Moving to Carnation for small town amenities and views
Carnation is a quiet town with a rural atmosphere on the outskirts of the greater Seattle area. The community is filled with locally owned businesses and popular farms, like Carnations Farms and Remlinger Farms. Residents get mountain views, access to family-friendly attractions and direct routes to jobs in busy areas like Redmond and Bellevue. You can also find homes close to downtown or tucked away in tall trees.
Bigger homes, bigger lots and new construction
Carnation may feel set apart from the busier Seattle and Eastside scenes, but that’s exactly what residents here enjoy. “People in Carnation are looking for something more rural without being too far from Seattle,” says Eric Kinzler, a Realtor and broker on the Palone Kinzler team with Windermere Real Estate. “They want bigger houses, bigger lots. ... There’s tons of new construction. They added a lot of housing developments that are townhouses.” Manufactured homes and cottages can sell for the mid-$100,000s to mid-$500,000s. Most properties are newer builds, from townhouses to detached homes with contemporary designs, and they range from the lower $600,000s to mid-$900,000s. Homes that go for $1 million to $2.5 million are usually new detached single-family homes with contemporary designs, at least three bedrooms and moderate yard space.
What to expect living in Carnation
The town’s scenery and community are major selling points, just as much as the routes to jobs and larger lots. “You really get more views, mountain views, out there,” Kinzler says. “The biggest thing overall, there’s a sense of community.” Kinzler compares Carnation to the fictional town of Stars Hollow from the "Gilmore Girls" show. “You’re walking down the streets, and people wave and chat,” Kinzler says. “Seattle isn’t known for that kind of thing.” Homes closer to the center of town are usually on public water and sewer systems, but those on the outskirts often run on septic tanks and private wells. Carnation is close to the Snoqualmie River. Because of this, there’s a risk of flooding, so residents should check local maps to see if their home is in a flood zone.
How residents commute to work and get around town
Carnation is a great place to enjoy time at home, but when it’s time for work, commuters have a straightforward drive to nearby job hubs. “They might be commuting to the Eastside; Bellevue, Redmond, that kind of thing,” Kinzler says. “Redmond has Facebook and Bellevue has Microsoft, so the jobs aren’t all in Seattle.” Bellevue and Redmond are about 30 minutes away with light traffic. In downtown Carnation, many streets have sidewalks, so you might walk or bike from home to a cafe along Tolt Avenue. Despite the somewhat rural setting, Snoqualmie Valley Transportation buses run up and down state Route 203, taking passengers from Carnation to nearby areas like Duvall and Fall City.
Carnation runs on small businesses
Aside from one Starbucks, you won’t find national chains here. Everything is locally owned and operated. “Every business or gas station, and the one grocery store, is on the main drag,” Kinzler says. Carnation Market is the town’s main grocery store, but living in an area with agriculture means having access to farmers markets. There’s Remlinger Farms, Jubilee Farm and Carnation Farms, home to the original Carnation Condensed Milk. It’s also easy to support local restaurants with options along Tolt Avenue, like:
- Carnation Cafe & Lounge, which serves homestyle meals for breakfast through dinner
- Kelsey’s Koffee, where locals chat over handcrafted coffee
- Ixtapa, the go-to spot for Mexican dishes
Stores in town are limited to vintage and antique shops, but nearby Issaquah, 30 minutes away, has stores like Target.
Students learn close to home from elementary to high school
Carnation is a part of the highly rated Riverview School District. Kids attend elementary and middle school in Carnation and then later learn at Cedarcrest High School in Duvall. Cedarcrest High offers Career and Technical Education courses, including sports medicine and agriculture.
Spacious parks and farm fun in town
Carnation has outdoor recreation throughout, like Nick Loutsis Park and Valley Memorial Park, but Tolt-MacDonald Park is the busiest spot. The park has over 500 acres to explore, with attractions like a suspension bridge over the Snoqualmie River, campgrounds and hiking trails. The river is more than a pretty feature. You can put boats and kayaks into the water from the launch off Northeast Tolt Hill Road.
Remlinger Farms has activities you'd expect, like picking strawberries in the summer, but this destination offers much more. People from all over visit for:
- Live music during the summer concert series
- Family fun during the annual Harvest Festival every October
- Food and ice cream from Remlinger Cafe
- Beers at Remlinger Brewery Taproom
You can also visit the farm’s market to pick up homemade pies, fresh produce and local wines.