A family in Colombia and a 20 year old Australian probably knew about a new destination in Ballard before the average local, and when it comes to the one-year old Hostel Seattle at 6200 Seaview Ave. N.W. that may still be the case.

In a strange looking skinny building between the railroad tracks and the road, Lee Kindell and Nancy Gambin have finally found their place to create “home away from home” for world travelers.

The first clue for me was the appearance of young people in backpacks walking slowly beneath the weight of their belongings toward Shilshole. This was a common site in backpacking days in Europe; the sidewalks between the closest train station and the nearest youth hostel were always well-worn.

Across from the parking lot of Ray’s Boathouse is a skinny building, a place you could pass for years on your way to Paseo’s without even noticing. But even before the independent Hostel Seattle opened at this location in January 2008 they had been receiving on-line bookings through Hostelworld.com and its own Web site.

A year later, the hostel is well-traveled and still found more easily from a wireless café in Korea than by a Seattleite. And that’s exactly how the owners want it – their focus is on attracting global visitors, then helping them experience local.

Lee Kindell dates his first hostel experience to a hut in the Philippines. For his Toronto-born wife, Nancy Gambin, it was a hostel in Austin, Texas.

Over the years they each managed hostels and worked in their respective fields of hospitality and floral. They have been looking for a suitable Seattle location “for a very long time.”

A hostel has to be accessible for travelers on foot and bicycles, near public transportation. The building has to be able to meet the city’s hotel permitting requirements and accommodate multiple travelers. In addition it doesn’t hurt for this hostel to showcase Ballard as well as the rooftop view of Puget Sound and the Olympics.

Mid-morning on a crisp Sunday, at least two dozen travelers get dressed, have breakfast and pack their bags for either their next destination (Victoria for one, South America for another) or else for a day of exploring Seattle (a multi-generation group from Colombia).

In summer months Lee takes guests out on the van for his “non-tourist” tour, emphasizing his particular passion for arts and culture, thereby including the Troll, Lenin, the sun dial at Gas Works and perhaps the latest murals created by artist/muralist Ryan Henry Ward (his work is currently on display at the hostel).

By noon the hostel is empty except for the owners and their manager Joe Robillard; ready to tackle the necessary daily cleaning, but unlike my single family residence the bathrooms already look pristine with fresh flowers and most of the bunk beds on each of three floors have already been made.

Lee gives me the tour, up a spiral staircase and all the way out to the rooftop. Between the building and railroad tracks there’s a vegetable garden and a hot tub. In the basement he’s managed to create a movie theater. Next will be solar panels and wind generators to enhance the hostel’s self-sustainability.

Traveling is in the blood of everyone involved with Hostel Seattle. Lee holds dual U.S. and Filipino passports. Nancy’s family is on a year-long world tour, after making Ballard their first stop (they’re in Greece now with five months remaining).

We discussed how travelers have changed since our backpacking days. Almost all of their guests are carrying laptops, or at the very least a Blackberry. Nancy described looking around the cozy common area one winter evening, gas fire in the corner and all the tables filled.

“It was one big glow of laptops,” she said. “But everyone was still talking to one another.”

Lee and Nancy clearly derive energy from their guests, considering them all friends.

“I love that we’ve become a part of their adventure,” Nancy told me.

Plus they want everyone who arrives at their discreetly marked door to be able to set down their pack (or large suitcase in the case of young Korean woman) and feel comfortable.

“I want them to think, 'ah, I’m home. I’m safe.'” Nancy said.

When the hostel first opened, Lee and Nancy were there weeks at a time, working on the final details and learning to host up to 20-30 people a night, plus continental breakfast and local advice. In addition to their dormitory rooms they have one private room available.

It’s been reserved soon by an older sailor who travels here to participate in regattas (and usually stays in the dorms). He is going to “bring the Missus this time.” They can’t wait to meet her.

There are bus schedules on the wall, free Ramen noodles and of course a guest book. Seattle used to have an International Youth Hostel but it closed, leaving the Green Tortoise in downtown Seattle as one of the few options for this type of traveler.

When “the season” hits at spring break the hostel expects to be fully booked through fall. At $30/night it is a bargain that Lee and Nancy hope to reserve for the travelers wanting to experience other parts of the world, one they believe everyone should have in order to better understand other cultures.

“You never know somebody else’s story,” Nancy said. “There are amazing people in this world.”

Lee grinned from beneath his cocky black hat.

“It’s my personal fountain of youth,” he said.