walk towards the Ballard Bridge. Use the pedestrian underpass to get to the walkway along its east side
- Cross the Ballard Bridge northbound.
- A few blocks North, turn Right onto NW 53rd St.
We are at 1406 NW 53rd (toward the end of the block on the left).
Accommodation: We are pleased to announce a partnership with the Pan Pacific Hotel! Students who mention Luminous Works receive a very special rate. From May to October, stay in a Deluxe Queen or twin room for $165 per night . November to December the discounted rate is $159. Rates do not include applicable taxes. Contact us (use the email link at top of page) for more information. The four-star Pan Pacific is rated second in Seattle on tripadvisor.com (number one is much too far away, anyway).
Driving directions from the Pan Pacific to Luminous Works
Bus directions from the Pan Pacific to Luminous Works
