Apartment

The Holdfast: Rare 3-Bedroom Garden Retreat Near Old Ballard

Photo gallery for The Holdfast: Rare 3-Bedroom Garden Retreat Near Old Ballard

A residential property with a covered porch, a front yard, and a street view.
A patio with a stone fire pit, outdoor furniture, and string lights.
A modern living room with a brown leather sofa, a coffee table, and a dining area with wooden furniture.
A living room with a brown leather sofa, a white coffee table, and a shaggy rug.
A modern dining area with a wooden table, cushioned chairs, a TV, and a painting on the wall.

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • Beach equipment
    A rare find — beach equipment ready to go for your days by the sea.
  • Discover nearby landmarks
    Near National Nordic Museum
3 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 7

Popular amenities

  • Patio
  • Limo or town car service available
  • Toys
  • Barbecue grill
  • Air conditioning
  • Pet-friendly

Explore the area

View in a map
Seattle, WA
  • Place, National Nordic Museum
    ‪9 min walk‬
  • Place, Ballard Farmers Market
    ‪10 min walk‬
  • Place, Ballard Locks Fish Ladder
    ‪15 min walk‬
  • Airport, Seattle, WA (SEA-Seattle - Tacoma Intl.)
    ‪46 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 7)

Bird Room

1 Double Bed

City Room

1 Queen Bed

Tree Room

1 King Bed

1 bathroom

Bathroom

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Separate dining area
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining area

About this property

The Holdfast: Rare 3-Bedroom Garden Retreat Near Old Ballard

Welcome to The Holdfast, where classic Ballard character meets modern comfort. The Holdfast is the spacious daylight lower level of one of the neighborhood’s original homes, thoughtfully preserved while surrounding properties have been redeveloped. That legacy means something special for today’s guests: generous indoor and outdoor space just a short walk from the heart of Ballard. Stroll to cafés, restaurants, boutiques, parks and the year-round farmers market, or hop on a bus one block away. Downtown Seattle is a 15-minute drive, making the Holdfast an ideal home base for exploring the city.

Inside, you’ll find a cook's kitchen, heated floors, and natural stone tile. Three inviting bedrooms, with a king, queen, and full-size bed, provide workspace and privacy, while the living area offers room to gather. Media lovers will appreciate fiber internet and four TVs with syncable soundbars. A walk-in shower with pebble floors and endless hot water gives spa vibes. Live plants grow in every room and original works by Pacific Northwest artists grace walls framed by exposed fir beams.

Kids and pets are welcome. The fenced yard provides room to play, and feline guests have access to a massive catio. The property is neighbored by an elementary school and community center, providing access to playgrounds and ballfields. Your host grew up in the area, lives upstairs, and is happy to offer recommendations or other help, including childcare and pet care.

After a day exploring the Ballard Locks, Nordic Museum, or Golden Gardens, relax among seasonal blooms in the garden, shaded in the afternoon by Ballard's best known trees, two gigantic London planes designated Seattle Heritage Trees. Catch the sunset at home or jog up to the bluffs at Sunset Park for water and mountain views. Listen, and you may hear seals, trains, or a foghorn blow.

Whether you’re visiting Seattle for adventure, work, or time with loved ones, the Holdfast offers an unusual combination of space, privacy, nature, and neighborhood life in one of Seattle’s most beloved communities. Beginning fall 2026, the Holdfast is welcoming short-term guests for the first time.
Our prices include all fees. No hidden fees.

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 18
Check out before noon
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

Events allowed: family gatherings, birthday parties, weddings
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Pets

Pets allowed: less than 453 kg per pet (limit 3 pets total)
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Smoking

Smoking allowed: in designated areas

Check-out instructions

The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:
Gather used towels
Remove personal items
Turn off the lights
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.
Do not allow pets on furniture. Pet beds are available on request. Guests are responsible for damage from unattended pets in house and yard.

Important information

You need to know

Property Registration Number STR-OPLI-26-000975
Property # 5375920vb
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Parties and events (including family gatherings, birthday parties and weddings) are allowed on site. Maximum attendees: 10
Long-term renters welcome
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room

About the area

Seattle

Located near the beach, this apartment is in Ballard, a neighbourhood in Seattle. Space Needle and Pike Place Market are notable landmarks, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Seattle Cruise Ship Terminal 91 and Bell Street Cruise Terminal at Pier 66. Consider Seattle Center for a night out, and don't miss WaMu Theater if you're travelling with kids. Enjoy the area's slopes with cross-country skiing and snowboarding, and don't miss out on the snowmobiling and ice skating.
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Map
Seattle, WA

What's nearby

  • Bergen Place Park - 9 min walk - 0.8 km
  • Portland Building - 9 min walk - 0.8 km
  • National Nordic Museum - 9 min walk - 0.8 km
  • Ballard Farmers Market - 10 min walk - 0.9 km
  • Ballard Locks Fish Ladder - 15 min walk - 1.3 km

Getting around

  • U District Station - 12 min drive
  • Edmonds Station - 25 min drive
  • Seattle, WA (BFI-Boeing Field) - 34 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Kangaroo & Kiwi - ‬11 min walk
  • ‪Ballard Smoke Shop - ‬10 min walk
  • ‪Victrola Coffee Roasters - ‬10 min walk
  • ‪Ocho - ‬8 min walk
  • ‪Crackle Mi Vietnamese Grill - ‬9 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is The Holdfast: Rare 3-Bedroom Garden Retreat Near Old Ballard pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows pets (limit 3 total) with a maximum weight of up to 999 lbs per pet.

How much does it cost to stay at The Holdfast: Rare 3-Bedroom Garden Retreat Near Old Ballard?

As of Oct 10, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at The Holdfast: Rare 3-Bedroom Garden Retreat Near Old Ballard on Oct 12, 2026 start from CA $257, excluding taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

How much is parking?

Onsite parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at The Holdfast: Rare 3-Bedroom Garden Retreat Near Old Ballard?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at The Holdfast: Rare 3-Bedroom Garden Retreat Near Old Ballard?

Check-out is at noon.

Where is The Holdfast: Rare 3-Bedroom Garden Retreat Near Old Ballard located?

This family-friendly Seattle apartment building is located near the beach, within 2 mi (3 km) of National Nordic Museum, Discovery Park, and Shilshole Bay Marina. Woodland Park Zoo and Green Lake Park are also within 3 mi (5 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 1 out of 1 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 1 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 1 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 1 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 1 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We were so grateful the Holdfast joined VRBO just as a booking we’d planned for months fell through. We needed somewhere that would work for four generations of our family for two months, and it ended up being a great fit.The garden is amazing. There always seemed to be something new blooming. There’s a nice breeze off the water and these huge old trees that keep the house shaded when it gets hot. There are a few steps up to the yard and then a few down to the entrance, which is worth knowing if you have anyone with mobility issues. There’s a parking spot in front of the garage that was usually available, although occasionally someone would park where they weren’t supposed to and block it.The kids had a great time here. They rode their bikes around the neighborhood, played at the ballfield across the street, and there are two playgrounds within a block. We also took the Metro shuttle to Golden Gardens a few times. The house had beach chairs and other beach stuff we could use, even a little gas firepit, which is allowed when fires aren’t. The owner grew up in the neighborhood and was great about suggesting places to go and things to do.The location is hard to beat. We could walk to restaurants and everything going on in Ballard, but the house is next to a park and other homes. You can hear games at the ballfield across the street, but it was joyful noise that felt like part of the neighborhood.We cooked at home a lot and really appreciated how well stocked it was.
Stayed 55 nights in Jul 2026

About the host

Hosted by Reina Burnett

Host profile image
My dad’s family were pioneers on the Oregon Trail and my mom is an immigrant. Her stepdad, an airplane mechanic, moved the family from Japan to Seattle for Boeing. He grew up in Penobscot, Maine, and the 1925 Cape Cod house in Ballard reminded him of home. It was also a great location for mom to bus to the University of Washington. That was in 1969.

By 1978, my parents had two little kids and spent a year converting the basement of my grandparents’ home into the apartment where we grew up. I moved back twice in the 1990s and bought the house in 2008. Throughout, I’ve held fast to my belief that this home is in an extraordinary location in an extraordinary neighborhood, worth preserving despite pressure to sell and redevelop.

“Hold fast” is an old nautical term in regard to tightly securing a ship's ropes and rigging. In biology, holdfast is a root-like structure that anchors an aquatic organism. I became a host because I want to share what I love about my home and neighborhood, and because hosting helps me hold on to this little piece of Old Ballard, my family home for four generations.

Why they chose this property

Ballard is popular and has become dramatically denser over the years. While the neighborhood has changed, the geography hasn’t. Being surrounded by water and mountains, and being able to walk, bike or bus anywhere still makes it feel like home. Within a 10-minute stroll, there’s a farmers’ market, movie theater, grocery store, museum, library, and an abundance of coffee shops, boutiques, and restaurants. Head to the beach at Golden Gardens or bike the Burke-Gilman Trail for miles along Seattle’s waterways. Catch the sunset with incredible views across Puget Sound to the Olympic Mountains, or explore Shilshole Marina and Fishermen’s Terminal across Salmon Bay.

Once a substantial city of its own, some liken Ballard to an island that has everything you need and no reason to leave. Ballard is rich in history by West Coast standards. The Shilshole people of the Duwamish Tribe lived along the natural bay long before settlers arrived in the 1850s. The City of Ballard incorporated in 1890 and boomed on lumber and shingles, becoming one of Washington’s largest cities and outgrowing its infrastructure. In 1907, residents narrowly voted for annexation by Seattle. Ballard City Hall was draped in black and the bell still hangs at Marvin’s Garden in Old Ballard today. The historic buildings, working waterfront, cultural influences and natural landscape all contribute to Ballard’s distinct character. Why live anywhere else?

What makes this property unique

The Holdfast is a labor of love, the result of a DIYer turned GC, driven to continually improve my childhood home. Having lived here for decades, I've had time to consider how to make it more comfortable, fun and functional, while also adding personal touches, like honoring grandma by building a trellis for her wisteria. To see it in bloom, visit in May during Syttende Mai celebrations - uff da!

I've also tried to make the Holdfast reflect my experience growing up in Seattle, our love of the natural world and our tendency to embrace people (and the occasional raccoon) exactly as they are. I hope that care and attention means guests not only have an enjoyable stay, but also get a sense of what it's like to live in this little bubble we love to call home.

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