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Walk Score... What about a Hike Score?

By
Managing Real Estate Broker with Keller Williams Bellevue 47538

Walk Score... What about a Hike Score?

Issaquah Washington is a suburb east of Seattle known for its Fish Hatchery, Salmon Days Celebration, Boehm's Chocolates and Costco Headquarters.  Downtown Issaquah is part early 1900's.  Along historic Front St., a dairy may be the first thing you see with a large mural painted on it, store fronts reminiscent of days gone by, The Village Theater with professional musicals and full blown productions, Fischer meats, and many other small retailers.  Down Gilman Boulevard lies Gilman Village, a group of the original homes once lived in by loggers and settlers new to the area converted into a quaint group of businesses and restaurants.  Beautifully preserved, these buildings are fun to check out even if you are not interested in the variety of merchandise sold inside.  Further down Gilman Boulevard is modern Issaquah.  Strip malls with grocery stores, large retailers like Target, REI, & Ross; carrying all the comforts and conveniences anyone could ask for.  Within a little more than a mile you can walk from the 1920's to the 2000's. 

Above all this sits Squak Mountain, a foothill to the Cascades and an early target for the loggers.  Squak looks uninhabited from a distance, tree covered and the likely target of modern loggers, but it isn't.  Dotted all along the roads are homes built from the 1950s onward.  A mix of affordable homes up to some higher end luxury homes with views of Lake Sammamish and the mountains.  Parts of Squak are undeveloped and have been set aside for a State Park.  Trails enter the park from all around the mountain, and one of these trails is just a half (nearly level) mile walk out of the front door of my listing. 

Situated on a divided road, this home was built in the 1970's.  Back then lots were generous and you could have a discussion in your home without the neighbor hearing every word.  With a quarter acre lot, this property has room enough for a 5th wheel trailer or a boat to enjoy on Lake Sammamish or Puget Sound.  Inside, the home is filled with natural light.  Updates throughout the home give it a new feeling, without the sterile sense you get in so many cookie cutter new construction homes.  It feels solid, stately without chasing the latest trend.  Downstairs is an open family room with cedar lined walls.  The gas fireplace adds to the cozy feeling.  The laundry/mud room off the garage has a shower.  Take a hike in the rain, come in downstairs and throw your wet clothes right into the washing machine.  Take a shower right there, put on your robe and relax in the basement family room in front of the fire.  Life above the village, on a mountain called Squak.

Details of the home can be seen at http://www.postlets.com/res/2247999

The Issaquah Alps Hiking and Trail Club have information about hiking Squak Mountain at http://www.issaquahalps.org/issaquah.html

www.Walkscore.com  is an interesting site that rates homes on the walkability of neighborhoods based on convenience to merchants, schools, transportation among other things.  

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Dan Tabit       206-310-8629    425-868-SOLD(7653)  DanTabit@Northstone.net

One stop Real Estate & Mortgage Services Serving Sammamish, Issaquah, Redmond, Bellevue, Mercer Island and the greater Seattle area.  

Comments (3)

Dan Edwards 425-276-7008
Keller Williams Realty - Bellevue - Bellevue, WA

Great looking home for sure.  Me and my son have hike a few of these trails including Poo Poo Point.  The best think about this hike, wasn't just saying the name over and over again, but the view at the top will make you say oooh oooh.

 

Oct 08, 2009 10:29 AM
Dan Tabit
Keller Williams Bellevue - Sammamish, WA

Thanks Dan.  Have you ever hiked up from the trail head near the home?  You go past the Bullitt cabin, or what remains of it.  The Bullitts are an old Seattle family that owned a lot of media. 

Oct 10, 2009 01:06 PM
Elsie Janzen Tabit
Northstone Real Estate, Inc. - Sammamish, WA

Idylwood Drive is my favorite street on Squak Mountain in Issaquah.  The grassy median down middle of the road gives the whole neighborhood an estate-like feeling.  The house is impeccably clean and updates are striking and very much in keeping with the home's character.

Oct 10, 2009 03:07 PM