neighborhood

Everett

WELCOME TO EVERETT

Everett is a booming city, with a deep history as a blue collar town. Everett boasts the amenities and services of many larger cities. At the heart of Everett’s charm is it’s waterfront area, which is in the middle of a major transformation to add residences and public spaces. Another attraction is Historic North Everett, where many homes from the early 20th century still dominate the area.

Everett is also home to the largest building in the world, at Paine Field where Boeing manufacturers many of its largest commercial airplanes. Over 30,000 employees work for Boeing in Everett, making it the largest employer in Snohomish County by a longshot.

While Paine was historically a military base and manufacturing facility, the most recent developments include the start of commercial airline service in early 2019. Alaska Air and United Airlines will both begin flying several daily flights to many West coast destinations, with connections to the rest of the country and world. With Seattle’s increasing traffic difficulties, the new service at Paine Field could save commuters an hour or more to get to their flights versus going to Seatac Airport.

Another benefit coming to Everett is the final extension of Sound Transit’s Link Light Rail. Once completed, the light rail will connect Everett with downtown Seattle via a 50 minute train ride. Residents of Everett enjoy the marina, with easy access to Jetty Island, a charming downtown area with many shops and restaurants, and several hundred acres of public parks. For those who like to be outside of the hustle and bustle of a downtown, Everett also has many smaller neighborhoods in suburban settings.

Shoreline

WELCOME TO SHORELINE

The community of Shoreline is ideally situated between Puget Sound and Lake Washington, on the Northern border of Seattle. With abundant activities and many neighborhoods to choose from, nearly everyone can find their place in Shoreline.

Shoreline is home to award winning public schools and Shoreline Community College, unlimited business opportunities, and some of the best places to call home in the Northwest. Communities such as Richmond Beach and Innis Arden are renown for their stunning Sound views and class Northwest-Contemporary-meets-Midcentury-Modern architecture. Largely developed by the Boeing family as a fairly private estate, Innis Arden’s land was later parceled out and sold, and saw much new development in the 1950s and 1960s.

For those who like to spend time outdoors, Shoreline features over 20 public parks, including 3 off-leash dog parks. The 27 mile long Burke-Gilman Trail runs through Shoreline along the Eastern boundary, near Lake Washington, connecting to Bothell in the East and Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood in the West.

Often considered a reprieve from the Seattle housing market, home prices in Shoreline are seen as much more affordable. The proximity to Seattle, and abundant public transportation, makes it an ideal location for those who work in Seattle but are priced out.

Mill Creek

WELCOME TO MILL CREEK

Built in the mid 70s, Mill Creek was originally a planned community built around a golf course and country club. What started out as a small private community has since developed into a vibrant city of 18,000 residents, multiple shopping plazas, and exciting shopping and dining experiences. The community has built a city where the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest is preserved, neighborhoods flourish, businesses thrive, and recreational opportunities abound.

From the beginning, the centerpiece of the city has been The Mill Creek Country Club, which is the private 18 hole golf course around which the original community was built. All around the golf course are small neighborhood communities, each with their own unique charm and characteristics.

Mill Creek is a physically active community, and contains multiple parks, trails, and recreational facilities. Over 23 miles of trails are scattered throughout the city, the longest being the North Creek Trail which runs from McCollum Park to the southern city limits. Most recently, Arena Sports opened a large complex in the Northern part of Mill Creek complete with indoor inflatables, an arcade game center, bowling, and laser tag.

The commercial and social downtown of Mill Creek is the Mill Creek Town Center, which is a traditional Main Street-style shopping center. Over 80 shops including retail stores, services, boutiques, restaurants, gym and yoga studios, spas, and supermarkets, each with their own distinctive contribution to creating a walkable, livable environment.

Edmonds

Welcome to Edmonds

Idyllic Edmonds offers a wide range of options for residents. Sitting right on Puget Sound, across from the Olympic Mountains, areas such as Olympic View and the “Bowl” of Edmonds boast some of the best views in the Seattle area.

Edmonds is also an unassuming melting pot of cultures, with stores and restaurants featuring food and other items from around the world. Along the Highway 99 corridor you’ll find shopping and retail opportunities for any need. Heading further West, Edmonds becomes a little quieter as you get to the more residential areas. In the main downtown core are several small restaurants and eateries. Toward the water there are even many options to eat while overlooking Puget Sound and watching the ferries come and go.

In Edmonds, you’ll find over 20 parks, covering over 300 acres of public space. One of the more well known parks is Brackett’s Landing, just a few blocks from downtown, on the waterfront. Brackett’s Landing is not just any park, it’s also a marine sanctuary where local divers can be found year-round, exploring the abundant sea life of Puget Sound, including the Giant Pacific Octopus.

If you find yourself commuting, Edmonds can be a paradise of transit options. Snohomish County’s Community Transit connects the fast Swift Line on Highway 99 with the downtown transit center. At the transit center you’ll find connections to the ferry terminal to Kingston, as well as Sound Transit’s Sounder train, which runs rush-hour service from Everett to downtown Seattle, and back.

North Sound

WELCOME TO NORTH SOUND

The North Sound area doesn’t have a defined border, but generally covers the suburbs North of Seattle, from Shoreline to Everett, East to Bothell. This area provides unbeatable opportunity for culture, access to employment centers, and affordable living.

With regional leaders recognizing the astronomical growth in the area, several regional enhancements have recently been implemented, or in the planning stages. These improvements includes the new passenger service at Paine Field/Snohomish County Airport in Everett, with service by Alaska Airlines and United Airlines beginning in February and March of 2019. The other massive infrastructure project is Sound Transit’s Link Light Rail Extension, with phased stations and extension being completed over a period extending into the 2040’s. Service is scheduled to begin in Shoreline, Mountlake Terrace, Edmonds, and Lynnwood, in 2023. Further extensions to Mukilteo in Everett are set to be phased in over future years. If you need to commute to downtown Seattle, the Sound Transit Sounder service is for you, with direct commute-hours train service from Everett, Mukilteo, and Edmonds to Seattle with regularly scheduled service.

Outside of public transit options, the North Sound’s highway system gives residents easy access to shopping and employment centers in downtown Seattle and the Eastside. Right in the middle of everything, I-5 and I-405 meet. You’ll also find easy access to State Route 9, Highway 99, State Route 522 with access to points East such as Monroe and Woodinville, and State Route 525 leading into Mukilteo. New High Occupancy Toll, or HOT lanes make travel to the Eastside a breeze, even during rush hour traffic.

The North Sound area has tremendous opportunity for outdoor lovers. Numerous parks, covering thousands of acres, are within easy access to nearly everyone, from Shoreline’s Richmond Beach Saltwater Park to Everett’s waterfront parks with small ferry service to Jetty Island. If you can’t wait to get on the water, plentiful marinas and boat launches will make it easy for you. And if you’d prefer to just be a passenger, Washington’s ferry system is hard to beat, with service in Edmonds and Mukilteo, transporting passengers to Kingston’s charming downtown or Whidbey Island’s spectacular natural areas or top wineries.

North Sound is also home to award-winning school districts, from Shoreline to the Northshore District, serving Bothell, Lake Forest Park, and Kenmore. You’ll also find many specialty STEM and international schools, in addition to world-class private schools.

In addition to K-12 education, North Sound has countless opportunities for higher education, including Edmonds Community College, Shoreline Community College, Everett Community College, Bastyr University in Kenmore, and the University of Washington’s Bothell campus, which provides easy access to most of UW’s programs.

If healthcare is a priority for you, North Sound delivers. The area boasts world-class healthcare systems, including Swedish Medical Center’s campus in Edmonds, and Providence Health Care’s large medical and trauma center in Everett. Snohomish County provides world-class emergency medicine through multiple Medic One agencies. Just few miles South in Seattle is one the largest core areas of top-rated medicine on the West Coast, from Harborview Medical Center’s Level 4 trauma center to Virginia Mason Hospital’s countless speciality services.

North Sound is home to many large area employers. In Bothell, you’ll find some of the top biotech companies in Washington in the Canyon Park area. It’s hard to miss Boeing’s influence on the area as well, with direct employment of over 45,000 people in Everett, plus dozens of aerospace suppliers adding tens of thousands of more jobs. While Paine Field will soon boast commercial flights, it is widely known in the area as the unofficial home of Boeing. The largest building in the world resides here, where Boeing’s 747, 787, 777, and 767 planes roll off manufacturing lines. Countless other aircraft from around the world can also be seen coming and going for maintenance at Boeing’s facilities here.

Living in the North Sound area will also put you close to many of the greater Seattle area’s outdoor attractions. You can jump on the Amtrak Cascades and leave the stress of driving behind, with several daily departures to points North including Vancouver, BC and Whistler, and going as far South as Los Angeles, CA.

During the winter, many North Sound residents take advantage of the closeness of the area’s ski resorts, with Stevens Pass, Snoqualmie Pass, and Crystal Mountain all within a few hours’ drive. Summer hikers are just minutes from many of the top hikes in the Seattle area, including Wallace Falls and Rattlesnake Ridge.

A short drive North to Skagit and Whatcom Counties gives unbeatable views of Puget Sound along Chuckanut Drive. If you want a leisurely Springtime activity, it’s hard to beat Skagit Valley’s annual Tulip Festival. A stop in Bellingham extends your outdoor opportunities, and the countless breweries are a must for beer lovers. For star gazers looking for the best location in Western Washington, a short drive out to Artist Point will not disappoint.

Driving a little further out, residents here are just a few hours from beautiful destinations such as Portland to the South and Vancouver, BC to the North. Cruises to Alaska sail regularly out of Seattle and Vancouver during the summer months, adding to the exploration possibilities of the Northwest.

Bothell

WELCOME TO BOTHELL

Bothell has grown from a quiet suburb into a strong community of residential neighborhoods and industry campuses. Those who have lived in Bothell remember the days when it was largely farm fields, but these days it’s more well known for new home communities. Several builders have put up thousands of new homes over the last 5-10 years.

It’s easy to see why the transformation happened, with Bothell’s strong industry and easy commuting to the tech campuses of the Eastside. Bothell now boasts many biotech companies, as well as traditional tech companies such as Google.

A sprawling city, Bothell has kept up with the difficult task of improving infrastructure to accommodate the growth, including continual improvements in the award winning North Shore School District. Bothell has recently undergone a massive revitalization of it’s downtown area, including public investments of over $150 million. Improvements include new parks and easy connections to the 27 mile Burke-Gilman Trail, which starts in Bothell and runs to Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood in the West.

In addition to the city’s investment, many businesses and organizations have also invested heavily in the revitalization. The famed McMenamin’s franchise completely redeveloped Bothell’s Anderson School, turning it into a hotel, multiple restaurants surrounding an outdoor seating area, and a movie theater. The University of Washington has continued to grow it’s Bothell campus, and now has over 6000 students in attendance.

Mukilteo

WELCOME TO MUKILTEO

Mukilteo has a charm reminiscent of communities of another era. Originally just a small number of homes built around the Mukilteo Lighthouse in 1906, the town continued to grow and eventually was incorporated in 1947. A master planned community called Harbour Pointe was built that included a shopping center and an award winning public golf course. In 1980 Harbour Pointe was annexed and added to the city of Mukilteo.

Views of the Olympic Mountains and the Northern Cascade Mountains are only one of the few reasons over 21,000 residents call this place home. The Lighthouse area now serves as a terminal for the Washington State Ferry Service to Whidbey Island. In addition, Mukilteo Lighthouse Park was constructed in the 1950s in an effort to preserve the natural and historical site. Originally a Washington State Park, the park was given to the City in 2003.

The city is also a neighbor to Boeing and Paine Field Regional Airport. Many of the residents of Mukilteo work at Boeing or one of the aviation centered companies in the area. There are also a number of museums and collections dedicated to the aviation industry including the popular Future of Flight Aviation Center & Boeing Tour.

Lake Forest Park

WELCOME TO LAKE FOREST PARK

Lake Forest Park is a hidden gem in the Northwest, largely known as a bedroom community for commuters. It is perfectly situated at the top of Lake Washington, providing easy access to downtown Seattle and the Eastside. For commuters, Sound Transit runs express bus service to Seattle, with a major expansion of rapid lines coming in the future with ST3.

Being off the main highways, Lake Forest Park offers a more serene escape from busy city life. Many neighborhoods have been cut out of the forests and around streams. A quaint town center features grocery shopping, a second hand bookstore, Starbucks, and many other activities.

For those who want to get out onto Lake Washington, the homes in the Sheridan Beach Club area can make use of the private facilities and parks available through the club. Beyond the private club, Lake Forest Park also features public beaches, parks, and a boat launch on the lake. The Civic Club also provides many public spaces to explore.

Richmond Beach

WELCOME TO RICHMOND BEACH

Richmond Beach is a bedroom neighborhood tucked away on the Western edge of Shoreline, right on Puget Sound. With unbeatable views of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains, it’s easy to see why visitor flock to the Richmond Beach Saltwater Park during the warmer months.

Living is easy in this beach neighborhood, with all of the amenities you need available right around the corner. The community features it’s own coffee shops and grocers, as well as larger establishments like QFC and Rite-Aid.

Many homes in Richmond Beach are built to take in the views. During the summer months you’ll see cruise ships passing as they go out to the ocean, as well as numerous fishing vessels going to and from Alaska during the changing seasons. And of course, you can almost always catch a ferry crossing the Sound.

Kenmore

WELCOME TO KENMORE

Kenmore sits on Lake Washington, between Lake Forest Park, Bothell, and Kirkland. Kenmore is largely a bedroom community, though there are a few industries and commercial businesses thriving in the city. It is a dream for commuters who want to live in a quiet suburban city with easy access to the employment centers on the Eastside.

Kenmore has numerous parks, including Log Boom Park right on Lake Washington. The park connects directly to the 27 mile Burke-Gilman Trail, providing bike and walking access to Bothell in the East, and Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood to the West. Within the park you’ll find a public marina, as well as jet ski, kayak, and stand-up paddle board rentals.

One of Kenmore’s most well-known businesses, Kenmore Air, also operates on the lake. Kenmore Air is a seaplane airline who’s famous yellow planes make flights from Kenmore and Seattle’s Lake Union to numerous destinations throughout the Northwest, including the San Juan Islands and Vancouver, BC.

Lynnwood

WELCOME TO LYNNWOOD

There’s a lot to like about Lynnwood. Homes are still affordable and growth is evidenced by the multitude of new housing projects underway. For those looking for a more affordable and smaller city option to Seattle, Lynnwood is a solid choice.

The city of Lynnwood has a robust variety of community facilities including a municipal golf course, a recreation center with indoor water park, and a fully equipped senior center. Residents make good use of over 230 acres of developed parks and facilities all year long.

Lynnwood boasts four different shopping districts, each with its own distinct flavor and feel. You can find classic mom and pop shops that cater to specialized interests, or head over to the acclaimed Alderwood Mall which has been adding many new major retailers and restaurants in the last year. To top it all off, Lynnwood also has both a Costco and a Business Costco making it a shopper’s delight regardless of what you are searching for.

Many people choose Lynnwood for its commutability. The Ashway Park and Ride is situated right next to where I-405 and I-5 meet, making it an ideal spot for commuters commuting to both Seattle and Bellevue. Sound Transit is in works to build a major hub at the Lynnwood Transfer center that will also house a new Light Rail station. Voters approved a major transportation plan in 2016 which would eventually expand the rail system into two more stops in Lynnwood with more stops further north.

North Seattle

WELCOME TO NORTH SEATTLE

The Northern neighborhoods of Seattle provide excellent opportunity for those who like more of a neighborhood feel than the downtown core can provide. Many smaller neighborhoods resemble their own little cities, with close-knit communities of residents and businesses.

North Seattle boasts a variety of attractions, from Ballard’s Hirem Chittenden Locks, to Northgate’s first-in-the-nation mall. In Fremont, you’ll find some large employment centers around Google’s and Tableau’s campuses.

The Northgate Mall provides a great deal of shopping opportunity, while currently undergoing a major transformation. As the first indoor mall built in the United States, Northgate was overdue for an update. Once finished, the convenient location will also include apartments, condos, and a hotel. One of the largest new attractions will be the practice facility for Seattle’s yet-to-be-named new NHL team, including 3 practice rinks and team office facilities. Northgate will also be served by the new Sound Transit Link Light Rail station, opening in 2021. Light rail will serve Northgate to Seatac Airport South of Seattle.

For those who love the outdoors, North Seattle has countless opportunities. Golden Gardens Beach is often considered Seattle’s best beach, sitting right on Puget Sound. In the winter you can watch the boat Parade of Lights from the beach, while in the summer it’s common to see groups having their barbecues, and often you can even catch slackening enthusiasts practicing among the small group of trees near the pavilion facility. For dog lovers, you won’t want to miss either of North Seattle’s two off leash dog parks.

Seattle is renown for the world-class healthcare available, and North Seattle is home to some of the best with the University of Washington Hospital and Northwest Hospital. Northwest Hospital is the site of groundbreaking proton therapy procedures with a facility dedicated exclusively to this treatment. North Seattle’s Laurelhurst neighborhood boasts Seattle Children’s Hospital, one of the leading children’s hospitals in the nation. Patients come from around the country for groundbreaking treatment here.

If you like the small town neighborhood feel, areas such as Crown Hill, Blue Ridge, and North Beach run along Puget Sound, away from the hustle and bustle of the I-5 and Highway 99 corridors. Here, you’ll find spectacular views and many mid-century modern homes. 

On the other side, along the shores of Lake Washington, you can find the cozy neighborhoods of Matthews Beach, Broadmoor, and Wedgwood. These neighborhoods are tucked away in the natural tree-covered Northeast Seattle. Common architecture here includes the famed Northwest Contemporary homes, with plentiful windows often bringing in light and views of the surrounding forest. 

Closer to the Lake Washington Ship Canal is Seattle’s University District, home to the ever-growing University of Washington campus. Surround the campus are the exclusive neighborhoods of Laurelhurst, Windermere, and Magnuson Park. 

North Seattle has plenty of transit options, with regular bus service to downtown Seattle, including multiple Sound Transit Express routes. Sound Transit’s Link Light Rail’s current northernmost station is at the University of Washington campus, with extensions to the University District core and Northgate opening in 2021. King County Metro bus service provides thousands of daily routes from North Seattle to the greater metro area, including the Eastside.

If you’re a food lover, it’s hard to beat North Seattle. Ballard is home to several famous restaurants, including Kona Kitchen's famed Canlis. Both Ballard and Fremont boast several breweries, and you can even catch a 10-person mobile cycle brewery. All across the Northern part of Seattle you’ll have no problem finding your favorite worldly cuisines, from Ramen at Kizuki, to BBQ at The Barbecue Smith, to authentic Hawaiian food at Kona Kitchen. 

North Seattle is a truly hard to beat location!