Kirkland, WA
Kirkland, Washington
Kirkland’s population is steadily increasing each year and is currently nearing 90,000, which makes it the 6th largest city in the county and the 12th largest city in the state. This vibrant waterfront community has an incomparable blend of outdoor recreation, public art collections, lakeside dining, and boutique shopping. Located on the shores of Lake Washington just east of Seattle, no other city in the Puget Sound region has as many waterfront parks and beaches as Kirkland. Kirkland hosts a compelling repertoire of events such as art performances, sports events, wine festivals, and outdoor live music.
Kirkland is the original home of both the Seattle Seahawks and the chain warehouse club Costco, which is where the name of its "Kirkland Signature" store brand comes from. Kirkland lies within the Lake Washington School District which has 8 high schools, 4 middle schools, and 12 elementary schools, as well as 2 colleges: Lake Washington Technical College and Northwest University. The city is served by King County Metro and Sound Transit Express buses that meet in Downtown Kirkland, Totem Lake, and South Kirkland. The city buses connect to Bellevue, Seattle, Redmond, and Kenmore.
Juanita Beach Park
In the 1920s, the owners of the park at the time planted over 150 cottonwood trees, many of which still stand to this day and cover its neighboring streets with white, fluffy seeds during the springtime. This gorgeous park has over 1,000 feet of sandy waterfront that has an enclosed swimming and fishing area. There are also picnic tables, children's playground, areas for beach volleyball, lighted tennis courts, baseball fields, horseshoe pits, restrooms, changing rooms, and outdoor showers.
TechCity Bowl & Fun Center
TechCity has been a family owned and operated business since 1958 and is known as one of the best bowling centers in the state. They have 32 professional bowling lanes, a scoring system where you can choose between different themes and mini games, and you are able to win tickets while bowling that you can redeem for prizes. There is also a shop in the fun center where you can buy bowling gear such as bowling bowls, ball bags, and bowling shoes. They also offer billiards and a multitude of arcade games.
The Tech City Café has a very diverse menu with some of the best food and beverages in town. There are also events held here such as X-Bowl, which is TechCity’s Cosmic Bowling. This is an all you can bowl event that features an impressive sound system, disco lights, smoke machines, lasers, and a live DJ.
Cross Kirkland Corridor Trail
The Cross Kirkland Corridor (CKC) is part of an interconnected network of trails, transit, and regional utilities. The CKC trail is 10 feet wide and nearly 6 miles of crushed gravel trail that runs from the South Kirkland Park & Ride to the Totem Lake Business District. This trail opened in early 2015 and is very popular among walkers, joggers, and bikers. It connects residents to nearby schools, parks, neighborhoods, transportation hubs, and business districts.
Lady Yum
This eccentric French macaron & champagne parlor features 20 different flavors of macarons that are made daily in small batches to ensure freshness. They incorporate fresh, local ingredients from their neighbors into their products, and create a space for the entire community to enjoy. They are constantly imagining new flavors, so be sure to stop by every once in a while!
Marina Park Pavilion
Located in downtown Kirkland and nearby to many shops and restaurants, Marina Park has a beautiful sandy beach with a wide-open structure where many summer concerts are held such the July 4th Celebration and Kirkland Uncorked. The park includes free WIFI, a boat launch, countless picnic tables and benches, public art, a dedicated fishing area, and restrooms.