As the city's motto states, Bellevue is "The City in a Park." Not only is Bellevue arguably the business core of Lake Washington's Eastside, but it is a wealth of outdoor activities, from biking and sailing, to horseback riding and hiking. The area's moderate temperatures average in the mid-40's and 50's in the winter, to the 70's in the summer.
Bellevue's downtown city center is a major metropolitan area in itself. Here you'll find downtown office space, as well as Bellevue Square, the largest shopping mall in the Pacific Northwest. Bellevue is roughly a 12-25 minute commute west to Seattle. Heading the other way, east on Interstate 90 towards the Cascade Mountains, it is only an hour drive to skiing at Snoqualmie Pass. Lake Washington and Lake Sammamish, around which the Eastside communities and developments are set, are wonderful not only for their recreational potential, but for their beautiful property and surrounding views.
Lake Washington is close to 20 miles long and 2.5 miles wide, giving it an abundance of possibilities for waterfront homes and property. Popular Lake Sammamish in turn has just over 21 miles of shoreline. Lake Sammamish State Park is the most-used state park in Washington.
Lake Washington's Eastside is located near the Cascade foothills, with beautiful views to the lakes and mountains. From sunrise to sunset, both the Cascades to the east and the Olympic Range to the west provide scenic backdrops for the area.
Bellevue Neighborhoods—Hunts Point, Yarrow Point, Clyde Hill and Evergreen Point
Many people refer to Hunts Point, Yarrow Point, and Clyde Hill as "West Bellevue," but the truth is that they are all separate municipalities, towns unto themselves. Evergreen Point, another of these fingers of land jutting north into Lake Washington, is part of the upscale, incorporated community of Medina, which features a quaint general store at its heart. All of these communities are connected at the mainland.
The level of Lake Washington was lowered 14 feet back in 1914 when the Chittendon Locks were built. This created the waterfront property we now recognize. Today, the level of the lake is federally regulated through water flow at the locks—it can never rise or fall more than one foot.
Hunts Point and Yarrow Point
Hunts Point and Yarrow Point are both separate municipalities with small town halls. They feature strong, friendly neighborhood personalities, varied housing architectural styles, and membership in the popular Bellevue school districts. Hunts Point, formed after glaciers passed through the area thousands of years ago, features large pieces of property ranging from 16,000 sq. ft. to an acre.
Medina
Medina is one of the few communities devoid of businesses. This upscale neighborhood is home to many beautiful waterfront and view homes along the shores of Lake Washington, just south of State Route 520. Strictly residential, Medina features the Medina Grocery and Post Office.
From Corporation to Recreation
The Bellevue area is a wonderful place to enjoy sports of all kinds. Nearby Redmond (home of software corporation Microsoft) is also known as the Bicycle Capital of the Northwest. Many people, in fact, commute by bike along paths that wind throughout the Eastside, including the Burke-Gilman Trail, which runs from Redmond's Marymoor Park, around the northern edge of Lake Washington and into Seattle.
In addition, the Mountains-to-Sound Greenway is a proposed swath of greenspace that would connect the area's natural areas and wildlife parks from the Cascade Mountains to Puget Sound, and preserve natural habitats along the Interstate 90 corridor.
Golf
If golf is your game, there are two stellar golf courses among the Bellevue area's many existing and planned courses. Sahalee and Medina's Overlake Golf and Country Club are already well-known among the golfing community. Sahalee, in fact, was the site of the recent 1998 PGA Championship. The nearby Bellevue Municipal Golf Course, Glendale Golf and Country Club, Tam-O-Shanter Golf Course, and the Willows Run Golf Club in Redmond are also local favorites. A new course has opened on the Pine Lake Plateau, and another course will soon be opening south of I-90.
Indoor Athletic Facilities
Aside from the wonderful places to visit and explore in the wilderness surrounding Bellevue, there are numerous indoor recreation possibilities. With its 150,000 square foot athletic facilities, basketball and tennis courts, and Olympic-sized pool, the world-class Bellevue Club provides a great place to exercise and socialize.
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