Redmond
Redmond, home of
Nintendo of America and Microsoft, is surrounded by old-growth evergreen
forests and is nicknamed “the Bicycle Capital of the World”. Redmond is located between the snow-topped peaks of Washington's Cascade mountain range and the sparkling
waters of Puget Sound. With over 25 miles of
trails and 34 parks, it’s easy to forget that just 20 minutes away lie the cafes and clubs of downtown Seattle. Redmond attracts suburbanites sporting the
pricey, off-road vehicle of choice and cyclists who compete in an annual
bicycle derby that began in 1939.
Arts and entertainment, with live theatre, music, film and literary arts,
help make this city of 48,000 cosmopolitan in every way.
Redmond
retains its small-town charm and gee-whiz qualities with pristine local lakes,
preserved farms and forestland and is unlike neighboring communities that
sprout bright, shiny skyscrapers.
Neighborhood Details
Cost of Housing
Single, young professionals and an older crowd live downtown where affordable
but architecturally unexciting condominiums can be found. Houses span a wide
range of prices, but for the most part it’s a costly city particularly
in the Sammamish Plateau. The average price of a single-family home is
$352,000, though prices for small, unimproved cabins on the outskirts of town
can start at $150,000. Waterfront homes with luxurious amenities and more
bedrooms quickly jump to the seven-figure mark, with estates located on
acreage and with private walking trails, ponds and room for a pool, sport
court, horses and other recreational activities selling for $3.5 million.
School System
Redmond schools belong to the school districtLake
Washington and rank among the best in the
state. At Redmond Junior High, 85 percent of parents are in the parent-teacher
association. With Microsoft in the neighborhood its
no surprise that the schools excel in computer know-how.
Entertainment
Redmond is home to 1,315 acres of Seattle’s
parkland. Marymoor
Park, a lush oasis,
features a regional museum and is the venue for WOMAD, an annual world music
festival.
The center of town is known for its high-end shopping and
draws crowds with big-name retailers such as Eddie Bauer and REI. Golf fans
can try the nearby Sahalee Golf and Country Club,
site of the 1998 PGA championship and the 2002 World Golf Championship-NEC
Invitational.
Transportation
The 15-mile plus commute across the Evergreen
Point Bridge
to Seattle
can be brutal and take as long as 45-minutes. Relocation experts recommend
that those who work in the Eastside should also live there to avoid terrible
commutes. Many drivers have grown gray hair along State Route 520, which
feeds into the city.
