Relocating to Seattle Area from Chicagoland (Bellevue, Redmond: apartments, homes, neighborhoods)

[Lady Gloria]

I surely could use some help. I'm a retired, very active single lady who will be relocating to the Seattle area but cannot be too far from Mercer Island. I visited shortly and liked Kirkland because of it's quaintness and especially because of the boats, trails and water. Where else should I consider looking for an apartment that's not too much of a hassle (more than 20 minutes or so) from Mercer Island that is by the water, trails, hiking biking, etc.? I'm moving 7/21/2016. I love nature, hideaways, unique villages, etc. Not traffic, but I don't commute so that may not be an issue outside of commute hours...I HOPE!
Advice appreciated.

[mhays25]

Mercer Island itself has a good walkable apartment district.

Bellevue is another option. Old Bellevue would be good and has tons of apartments, some just opening now.

[homesinseattle]

Good morning Gloria. Mercer Island is lovely but not exactly what one would call quaint. Madison Park in Seattle is beautiful and character filled, one of my favorites parts of this region. That would put you at 30 minutes or so, depending on traffic. You might also look at Leschi, Madrona and Mount Baker neighborhoods of Seattle. They would put you at about 20 minutes, as you are retired and probably wouldn't be affected by peak commuting hours. The Meydenbauer/Old Bellevue area, as hays mentioned, might be worth a look. Come here, poke around, that's the best way.

[Lady Gloria]

Originally Posted by mhays25

Mercer Island itself has a good walkable apartment district.

Bellevue is another option. Old Bellevue would be good and has tons of apartments, some just opening now.

Thank you. I'll check both Mercer Island and Old Bellevue, although I'm thinking that Bellevue might be a little too commercial with high rises and such. Old Bellevue sounds nice.

[Lady Gloria]

Thank you! Never heard of those areas but will check them all out in a few weeks. Meanwhile, I can see what's online about those too.

[Lady Gloria]

Thank you...never heard of those places and will explore them soon. Really appreciate the feedback.

[pnwguy2]

I also moved back from the Chicago area, though with me it was suburban Chicago. Quaint is becoming harder to find, but you are on the right track...Kirkland toward the waterfront is indeed, Perhaps consider Seattle, it is not nearly Chicago-like when it comes to crime, etc. There are several "quaint" neighborhoods to explore...Wallingford, Greenwood, Fremont come to mind.

North of the city, Edmonds has that quality, and South of the city, check out Des Moines near the water. All these locations, perhaps with the exception of Edmonds, are less expensive than Mercer Island or Kirkland.

[CrazyDonkey]

Shorewood Heights Apartments - Mercer Island, WA | Zillow

[homesinseattle]

My pleasure Gloria. You expressed a love for "nature, hideaways, unique villages". The Eastside: Bellevue, Kikland, Redmond, Issaquah (and I'll include Mercer Island) is very nice but commonly thought of as the "suburbs", even though Bellevue is a sizable city in its own right. The things you mention though, in my opinion, scream "Seattle side".

The neighborhoods are character filled, have loads of well kept vintage homes, put you in close proximity to great walking/hiking. Seattle's excellent and nature filled parks were created by the Olmstead Brothers (the visionary landscape architecture and urban planning family responsible for Central Park in NYC and many other great places around the country). Being in those neighborhoods puts you closer to wonderful symphony, ballet, repertory theatre. As you are retired, commuting won't affect you as much as it does some.

So, Madison Park will steal your heart and probably would work fine for you. Madrona, Leschi, Mount Baker and by the water Colombia City/Seward Park would be excellent too. Seward Park is an area but also one of the best aforementioned Seattle parks, on the water with great trails and old growth trees.

[Lady Gloria]

Thank you very much. I hadn't even considered south of Seattle or Seattle itself b/c of all the complaints about traffic. But now I will look South, too. The rents are really high as you know on the Eastside and am getting discouraged, but still looking. I hear so many good things about Edmonds.
I fell in love with a little town North called LaConner. Wish it were not so far from single active life.