Lake Forest Park

Tucked on the west side of Lake Forest Park, the Brookside neighborhood offers ample outdoor activities with homes that overlook the mountains and Lake Washington. “I love Lake Forest Park. You go there and feel peaceful,” says Janet Spesock, real estate agent at Keller Williams North Sound. “No one moves from there. They keep their homes and families there because it’s so beautiful.” The neighborhood offers suburban tranquility through its modest homes and friendly neighbors. The neighborhood is only 12 miles from Downtown Seattle, offering a suitable distance to city life. “You have the appeal of things that are north of the neighborhood,” Spesock says. “But then you’re close to the Seattle nightlife.” Log Boom Park is the prime spot for water activity within Lake Washington. Along the shoreline, people lie on the sand and grab a kayak or paddleboard to the waters. Anglers may also cast their lines to catch the salmon. Pfingst Animal Acres Park connects folks to the city’s natural habitat within its four acres. Stroll the nature walk or enjoy an afternoon picnic within the shaded trees. South towards the McAleer Creek, folks can watch the salmon swim the way. Across the street is Eagle Scout Park, where kids can run around in the playground. Within the Grace Cole Nature Park are birds, amphibians and native plants. While spotting all these creatures on the boardwalk, folks observe the wetland's evolvement and development. Most of the neighborhood’s shopping and dining is located within the Town Center at Lake Forest Park. However, there are a couple of neighborhood spots along Bothell Way. Wired Chick’s Espresso starts the morning with fresh espresso and fun talks with the baristas. When it's lunch, folks walk up to the window of Taqueria Tonita, where they’re serving handmade Mexican dishes at affordable prices. Adults dwell to the Vulpine Taproom for a chill evening of beers and shared plates on the patio or in their fun taproom. Grocery shopping can be completed at Albertsons. Third Place Books within the Town Center carries more than a wide array of used books. The two-level store is a calming place to sit, read, or enjoy various events. Brookside is primarily a residential area with mostly single-family houses. “It’s everything that’s beautiful about Seattle, but it’s not congested,” Spesock says. “The demographics are unique; you have families and couples.” Architecturally, most homes are either split-levels, ramblers or contemporaries. Split levels typically range from $500,000 to $1 million. Midcentury ramblers range from $420,000 to over $1.1 million for those with larger interiors. Meanwhile, contemporaries are on the higher end of prices, ranging from $850,000 to $2.5 million for homes towards the water. Condos are located on the northern end bordering Ballinger Way, and their prices range from $365,000 to $435,000. Brookside Elementary is where students can begin their education. The A-rated school teaches students up to the sixth grade. Afterward, their time follows at Kellogg Middle, which earns an A-minus from Niche. Students receive diplomas from Shorecrest High, which also got an A rating from Niche. After school, students can participate in over 60 clubs and activities. Brookside residents will need a car to get around the area. Luckily, the neighborhood is bordered by two major routes. To the east is Highway 104 (Ballinger Way), and to the south is Highway 522 (Bothell Way). Both these routes eventually feed into Interstate 5, where there’s access to the Seattle metro area. Often, the interstate does come with a bit of traffic.

Located 30 minutes from Seattle, Lake Forest Park’s Horizon View community offers seclusion while remaining close to local amenities. “The community is popular because it’s part of Shoreline Public Schools, which is very highly rated. You can also easily commute to any of the cities nearby like Bothell, Shoreline, Everett and Seattle,” says Realtor and resident Michael Good with Coldwell Banker Danforth. Homes in Horizon View also tend to have more square footage than the bungalows and cottages that typically feature in nearby neighborhoods. There are stately traditional and bilevel homes throughout the community, set on quiet streets lined with cedar, fir and madrone trees. There is also a lot of new development here, offering luxury homes in multi-level geometric styles. Many of these homes have wooded backyards and wide windows offering panoramic forest views. Prices in the area range from $800,000 to $900,000 for traditional and midcentury homes and $900,000 to $1.3 million for new construction. Neighborhood schools include Lake Forest Park Elementary, which has an overall A-minus on Niche. The school has an active Parent Teacher Association, holding regular events like Spring Auction fundraisers and community movie nights. At Kellogg Middle School, which has an A-minus on Niche, students can participate in several associated student body clubs. These clubs include the creative writers club, knitting club and newspaper club, which produces The Troubadour, the school's monthly newsletter. At Shorecrest High School, which has an overall A on Niche, students can participate in the school's active athletics program. Offerings include football, soccer, swimming, diving and gymnastics. “Another perk of living in the area is the proximity to Log Boom Park on Lake Washington,” says Good. Residents can relax on the sandy beach while watching colorful seaplanes take off and land on the water. Anglers can visit the park's dock and fishing pier. The lake is perfect for spending a misty morning fishing while enjoying the lake's tranquility. Other parks include Horizon View Park, a relaxing neighborhood green space with a leafy athletic field, pickleball courts, play area and walking paths. One of the neighborhood's main attractions is the Town Center at Lake Forest Park. This retail area at the intersection of Bothell Way and Ballinger Way is a one-stop shop where residents can pick up groceries at Albertsons, get prescriptions at Third Place Books, grab dinner and do a little shopping at Ross Dress for Less. On the weekends, residents can pick up new or used books at Third Place Books or stock up on fishing supplies at The Avid Angler. On Sundays from May to October, many locals attend the town center’s farmers market to buy local produce and crafts. The town center is also home to various dining options, like Honeybear Bakery. Located inside Third Place Books, this cafe offers hand-crafted pastries and sandwiches on freshly made bread. Just a mile from the community is the neighborhood hangout The Local 104. Located inside a former mini-mart, this neighborhood pizzeria serves wood-fired Neapolitan pizza and over 30 local craft beers from its tap wall. The community is fairly centrally located, making it easy to get to more commercial amenities, attractions and major employers. The area is close to major thoroughfares like Bothell Way, Pacific Highway and Interstate 5. Residents are just three miles from the retail hub of Shoreline, which has big box stores like Costco, grocery stores and local restaurants. Further down Shoreline’s Pacific Highway, Northgate Station Mall is 5 miles away. Major employers in Everett like Boeing are 18 miles away, tech employers in Bellevue are 16 miles away and the employers and amenities of Seattle are just 12 miles from the area. While having a car will make getting around easier, there are bus stops on Bothell Way, which will connect residents to the closest light rail stop at Northgate Station. For travel beyond the Seattle area, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is just 25 miles away. With easy access to local commercial hubs and proximity to the town center, Horizon View offers comfort and convenience.

Welcome to the peaceful Lake Forest Park suburb of Turtle Rock, home to midcentury and new construction, excellent schools and proximity to some of the community's best amenities. "The area is known for having excellent schools with the Shoreline School District, easy access to Lake Washington and a quick commute to Bothell, Shoreline, Everett and Seattle," says Realtor Michael Good with Coldwell Banker Danforth.<br><br>Homes here are tucked away on tranquil wooded streets lined with towering evergreen trees. This established community is home to plenty of midcentury split levels and traditional homes, offering a chance to invest and create your dream home. However, you'll also find contemporary new construction throughout the community, with modern farmhouse-style exteriors and luxury interiors. Homes here are somewhat densely built but offer plenty of backyard space to relax or entertain on an attached deck. Prices in the area range from $750,000 for an established split level up to $1.5 million for modern new construction. <br><br>Students here attend Shoreline Public Schools, including Lake Forest Park Elementary, rated above average for test scores and student progress on Great Schools. The school is known for its community events sponsored by the PTA program, including movie nights and the Spring Auction. At Kellogg Middle School, also rated above average for test scores on Great Schools, students can relax and connect with peers at Hang Time. This after-school program provides students space to hang with friends, make art and play board games and video games. Shorecrest High School is an area favorite, scoring far above average for test scores and college readiness on Great Schools. The school offers students several graduation pathways, including visual and performing arts, culinary arts and STEM. <br><br>While the community is primarily residential, you're just a short drive to neighborhood green spaces like Terrace Ridge Park. This modest yet peaceful park is a family favorite, offering a playground, shaded picnic areas and an 18-hole disc golf course. Closer to Lake Washington, you can head to Log Boom Park to spend the day relaxing on the beach or exploring the shimmering blue waters on a paddleboard or kayak.<br><br>The community is bordered on its southern edge by Ballinger Way Northeast. It's the area's central hub of business, where you'll find shops, grocery stores and restaurants like The Local 104. This neighborhood pizzeria will quickly become a favorite, offering wood-fired pizza, spacious outdoor seating and a tap wall with over 30 beverage options. If you drive further north on Ballinger Way, you'll find Ballinger Village, which has retail, restaurants and the local movie theater. If you head south on Ballinger Way, you'll find the Town Center at Lake Forest Park. This retail area has a bookstore, grocery store, dining and a mix of chain retail and novelty shops. The Town Center is also home to a Sunday farmer's market from May to October and a summer craft market. With just a sample of all the amenities available in the area, living in Turtle Rock offers the chance to live close to so much of the community's offerings. <br><br>Offering a mix of midcentury and new construction, excellent schools for families and proximity to various dining, retail and entertainment along Ballinger Way, Turtle Rock is a peaceful suburb with plenty to offer.