Lake Tapps

Lakefront living is a dream for many homeseekers, and when your lakefront home also has stunning views of Mount Ranier, your dream is even sweeter. The city of Bonney Lake has about eight square miles of land, one mile of water and is home to about 20,000 people. It’s located 20 miles east of Tacoma, Washington and an hour south of Seattle. Living here offers tranquility, large lots and plenty of room between streets and homes. Those who enjoy fishing will enjoy hooking rainbow trout, which are stocked regularly. The lake is small, and motorized boats are not permitted, which preserves the peace and quiet. But, if you have a boat, it’s a quick two-mile drive to Lake Tapp, a five-square-mile reservoir that offers a boat launch and a popular swimming area. Residents of Bonney Lake enjoy three parks, good schools, and nearby shopping and restaurants. But the star of the show is the view you’ll have of the fir-tree-surrounded lake and breathtaking Mount Ranier, which is the largest stratovolcano in the Cascade Mountain Range.<br><br>Christine Gordon, Realtor with Keller Williams Real Estate, and a long-time resident of Pierce County explains its appeal. “Bonney Lake is a small lake, but because of its size, it offers a really peaceful and quiet setting. The neighborhood offers a true lake house community, where people are welcoming, friendly, and are here to enjoy the beauty of the Pacific Northwest.” Tiny waterfront fishermen’s cabins with just one bedroom have recently sold for about $500,000. Expansive waterfront homes with about 3,400 square feet and a private dock can be found for about $1,700,000. The community offers a variety of traditional and modern family homes, all within a five-minute drive to the lake, that range widely from about $600,000 to $1,300,000.<br><br>Schools in Bonney Lake are part of the Sumner-Bonney Lake School District, which has an overall B-plus rating from Niche. Bonney Lake Elementary also has a B-plus rating from Niche and offers pre-kindergarten through sixth grade. Lakeridge Middle offers sixth through eighth grades and has an A-minus rating from Niche. It's also ranked one of the best public middle schools in the state of Washington. Bonney Lake High is a top-ranked best public high school in Pierce County, has a B-rating from Niche, and offers advanced placement courses for college credit.<br><br>Allan Yorke City Park offers a playground, green space, walking trails, and a skate park, all with magnificent views of Mount Ranier. Victor Falls City Park offers views of the 70-foot-high falls for which it is named, as well as hiking paths, picnic tables, and historic markers. Enjoy the silence of the forested park and the beauty of Fennel Creek and surrounding Douglas Fir, White Oak and Sugar Maple trees. If rainy weather deters your outside plans, head to Lake Tapps Pilates, located in Bonney Lake. Carrie Jayne Clothing and Consignment Boutique has a wide assortment of clothing, furnishings and home décor. <br><br>Sumalee’s Thai Cuisine offers lunch specials and take-out, but you can also grab a cozy table by a window if you get there early enough for dinner. Try their Spring Rolls with plum sauce or their popular pad thai. Date night is a good time to try Glow Martini Lounge. From crafty martinis to fresh bistro food, their menu offers just enough and not too much, in a warm and welcoming setting. When you’re planning a celebration or just want a creative dessert to bring to work, Big Smiles Bakery is limited only by your imagination. They offer several flavors and are highly customizable. Fred Meyer is the place to get groceries, as well as home goods and housewares. They’re located south of the lake on Highway 410, right across the street from Home Depot. Target and Costco are just down the road too. <br><br>The Pacific Northwest has plenty of lakefront communities to consider when buying a house. But when you’re looking for peace, quiet and a healthy dose of solitude, Bonney Lake may be the place you’ll want to call home.

Breathe in the scent of freshly cut grass and drive past the occasional grazing cow as you head home to Prairie Heights. While the atmosphere feels lightyears from city limits, many people who call the neighborhood home commute into the city every day. “People are coming down our way now and really enjoying that slower, more country-style living—and then they can drive to those bigger areas to work,” explains Kelly Heap of Terrafin, an award-winning Realtor with decades of experience in the area. “We are getting expansions, but it hasn’t lost that small-town flavor.” Just over 40 miles south of Seattle, the neighborhood is home to about 5,000 people. Some yards feature decorative shrubbery and wooden fences, while others include vast patches of grass interrupted only by towering trees. Find manufactured homes with covered decks in Shiloh Park and contemporary-style homes with stone accents in gated communities like Winter Pond. While streets in homeowner associations veer off main roads and lead to quaint cul-de-sacs with several homes along the rounded edges, others lead to dirt roads and apparent countryside. Mobile and manufactured homes begin at around $175,000, while three-bedroom homes on at least 1-acre lots range from $400,000 to $1,000,000, with price impacted by year of construction and home features. Though the neighborhood shares many traits and amenities with Buckley, students in Prairie Heights attend different schools within the White River School District, the 6th-best school district in Pierce County, according to Niche. Students begin at Foothills Elementary, a B-plus-rated school walkable from home. From here, students transition to Glacier Middle and ultimately graduate from White River High, both of which earn a B rating. White River High also includes after-school activities like Knowledge Bowl, Diversity Club, and Future Business Leaders of America. Surrounded by parks, the neighborhood bubbles over with recreational opportunities. “There’s a smaller lake, Bonney Lake, but Lake Tapps is the big draw,” Heap says. Within 6 miles, reach the shores of Lake Tapps and gain access to an array of activities when the weather is right, usually from June through October. “It has fishing, it has swimming, but people can also ski on the lake and do fun stuff like that,” Heap expands. You can also enjoy the sound of local bands and the buzz of an outdoor marketplace throughout July and August at Allan Yorke, a small park at the lake’s southern edge. On the other hand, you can take advantage of the state park surrounding the lake, which includes over 100 acres of beaches, picnic areas and scenic trails. When you’re looking for a place to hit the green, Tapps Island Golf Course provides an option right at the center of the lake, allowing captivating waterside and mountain views to accompany your every swing. If gazing at Mount Rainier as you play beckons you to climb to its peak, reach the mountains in less than 50 miles. During the winter months, build your strength to prepare for the big climb at Gordon Family YMCA, less than 7 miles away, or drive into Tacoma to access multiple climbing gyms. While you won’t find retailers right in the neighborhood, the nearest commercial corridor is only 3 miles away. To pick up the basics, browse Safeway or Fred Meyer, or, for bulk shopping, ride another mile down Route 410 and gather everything you need at Costco. Along the same road are urgent cares, coffee shops and several restaurants as well. Slide into a booth at Hungry Dawg’s Diner for brunch or enjoy chimichangas and margaritas at Mazatlan for dinner. Though Prairie Heights has no public transit, Route 410 borders the neighborhood to the north, allowing a simple commute into the surrounding cities. “We have people that commute to Seattle, to the east side, which is where a lot of our tech companies reside,” Heap explains. As you drive, enjoy pastoral views for about 30 miles of the trip. If traveling to Tacoma instead, reach Thea Foss Waterway in 20 miles and Point Defiance within 30 miles. For travels beyond Washington state limits, drive less than 35 miles to the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Experience the convergence of commuter-friendly living and peaceful rural life in Prairie Heights.