Mountlake Terrace

Tucked on the west side of Mountlake Terrace, Lake Ballinger embodies the city’s recreation-heavy persona and has easy access to nearby cities as it sits between major freeways. “One of the things that makes Mountlake Terrace unique is that we are a small town close to Seattle. We’re central to Bothell, Everett and Bellevue,” says Rikki Fruichantie, Communications Manager for the City of Mountlake Terrace. The neighborhood is divided, with the north accommodating most housing and the southern part dominated by Ballinger Park. The residential area resembles a suburb with cul-de-sac driveways and shaded trees. The park’s crown jewel is its large lake, which draws for fun water activities. It’s a community where neighbors look out for one another and strive for better. “Last week, I walked to the eye doctor. I wanted to say Hi to four people, including a business owner and a police officer,” Fruichantie adds. “There are a lot of folks who have been here a long time and new folks. That makes us a richer community because we’re diverse." The 55-acre Ballinger Park anchors the neighborhood. “I would say it’s a regional attraction,” says Fruichantie. “It used to be a regional golf course, and now it includes passive and active recreation.” The park's center is a large lake where many launch their kayaks, fish or swim. Besides the lake, competitive baseball or soccer games may occur within the sports field, or kids enjoy the playground area. “One of the big projects within that park is the whole creek restoration, which focuses on restoration and habitat,” Fruichantie says. “The creek will be more meandering and hopefully better for habitat and salmon.” Hikers may connect to the Interurban Trail, which stretches 24 miles to Everett. Golfers can tee up for a round of 18 at the public Nile Shrine Golf Course. Lake Ballinger offers mostly single-family homes and apartments, but some condo complexes exist. Condos surround the lake, usually along Lakeview Drive or off 74th Ave. Prices can range from $250,000 for a one-bedroom and bathroom to $540,000 for a 1,200-square-foot two-bedroom. Single-family homes vary from ramblers to bi-levels. Two-bedroom rambler homes can start at $435,000 and peak at over $800,000. Multi-level homes can start at around $675,000 and peak at around $1.1 million for a home with lake views. Most of the city’s local dining is along 56th Avenue and 244th Street. “Most businesses are smaller family-owned. We do have two breweries that have a great following,” says Andrew Appelwick, Events Coordinator for the City of Mountlake Terrace. “There’s definitely a wide offering of food and cuisine.” Mornings often start with a cup from Espresso Break. Time Out: Greek and American Restaurant is a family-owned business that has been operating in the city for over 20 years. Diners enjoy the spots for their homey atmosphere and large portions. Baguus Little Asia is a neighborhood favorite, specializing in Pan Asian dishes, but many diners love it for its self-pour beer wall. Hemlock State Brewery went from brewing in the garage to serving over 15 beers on tap seven days a week. Grocery shopping can be done at Ballinger Thriftway. More shopping and dining are on the way as the city is undergoing lots of renovations. “We are redeveloping the town center, and part of doing that is bringing more housing, shops and services,” Fruichantie says. “We’re seeing that happen, and it’s picking up steam.” Community Engagement in Mountlake Terrace has grown significantly, quadrupling the number of events from three in 2022 to 16 in 2024. Newly added events include Terrace Summer Nights, which is the city’s take on a concert and movie series. The annual 3rd of July event in Ballinger Park draws over 7,000 people. Festivalgoers stroll the park to taste the food trucks and play the games. The evening is then capped off with a bright fireworks show. “It’s one of the events we claim as our own. A third of the people came from outside,” Appelwick says. “It has walkable paths, and there is more opportunity to relax and lounge without the congestion.” However, the largest event held in the city is the Tour De Terrace. 70,000 people attend the weekend event to celebrate community pride through a carnival, parade, live music, food trucks, and a car show. Students may start their education within the Edmonds School District, which earns a B from Niche. Kindergarten through sixth-grade students can begin at Mountlake Terrace Elementary, which earns a B-minus grade. Seventh and eighth graders can go to Brier Terrace Middle. The B-plus school offers a Highly Capable program for students who excel in learning outside the regular classroom. Students receive diplomas from Mountlake Terrace High, another B-plus school. Their STEM Magnet program provides four years of study within that field. That includes STEM-based competitions, as well as engineering, computer science, and biotechnology courses. Commuters have straightforward options to reach Seattle. The neighborhood borders Interstate 5, where it’s a 14-mile drive south with traffic. Highways 99 and 104 connect drivers to Everett and Bothell. Come August, drivers can take their vehicles to the Mountlake Terrace station for light rail access to Seattle.

If you want to be centrally located, with excellent schools, beautiful parks and local amenities right at your fingertips, look no further than Mountlake Terrace's Town Center. “The area is a favorite because of how easy access to I-5 is, so there’s a quick commute to Seattle and Everett. It’s also going to have a light rail station soon, which will make commuting even easier,” says Realtor Michael Good with Coldwell Banker Danforth. A long-time established community north of Seattle, homes here primarily consist of mid-to-late 20th-century ramblers and cozy bungalows with Craftsman-inspired elements. These homes feature private lots surrounded by shady evergreen and maple trees, and while not every street has a sidewalk, these quiet enclaves are still peaceful enough to enjoy a morning jog or evening stroll. One of the neighborhood's newest perks is its new construction, primarily in contemporary town house developments. These luxury multifamily units are great for those looking for a turnkey option with a lower price point. Prices in the area range from $700,000 for a town house to $800,000 to $1 million for a single-family home. Families with school-aged children will attend the Edmonds School District, including Terrace Park Elementary School. Rated above average for equity on Great Schools, students can access the library's digital resources, including online tutoring. The school is also next door to the Mountlake Terrace Recreation Pavilion, which offers childcare, after-school activities and summer events. Alderwood Middle School ranks above average for student academic progress on Great Schools. In addition to its stellar academics, students can participate in the school's performing arts program, which includes courses in Jazz Band, Symphonic Orchestra, Choir and Drama. Mountlake Terrace High School serves students in grades nine through twelve, scoring above average on test scores and college readiness on Great Schools. The school provides students with an extensive College and Career Center, which offers college visits, job fairs, financial aid and SAT tutoring. You might be surprised by the number of parks, forests and outdoor recreation this neighborhood offers. The most significant park in the area is Terrace Creek Park, which encompasses over 60 acres of forest, wetlands and amenities. If you're looking for an easy hike, you can trek through the miles of wooded trails here or walk with your pup through the adjacent off-leash dog park. There's also an extensive play area and an 18-hole disc golf course for your enjoyment. Athletic folks will love playing pickleball or pick-up soccer at Evergreen Playfield. This community area is where you'll find seasonal Little League games or residents taking their children to the playground. Another favorite is the Veteran Memorial Park. This quiet, established park has a small walking loop and picnic area to enjoy when you need solace and relaxation. The community is bordered by I-5 and soon to be home to a light-rail station, making it easy to commute to Seattle or Everett. You can also easily access any of the surrounding area's dining, retail and entertainment. Less than five miles from Bothell, Edmonds and Shoreline, it's one of the most centrally located neighborhoods you can buy in. Within the community, 56th Avenue is where you'll find several restaurants and local hot spots. Grab an after-work drink at Diamond Knot Brewpub, or order takeout from Amorn Thai, a family-run eatery. Further down 56th Avenue are grocery stores, restaurants, a movie theater and longstanding favorite Grand Pere Bakery. This family-owned and operated French bakery is the perfect place for a morning pick-me-up or a Sunday morning pastry. Offering a range of established and contemporary homes, well-rated schools and one of the most central locations in the area, Town Center is one of the best places to buy in Mountlake Terrace.

About 15 miles north of Seattle. Gateway is one of six neighborhoods in Mountlake Terrace, a community originally designed for World War II veterans coming home after service, but officially incorporated in 1954. Gateway, which makes up the southern chunk of Mountlake Terrace, is mostly comprised of traditional single-family homes and townhomes. Homes in Gateway fill protracted, and sometimes winding, residential blocks; homes in Gateway tend to have lawns of small to moderate size, and some blocks are lined with sidewalks. Houses tend to date back to around 1950 — the era when Mountlake Terrace was taking root. But the styles of homes vary from traditional, one-story ramblers to spacious multi-story Craftsman constructions. There are also newer townhome developments in Gateway, as well as a new community of cottage-style homes named Velorum. There are two primary park spaces within Gateway, one is Terrace Ridge Park and the other is the Forest Crest Playfield complex. Terrace Ridge Park is the bigger of the two, with 6 acres of space containing paths to walk, a playground and open hillsides. Forest Crest Playfield is a youth sports destination, with a pair of baseball fields and a T-ball field that can double as a soccer field. The Mountlake Terrace Youth Athletic Association uses the fields for its leagues over the course of the year. Gateway, and the rest of Mountlake Terrace, is part of the Edmonds School District, which includes three elementary schools, a middle school and a high school. Van Ry Road, in a western pocket of Gateway, is a thoroughfare in the neighborhood, routing to a post office, Axis Pharmacy Northwest and a movie theater, Regal Cinebarre Mountlake. There are multiple restaurants nearby as well, including Mazatlan Mexican Restaurant Mountlake and Gabriel’s Fire Restaurant, Grill and BBQ. Gabriel’s Fire uses all made-from-scratch recipes, for everything on its menu. To the north, Hemlock State Brewing Co. is a popular watering hole. Founded by three former homebrewers, the business expanded out of a converted garage into its current location on 56th Avenue West. A variety of ales, IPAs and lagers are available in a taproom that’s open seven days a week. The Gateway neighborhood is apt for athletes, too. Next to the Forest Crest Playfield complex is the Forest Crest Athletic Club, which offers youth and adult tennis lessons. The facility has indoor tennis courts that can be booked, and features pickleball courts as well. To the west, just beyond the confines of the neighborhood, sits the Nile Shrine Golf Course — a public circuit with a par 67 layout. Private and group golf lessons are available there. There are multiple annual events that take place just outside of Gateway. One is Mountlake’s yearly July 3 fireworks show, at Ballinger Park, with music and food trucks, before a fireworks display over Lake Ballinger. Another is the city’s annual tree lighting in December, at city hall. The event includes choir performances, hot cocoa, cookies and more. And the Arts of the Juried Art Show, which has run for more than 40 years, is held at Mountlake Terrace Public Library. It’s one of the most prominent juried art shows in the Pacific Northwest, with hundreds of art pieces on display.