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Showing newest 32 of 35 posts from May 2008. Show older posts
Showing newest 32 of 35 posts from May 2008. Show older posts

May 26, 2008

Federal Way Washington Real Estate. Living In Federal Way WA

Federal Way Washington Real Estate


The City of Federal Way, Washington, is located between Seattle and Tacoma along the I-5 corridor, with Mt. Rainier to the east and Puget Sound to the west.

Those interested in residential real estate in Federal Way will find many types and styles of homes for sale in Federal Way, as well as community events of interest and local amenities unique to the Federal Way area. Others may enjoy outdoor activities and family friendly atmosphere of Federal Way, WA.

If you are considering buying or selling property, planning to relocate, looking for Federal Way homes for sale, or looking for any other information about real estate in Federal Way, or the surrounding areas, you have come to the right place. This Federal Way real estate resource for offers everything you will need: access to property listings with photographs and virtual tours, home valuation tools, and real estate articles to help guide you through the home buying or selling process. You can also find a Federal Way real estate agent, REALTOR or real estate broker to help you with you buy or sell a home, and find information about Federal Way communities , schools, real estate market conditions, recreation and much more!

Preview Federal Way and Seattle area real estate ... access homes and land for sale. iGet MLS access to Federal Way real estate information and Federal Way real estate professionals who specialize in serving the Federal Way area.

Originally a logging settlement, the area was first called "Federal Way" in 1929, when Federal Way School District #210 was created. The name derived from U.S. Route 99 (now State Route 99 or Pacific Highway South), completed that decade, which ran through the area on its way from Everett and Seattle to Tacoma. Federal Way High School was built, and about 20 years later, the name was adopted by the local Chamber of Commerce. The city was incorporated on February 28, 1990.

Federal Way is home to Weyerhaeuser, the largest private owner of softwood timberland in the world. Weyerhaeuser has opened much of its land to the public, including two botanical gardens: the Rhododendron Species Foundation and Botanical Garden, and the Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection. Federal Way is also home to the US office headquarters of World Vision.

Other attractions in the city include the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center, which features an Olympic size swimming pool and had been used for the Goodwill Games in 1990, and Celebration Park, with sports fields and wooded trails. The city has also developed many lake front and neighborhood parks and playgrounds.

Wild Waves Theme Park, the largest amusement park in the region, is known as Wild Waves and Enchanted Village. It is located on the south side of the city and is the Seattle area's only permanent amusement park. Six Flags purchased Wild Waves in December 2000. However after low sales, Six Flags sold the park in April of 2007 to Parc Management LLC of Jacksonville, Fl for $31.75 million.

Federal Way is locally identified by its 1990s semi-urban development, characterized by landscaped off-street multi-structure apartment complexes and shopping centers. The Commons at Federal Way (previously Sea Tac Mall), the city's largest and only indoor shopping center, is located on S 320th St. and Pacific Hwy South (State Route 99) near the city's main Interstate 5 exit.

Major city and state parks i Federal Way WA:

Steel Lake Park - located on S 312th St just east of Pacific Hwy S; large lakefront area with picnic areas, playground, and boat launch.

Celebration Park - on 11th Ave S just south of S 324th St; with sports fields and wooded trails, and Independence Day fireworks.

Dumas Bay Centre - Has a beautiful 12 acre park on site with a conference and retreat facility. This park sits on the Puget Sound and looks toward the Olympic Mountain chain.

Dash Point State Park - on SW Dast Point Rd at the west end of town; the city's only developed waterfront park, with hiking trails and campground.

Five Mile Lake - on Military Rd S and S 364th St in the unincorporated area on the east side of town.

West Hylebos Wetlands Park - at S 348th St and 4th Ave S, hiking trails through wetlands.

The BPA Trail extending from the entrance to Celebration Park west to approximately 18th Ave SW, then south to the Pierce County border. The trail is paved and lies under the Bonneville Power Administration transmission line.

May 23, 2008

Spokane Valley Real Estate. Living in Spokane Valley WA

Spokane Valley, Washington located on the eastern border of the State of Washington. The City was newly incorporated March 31, 2003. With an estimated population of 88,280 (WA State OFM, 2007), Spokane Valley is the 7th largest city in Washington State. The incorporation of Spokane Valley was the largest in the state and the 2nd largest single incorporation in U.S. history.

The incorporated area of Spokane Valley encompasses approximately 38.5 square miles of land area, with room for residential, commercial and industrial expansion. It has an extensive retail tax base and is home to several major auto dealerships and the Spokane Valley Mall, which includes over 700,000 square feet of gross leaseable floor area. There are an estimated 5,000 businesses in Spokane Valley, with estimated annual retail sales of $56,000,000.

The City of Spokane Valley has three major public facilities and thirteen parks. The Spokane Indians, a minor league baseball team, plays its home games in Avista Stadium located just inside the city limits on the east side of Havana Street. Avista Stadium is one of the finest facilities in the Northwest League and can seat 7,200 spectators.

The second major facility is the Spokane County Fair and Expo Center. The Fairgrounds has been expanded this year with the construction of a new covered Grandstand. Various shows and events are held throughout the year at the Fairgrounds.

CenterPlace, a 54,000 square foot regional and community gathering facility, is now complete. In addition to a great room/banquet facility; numerous meeting rooms, multi-purpose rooms and a high tech lecture hall, it houses the City of Spokane Valley Senior Center and some Community Colleges of Spokane classes. CenterPlace combines with the recently completed Mirabeau Meadows Park and Mirabeau Springs to form a regional conference and cultural center serving Northeast Washington, Northern Idaho and Western Montana.

The Spokane Centennial Trail boasts 37 miles of paved path running along the Spokane River from the Idaho state line (3 miles from our border) to Nine Mile Falls, west of the City of Spokane (which borders the City of Spokane Valley to the west). It has something for everyone. You can walk, bike or in-line skate, ride horse-back in designated areas or simply enjoy the natural beauty of the area.

Spokane Valley prides itself on quality neighborhoods and schools, along with strong business and retail centers. Friendly people, natural surroundings and beautiful weather are part of what make Spokane Valley a favorite destination for visitors from all over the world. With all four seasons represented, we have an abundance of recreation activities. There are four distinct ski resorts, 75 lakes within an hour’s drive, and many hiking and biking trails to enjoy.

May 22, 2008

Bellevue WA Living. Bellevue WA Real Estate

Bellevue WA Neighborhood Life

The City of Bellevue is a great place to live, with nearly 100 parks and vibrant neighborhoods. The government continues to make it easier and safer to get around the city, whether you're in a car, riding a bike or walking. Citizens help make the city a good home by participating in homeowners associations and choosing neighborhood improvement projects worthy of government funding.

From waterfront estates to suburban ramblers and condominiums, Bellevue offers many housing choices to suit any lifestyle. Bellevue has over 47,000 houses within a 31 square mile radius, with over half of the homes older than 30-years. Downtown Bellevue is considered one of the fastest growing areas of the city.

Bellevue is an ideal place to live and work and boasts a preponderance of high-tech companies. Bellevue is home of almost 20% of King Counties high-tech firms and has become the metropolitan hub of the Eastside. Some of the high-tech companies that call Bellevue home include Microsoft, Attachmate, Onyx Software, and Interlinq Software.

Bellevue WA Economic Development
Bellevue is an exciting and vibrant place to do business. Here is a wealth of information about doing business in the city and with the city, about the demographics and economy of Bellevue, about business taxes and permits and about planning for Bellevue’s business future.

Bellevue is the Eastside's premier city. While once merely a rural getaway for Seattleites, Bellevue recently, and rapidly, has become an essential metropolis opposite Seattle on Lake Washington. The locale's longtime country spirit is now infused with big city tastes: people buy their minks in shopping malls built over grounds where the minks were once actually hunted. It is Washington's fourth largest city, home to a full quarter of the state's high-tech jobs, and brandishes its own distinct skyline proudly over Lake Washington.


Bellevue WA History

As grand as Bellevue is now; its beginnings are humble. The region's first two settlers, William Meydenbauer and Aaron Mercer, are probably its most famous, having Mercer Slough and Meydenbauer bay named after them respectfully. However, neither man stayed much longer than it took to get a land title or settler's patent. Mercer's furnishings were so meager in 1869 that his family had to take turns with the silverware, and by 1871 they had already moved away to Duamish. So, while Mercer's name is long lasting in Bellevue, he was not. Meydenbauer, a prominent German immigrant and Seattle baker, has a similar story. He had already sold half of his forty acres only years after arriving. Much later, wanting an Eastside summer home, he returned, but after finding land prices had skyrocketed to seventy-five dollars per acre, he instead bought land in Hunts Point. All the same, permanent settlers did eventually come, and many of these unsung pioneers were Civil War veterans who had been promised land in return for their military service.

Life on the Eastside was hard on its inhabitants. Supplies had to be rowed in across the lake, cougars roamed freely, and residents couldn't wander far off the narrow trails due to thick underbrush and dense knots of fir trees, whose trunks stretched up to twelve feet in diameter and three-hundred feet high. The painstaking labor required in getting these trees out prevented even loggers from operating more than a mile inland for a time to come.

However hard it was on them, families did eventually carve out their niches here and were slowly followed by others. In 1883 Bellevue got its first schoolhouse, whose ten by twelve feet held only three seats, a blackboard, and a desk for the teacher. Three years later a Post Office was built, and it is perhaps linked to this construction that Bellevue was then named. Exactly who named Bellevue is debatable: it was either the man that built the first schoolhouse, the man that provided the windows for that schoolhouse, or the first postmaster. Legends vary, but no matter who gave the name, it means 'beautiful view' and is certainly an apt description of the area.

Bellevue remained a remote location through the turn of the century. Most of its citizens worked in the surrounding coalmines or at farming berries in the local meadows. Only a handful of roads skirted the area, and in 1906 the first rail line came through. People were especially grateful for the train service, as it liberated them from having to boat in all of their supplies from across Lake Washington. Still coming across the lake in plenty, though, were some of Seattle's wealthier denizens, making excursions to the botanical wonderland that was, and still is, Wildwood Park. Many a lavish party had been thrown on warm summer nights in the park, sometimes stirring things up a little too much for the locals' taste.

The 1920's brought good tidings for Bellevue. The decade began with the construction of a highway linking Bellevue to Newport, a bridge connecting Bellevue to Mercer Island, and Lake Washington Boulevard. These routes were the first serious links between Bellevue and its neighbors, and the town began to earn its place on the map because of them. By this time Bellevue had developed a substantial strawberry yield and decided to celebrate the tasty berry with an annual festival. The agricultural success was in large part thanks to Bellevue's thriving Asian community, who were responsible for up to ninety-five percent of the strawberry crop at that time. The festival itself went off splendidly, and by 1935 drew up to 15,000 people into the small town.

As the1920's drew to a close, Bellevue remained a prosperous and quaint town. James Ditty, however, saw a future that would change Bellevue's smallness-a future that would come from across the water by road. He predicted a bridge linking Seattle and Bellevue, and he developed plans for an Eastside that would hold over 200,000 residents. People laughed at him, but he erected Lakeside Supermarket in an accordingly suitable location all the same. The bridge didn't come until 1940, and when it did many people thought it would sink. On opening day, though, the bridge successfully transported some 12,000 people. Bellevue Square Mall, started in 1945, now stands on the same ground which James Ditty first built his supermarket.

For a time after the bridge was built, Bellevue was billed to Seattleites as 'rural living fifteen minutes from downtown.' As soon as the 1953 incorporation though, city planners realized this locale would not remain rural for long. The next decade would mark the development of the hospitals, roads, bridges, and schools that would convert Bellevue into a full-blown city. The final death-knell for the area as a suburb came in 1981 when the downtown was rezoned to accommodate skyscrapers. The city planners' wisdom has proved useful over time: Bellevue has grown from 6,000 to 117,000 residents since 1953 and still retains the comfortable living that first drew families here. Quiet low-crime residential areas rest minutes away from downtown bustle, and parking is as plentiful as ever-well into the 21st century, Bellevue is thriving!

If you're a first time home buyer, investing in Bellevue WA homes for sale, looking for Bellevue WA foreclosure information, planning to relocate or looking for a Bellevue WA custom built home in a private gated community you can find it here!

Mt. Rainier Area. Washing Mt Rainier Park Information

Washington's Mt. Rainier lies at the heart of a vibrant vacation region beckoning your exploration for a weekend, a week and longer. The Northwest's premier mountain destination for Hiking, relaxation, recreation and discovery, the Mt. Rainier region offers incredible sights and vacation activities. This website will help you uncover the wonders of Mt. Rainier and design your own Rainier vacation adventure. Please enjoy your Mt. Rainier visit.

Mt. Rainier was designated as a national park in 1899. The park consists of 235,625 acres and 97 percent of that is designated as wilderness. In 1997 the park was designated a National Historic Landmark District as a showpiece for the "rustic" architecture of the 1920s and 30s.

Mt. Rainier -- at a lofty 14,411 feet -- may appear to visitors as off-limits and only accessible to climbers but that is not the case. Mount Rainier National Park has something to offer anyone, whether a regular visitor, a seasoned mountaineer or a tourist.

Though Mt. Rainier is still an active volcano and is encased in over 35 square miles of snow and ice, there are 147 miles of roads within the park and 240 miles of maintained trails ranging from easy nature walks to strenuous hikes.

There is no public transportation to Mount Rainier National Park. Private carriers that provide bus service include Gray Line Tours (800-426-7532 or 206-262-5208) with daily trips from Seattle to Paradise from early May through September 30.

20 of the most popular attractions in Mount Rainier National Park
Sunrise, the highest drivable point in the park.
Narada Falls (168ft) & Reflection Lake hike.
Pebble creek & Camp Muir.
Tipsoo Lake on Chinook Pass Scenic Byway & Naches Loop Trail.
Wildflower display Mowich Lake.
Silver Falls on the Ohanapecosh River.
1,000 year old trees in the Grove of the Patriarchs.
Box Canyon.
90 mile Wonderland Trail encircling the mountain - Carter Falls, Madcap Falls & Paradise River via the Wonderland trail.

National Park Inn at Longmire and mineral springs founded in 1883 by James Longmire.
26 glacier system on 35 square miles, with Carbon Glacier the thickest ice (700ft) Nisqually Glacier the most accessible, Emmons Glacier is the largest in the continental US.
Rainforest in the Carbon River area.
Martha Falls on Snow and Bench Lakes trail.
Pinnacle Peak to see the Autumn Colors in meadows above Paradise and Stevens Canyon Rd.
Gobblers Knob & Lake George.
Indian Henrys Hunting Ground trail via 1947 Kautz Creek Mudflow.
Comet Falls & Van Trump Park.
Wildflowers at Nisqually Vista Trail and Skyline trails at Paradise (Paradise Glacier) & Paradise Inn Built in 1917 using Alaskan Cedar salvaged from a fire in nearby Silver Forest, (currently under renovation). Trail head to summit climb.

Rampart Ridge & Mirror Lakes.
Ohanapecosh Campgrounds, hot springs and nature trails

For current road status within the Mt. Rainier National Park: Call (360) 569-2211 x1

Department of Transportation website
Call 1-800-695-ROAD (7623) toll-free statewide
Call 206-DOT-HIWY (368-4499) in the Greater Seattle area

REVISED 2008 ROAD OPENING DATES:
Chinook Pass/Hwy 410: tentative opening date is June 5th.
Cayuse Pass/Hwy 123: tentatively scheduled for the week of May 26th.
NOTE: Chinook and Cayuse Pass will have 20 minute delays due to resurfacing of the road.
Stevens Canyon Road: target opening date is mid-June.
Sunrise Road: opens July 3rd and remains open until Columbus Day or the first significant snow fall.

OTHER OPENINGS - CAMPGROUNDS/VISITOR CENTERS:
Jackson Visitor Center at Paradise will open daily for the summer season: May 3rd.
In October, the New Visitor Center at Paradise will open.
Ohanapecosh campground opens: May 23th
Cougar Rock campground opens: June 6th
The Ohanapecosh Visitor Center opens June 13th.

OTHER ROADS OF INTEREST:
Westside Road at Nisqually Entrance is open for foot/ski traffic only.
Carbon River Road (open to hikers and bicyclists only).
The road to Windy Ridge (FS 99) at Mt. St. Helens from Randle on US Hwy 12 is closed.

OPEN DAILY:
Nisqually Entrance to Longmire.
Longmire to Paradise

Mount St. Helens WA. About Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument


Mount St. Helens WA. Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument

The Gifford Pinchot National Forest, located in southwest Washington State, is one of the oldest National Forests in the United States. Included as part of the Mount Rainier Forest Reserve in 1897, this area was set aside as the Columbia National Forest in 1908, and renamed the Gifford Pinchot National Forest in 1949. The Forest is 1,368,330 acres in size and includes the 110,330-acre Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument established by Congress in 1982.

Mt. Saint Helens Web Cam site (if it is working...check it out) Also check out this Mt. Saint Helens Web Cam site

At 8:32 Sunday morning, May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens erupted.

Shaken by an earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale, the north face of this tall symmetrical mountain collapsed in a massive rock debris avalanche. Nearly 230 square miles of forest was blown down or buried beneath volcanic deposits. At the same time a mushroom-shaped column of ash rose thousands of feet skyward and drifted downwind, turning day into night as dark, gray ash fell over eastern Washington and beyond. The eruption lasted 9 hours, but Mount St. Helens and the surrounding landscape were dramatically changed within moments.

In 1982, the President and Congress created the 110,000-acre National Volcanic Monument for research, recreation, and education. Inside the Monument, the environment is left to respond naturally to the disturbance.

Mount St. Helens Climbing Update

Winter / Spring Climbing Access is Limited: Record snowpack has formed large unstable cornices (snow overhangs) on the crater rim (please see climbing page and scroll down to cornice photo). Heavy snowfall has closed Forest Road 83 beyond Cougar Snopark (parking at Cougar SP is limited). Marble Mtn Snopark remains closed to a record snowpack. The snowpack may delay reopening of the road to Climber's Bivouac trailhead until as late as mid to late June. Spring climbers should note that closure of Forest Road 83 beyond Cougar Snopark adds 3-miles one-way distance and that climbing Mount St. Helens requires a multi-day climb. For the latest road and snopark information see winter recreation webpage.

2008 Climbing Permit Sales Begin February 1, 2008: Permits for the April 1 through October 31 climbing fee season are sold online, in-advance on a first-come, first-served basis through the Mount St. Helens Institute.

Climber's Register has been moved to the Lone Fir Resort, 16806 Lewis River Road, Cougar, WA. (360) 238-5210. Permits are required above 4800 foot elevation on the volcano year round. During the Nov 1 to March 31 winter climbing season permits are available at no charge by self-registration at the Climber's Register

Vancouver Washington Real Estate. Living in Vancouver WA

Vancouver Washington Real Estate

Looking for Vancouver Washington Real Estate? The Vancouver WA Market is great for buyers right now. More homes are on the market so there are more choices for buyers than ever before. Homes are taking longer to sell, so it is more important than ever for sellers to price their homes competitively. Not sure how to start? Search the Vancouver WA MLS - Multiple Listing Service just like Realtors and get a jump on the newest listings on the market.

Vancouver, Washington sits on the north bank of the Columbia River directly across from Portland, Oregon. The Pacific Coast is less than 90 miles to the west. The Cascade Mountain Range rises on the east. Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument and Mt. Hood are less than two hours away. The spectacular Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area lies 30 minutes to the east. Vancouver combines the excitement of a major metropolitan area with small-town charm and abundant recreational opportunities.

Vancouver WA Climate and weather
Vancouver enjoys mild weather with less average annual rainfall than Boston, Washington, D.C. or Atlanta. Seasons are distinct. Summer temperatures generally climb into the 80s. Winter nights rarely fall below 30 degrees fahrenheit. Our moderate climate results in lush forests and abundant foliage. Springtime explodes with blossoming trees and shrubs.

Average annual rainfall: 41.3 inches
Average annual snowfall: 6.5 inches
Growing season: 218 days

An Overview of Vancouver's History
For thousands of years, the Vancouver area was home to native people who flourished on the bounty of forest and river.

In May, 1792, American trader/sailor Robert Gray became the first non-native to enter the fabled “Great River of the West,” the Columbia River. Later that year, British Lt. William Broughton, serving under Capt. George Vancouver, explored 100 miles upriver. Along the way, he named a point of land along the shore in honor of his commander.

In 1806, American explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark camped near the Vancouver waterfront on the return leg of their famed western expedition. Lewis characterized the area as “the only desired situation for settlement west of the Rocky Mountains.”

In 1825, Dr. John McLoughlin decided to move the northwest headquarters of the Hudson’s Bay Company from Astoria to a more favorable setting upriver. He named the site after Point Vancouver on Broughton’s original map. Fort Vancouver was thus born.

For many years, Fort Vancouver was the center of all fur trading in the Pacific Northwest. It was also a center of British dominion over the Oregon Territory. In 1846, American control was extended north to the 49th parallel. The northwest became part of the United States.

In 1849, American troops arrived to establish Columbia (later Vancouver) Barracks. It served as military headquarters for much of the Pacific Northwest. The neighboring settlement was named “the City of Columbia.”

Finally, in 1857, the City of Vancouver was incorporated. Through the rest of the century, Vancouver steadily developed. In 1908, the first rail line east through the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge reached Vancouver. In 1910, a railroad bridge was opened south across the Columbia. In 1917, the Interstate Bridge was completed.

During World War I, the site later named Pearson Field was the location of the world's largest spruce cut-up mill. It cut raw timber into the lumber used to build the planes which helped win the war in Europe. During World War II, Vancouver’s Kaiser Shipyard built a variety of craft that contributed greatly to America’s war effort.

Today, Vancouver is a community proud of its past with a keen eye toward a future rich with promise.

Historic Facts
From its long and colorful history, Vancouver boasts these many special distinctions:

Headquarters of Hudson's Bay Company (established 1825)
Oldest permanent non-native settlement in Pacific Northwest (1825)
Oldest living apple tree in Pacific Northwest (planted 1826)
First sawmill in Pacific Northwest (1827)
Oldest public square in Pacific Northwest (Esther Short Park, 1855)
Notable soldiers who served at Vancouver Barracks:
Gen. Ulysses S. Grant
Gen. George McClellan
Gen. Philip Sheridan
Gen. O.O. Howard
Gen. George C. Marshall

One of the oldest continuously operated airports in the country (Pearson Field, 1905-present)
World’s largest spruce lumber mill for airplane construction during World War I
Pearson Field, landing site of first transpolar flight (Soviet, 1937)
Major shipbuilding center during World War II
Vancouver honored with "All-America City" distinction (1957 and 1987)

May 21, 2008

Washington Rural Land Prices Rise

Washington Rural land prices soar as people trade city for country

Tony and Leslie Wisdom were out property hunting, driving north on Interstate 5 on a spring morning when suddenly the freeway dropped into the sweeping flatlands of the Skagit Valley.

"It was like, 'Wow!' It was so colorful," Tony said. "There were green tractors in the fields. The tulips were in bloom. It was just amazing."

For the Wisdoms, the trip marked the beginning of a radical change — a move from the big city to the country. Their decision to pack up and leave Seattle in 2004 made them part of a migration of people who have cashed in on the rise in housing prices in the Seattle area and California and bought farms in Western Washington, helping to drive up farmland prices in the process.

"We've seen farmland values rise dramatically, particularly over the last couple of years," said Mike Shelby, executive director of the Western Washington Agricultural Association, which represents local farmers.

Shelby estimates that cropland prices have jumped 30 to 50 percent over the past three years in Skagit, Snohomish and Lewis counties, a result both of a drift of people from the cities and of other social and economic changes.

In Whatcom County, near the Canadian border, county Assessor Keith Willnauer said some acreage has tripled in value in recent years.

"That's off the chart," he said, noting that the weaker U.S. dollar is making land purchases in Washington more attractive to Canadian buyers. Many of those buyers, he said, are berry farmers who are being pushed out by a wave of retirees from across Canada who are moving to the Vancouver, B.C., area, attracted by its moderate climate.

In Skagit County, some of the recent transplants buy a 40-acre plot of farmland for about $300,000, building a house on it and leasing out the farmland, said Wes Hagen, Skagit County chief deputy assessor.

Other newcomers have bought smaller rural lots with vintage two-story Victorians or modern bungalows on them on the fringes of towns such as Mount Vernon and Burlington. Those who can afford it build so-called "McMansions."

"A $500,000 house [on 5 acres] here could be a $1 million house" in the Seattle area, Hagen said. "A lot of retirees are moving in."

Four years ago, the Wisdoms bought a 15-acre wheat field near Burlington, with an oversized mobile home, a shed and two friendly barn cats, for $240,000. It also came with a view of the Cascades. They sold their home in the Wallingford neighborhood for twice the price.

The couple then built a 2,500-square-foot home with a gambrel roof to resemble a barn, and settled in.

While Leslie did marketing work from home, Tony switched from his city job of property management to growing broccoli and potatoes. The change took him back to his boyhood roots growing up on a farm in Eastern Washington.

"It's hard work," he said. "But I'm outside a lot and get to work with my hands."

The Wisdoms, citing personal reasons, said they are now planning to move to the Washington coast and have put their property up for sale.

Other factors are driving up farmland prices in fertile areas of Western Washington, according to county officials and farmers' organizations. Among them are the overall rise in food prices and increased agricultural exports from the state.

Rising food sales are adding value to cropland at the same time its supply is shrinking. Some farmland is being converted to housing and commercial developments, while other open land is being set aside for environmental reasons, such as to preserve wetlands and estuaries.

The rising land prices are a cause of concern for longtime farmers in the area.

Higher land values mean higher taxes, cutting into their cash flow. It also limits their ability to expand their acreage.

Steve and Susan Schuh, who have been farming near Mount Vernon for 40 years, say local farmers wouldn't expect to pay $10,000 an acre for farmland, yet recently a retired man and his wife driving an expensive sport-utility vehicle dropped by and said they would happily pay $20,000 an acre for a plot in the area.

"He said, 'What's money for if not to spend?' " said Susan Schuh.

That clinched a decision for the Schuhs. They bought a neighboring 40 acres they'd been wavering over, while they could still afford it.

That meant putting off their own retirement, but it ensured they could keep their roadside vegetable stand on the parcel next door and remain in the country.

Source: Seattle Times

Washington New Homes Show Increase In Sales

Good news on Washington housing starts

WASHINGTON — Construction of new homes increased by the biggest percentage in more than two years last month, a rare spot of good news amid the worst downturn in housing in more than two decades.

Analysts, however, played down the increase, noting that all the strength came from the volatile apartment sector.

They said the painful housing slump is far from over as a record flood of foreclosures continues to add to the sizable stockpile of unsold homes.

The Commerce Department reported Friday that housing construction rose by 8.2 percent last month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.03 million units.

While apartment construction rose by 36 percent, building in the much larger single-family sector of the market fell by 1.7 percent, the 12th consecutive monthly decline, pushing single-family activity down to a 16-year low.

"It is definitely too early to uncork the champagne on the long and winding road to more healthy housing-market conditions," said Brian Bethune, an economist at Global Insight.

He said he did not expect housing activity to stabilize until the end of this year.

A second report Friday showed that consumer confidence, as measured by a University of Michigan/Reuters survey, fell to a 28-year low of 59.5 in a preliminary reading for this month, down from 62.6 last month.

The drop was blamed, in part, on rising concerns about higher gas and food prices.

Concerns about falling consumer confidence and another spike in oil prices, to a new trading record of $127.82 a barrel, dampened investors' moods on Friday.

Applications for building permits, considered a good sign of future activity, recorded an increase last month, rising by 4.9 percent to 978,000 units.

It was the first gain in permits in five months but it still left permits 20 percent below where they were a year ago.

Economists said housing construction will remain under pressure until builders have more success in reducing a huge backlog of unsold homes, a challenge amid the current economic weakness.

"The demand for new homes still is quite weak, the overhang of vacant housing units is at record proportions, consumer sentiment continues to fall and the economy has been losing jobs since the end of last year," said David Seiders, chief economist at the National Association of Home Builders.

He said the economic fundamentals point to continued weakness in the single-family market for the rest of this year.

The housing report showed that construction activity was up in most regions of the country last month, rising by 24.4 percent in the Midwest, 18.5 percent in the West and 3.6 percent in the South. However, construction fell by 12.7 percent in the Northeast.

Even with the improvement last month, housing construction nationwide was 30.6 percent below the level of activity a year ago.

Source: Seattletimes

Tacoma Washington Real Estate. Living in Tacoma WA

Living in Tacoma WA. Tacoma Washington Real Estate


Those interested in residential real estate in tacoma will find many types and styles of homes for sale in tacoma, as well as community events of interest and local amenities unique to the tacoma area. Others may enjoy outdoor activities and family friendly atmosphere of tacoma, WA.

If you are considering buying or selling property, planning to relocate, looking for tacoma homes for sale, or looking for any other information about real estate in tacoma, or the surrounding areas, you have come to the right place. You can also find a tacoma real estate agent, REALTOR or real estate broker to help you with you buy or sell a home, and find information about tacoma communities , schools, real estate market conditions, recreation and much more!

Tacoma WA was inhabited for thousands of years by American Indians, predominantly the Puyallup people, who lived in settlements on the delta of the Puyallup River and called the area Squa-szucks. It was visited by European and American explorers, including George Vancouver and Charles Wilkes, who named many of the coastal landmarks.

Beginning in the early 1990s, Tacoma has taken steps to revitalize itself and its image, especially downtown.

The University of Washington established a branch campus in Tacoma in 1990. The same year, Union Station was restored. The Museum of Glass opened in downtown Tacoma in 2002, showing glass art from the region and around the world. It includes a glassblowing studio.

Tacoma's downtown Cultural District is the site of the Washington State History Museum (1996) and the Tacoma Art Museum (2003). America's Car Museum is currently breaking ground in Tacoma. The glass and steel Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center opened in June 2004.[16][not in citation given]

Downtown Tacoma has a thriving Theatre District, anchored by the 89-year-old Pantages Theater. The Broadway Center for the Performing Arts[17] manages the Pantages, the Rialto Theater, and the Theatre on the Square. Other attractions include the Grand Cinema and the Temple Theatre.

The area around the Theatre District has become the center of Tacoma's lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender culture. Two of the city's gay bars are here as well as the Rainbow Center.[18]

Tacoma WA Neigborhoods
Central Tacoma
Hilltop (shared with Downtown)
Delong Park
The Wedge
Bryant
College Heights
New Tacoma
Downtown Tacoma
St. Helens Neighborhood
Theater District
Central Business District
Warehouse/Brewery District
Foss Waterway
Stadium District (shared with North Tacoma)
Dome District
Port of Tacoma
East Tacoma
McKinley Hill
Salishan
Hillsdale
Swan Creek
Strawberry Hill
North Tacoma
North Slope
Old Tacoma
Proctor District
Prospect Hill
Ruston (separately incorporated)
Ruston Way
Skyline
Stadium District (shared with Downtown)
Westgate (shared with West Tacoma)
Yakima Hill
Northeast Tacoma
Browns Point (unincorporated)
Crescent Heights
South End
Fern Hill
Lincoln International District
Wapato
Stewart Heights
Larchmont
South Tacoma
Edison
South Park
Manitou
Oakland/Madrona
Tacoma Mall
West Tacoma
Highlands
Narrows
Titlow
Salmon Beach
Westgate (shared with North Tacoma)

Washington Weather By City. Washington Weather By Area

Select a Washington city/area for current weather conditions and seven day forecast.


Seattle, Washington is known for rain. Rain is common in the winter, but mostly the climate is cloudy with little rain. Seattle's average rainfall is 942 mm (37.1 inches) per year,[5] less than New York City's 1173 mm (46.2 inches), but Seattle has 201 cloudy days per year, compared to 152 in New York. Seattle's neighbor to the south, Portland, Oregon, gets more rain with an average of 45 inches (1,100 mm) a year. However, it should be noted that Seattle lies in the rain shadow of the nearby Olympic Mountains, with some locations on the windward sides of the mountains receiving close to 130 inches per year.


May 19, 2008

Redmond WA Real Estate. Living in Redmond, Washington

Redmond WA Real Estate. Living in Redmond, Washington


Redmond is a city in King County, Washington. It is situated in what is known as the Eastside. Redmond is best known as the home of Microsoft (for which "Redmond" has become a metonym) and Nintendo of America. With an annual bike race on city streets and the state's only velodrome, Redmond is also known as "the bicycle capital of the Northwest". Despite this, the city is suburban in character, with its main form of transportation being the automobile. Redmond has a historic downtown with many personally owned businesses which is connected to the modern downtown Redmond. The city has many parks and is known for its woods.

The city of Redmond is synonymous with Microsoft. But this eastside community has much more to offer besides employment with the technology giant. Located in the heart of the Sammamish Valley, Redmond has managed to preserve much of the area's natural beauty despite tremendous growth. Mountain views, forest land, and Lake Sammamish provide scenic balance with booming development. Connections with all of the area's major highways gives Redmond real estate owners easy access to the neighboring cities of Bellevue, Kirkland, and even downtown Seattle.

The Redmond real estate market is competitive; buyers often create bidding wars when vying for desirable homes. Some three-bedroom houses in Redmond are available for about $400,000, but nicer neighborhoods with territorial views – and new construction – will cost closer to $600,000. The average home or condo sold for $502,872 in February 2006.

The seventh most populated city in King County, Redmond has a residential population of nearly 48,000. The Lake Washington School District – one of the best in the state – and a remarkable park system provide Renton families with a high quality of life.

The crowning jewel of the Redmond parks system is Marymoor Park. The most popular park in King County, the 640-acre Marymoor provides diverse entertainment all year long. The Marymoor Velodrome, used for bicycle racing during the 1990 Goodwill Games, is the only facility of its kind in Washington State. People from all over the area bring their dogs to Redmond to romp in Marymoor's famed off-leash dog park. Picnic facilities, baseball fields, and other park staples are also located here.

Redmond is well known as a hub for technology companies and biomedical firms. In addition to Microsoft, leading employers such as Nintendo, Cingular Wireless, and Medtronic Physio-Control keep offices here. The community's Redmond Town Center, an open air retail center, combines upscale shopping with dining, special events, and a movie theater.

Due to its large population of highly paid tech workers, especially those of Microsoft, Redmond is known for its affluence. Based on per capita income, one of the more reliable measures of affluence, Redmond ranks 20th of 522 areas in the state of Washington to be ranked.

Notable residents
Carrie Brownstein, guitarist and vocalist for Sleater-Kinney
Grant Goodeve, actor/singer/show host. Starred in the 1970's hit series "Eight is Enough"
Caitlin Snaring, National Geographic Bee winner (national level)
Steve Wiebe, current Donkey Kong record holder
Mike Wilton, guitarist for Queensryche
Mike Bigsby, Internet Marketing Consultant (best of the web award 2007)
Blake Lewis, runner-up on the sixth season of American Idol

Mercer Island WA Homes For Sale. Living in Mercer Island Washington

Mercer Island WA Real Estate. Living in Mercer Island Washington

Find Mercer Island homes for sale, Mercer Island real estate agents, and Mercer Island home values. Get access to Mercer Island real estate listings, including the MLS, Mercer Island REALTORS, new homes and foreclosures. Our Washington Real Estate Directory feature all Mercer Island and Washington cities and suburbs. We also have information on Mercer Island home selling, home buying and mortgages, movers and other realty services for anyone looking to sell a home or buy a home in Mercer Island, WA.

Mercer Island is a city in King County, Washington. The population was 22,036. It is also the name of the island in Lake Washington with which the city is coterminous.

Mercer Island is connected to Seattle in the west by Interstate 90, carried by the Homer M. Hadley Memorial Bridge (the fifth longest floating bridge in the world) and the Lacey V. Murrow Memorial Bridge (the second longest in the world). I-90 also connects Mercer Island to Bellevue in the east.

Mercer Island has a few tourist attractions

The Mercer (apartment complex & shopping area)
Island Square (apartment complex & shopping area)
The Lid (park)
Luther Burbank Park (park)
Freeway Sculpture park
Pioneer Park
Mercer Island community center
Dragon Park
Youth Theater Northwest
Lake Washington
Clark Beach

Mercer Island is focal to annual performances by the Blue Angels during Seattle's summer Seafair celebration.

Summer Celebration is a celebration once a year on the weekend after the 4th of July. The celebration ends with fireworks.


Mercer Island WA Homes For Sale. Living in Mercer Island Washington

Everett WA Real Estate. Live in Everett Washington

Everett WA Real Estate Home Search. Life in Everett Washington

About Everett WA

Everett, Washington, an All-America City, is a rich landscape of choices. Small startups thinking big. Fortune 500 companies delivering larger-than-life innovations. Some of the best salmon and steelhead fishing in the world. Boasting the second-largest marina on the West Coast. Home of the Everett Silvertips ice hockey team, Everett Hawks football team and AquaSox minor league baseball team. Enjoying more than 1,600 acres of beautiful parks, trails and playgrounds and nearly 50 miles of freshwater and saltwater shorelines.

Everett WA Housing Market: Stable housing prices and strong real estate fundamentals are creating an attractive market for buyers, according to officials from the Northwest Multiple Listing Service. Commenting on just-released figures for activity for the month of March, MLS director Matt Deasy noted prices have been stable for six months and conditions have changed to a buyer's market. Abundant supply and a slower pace of sales are among factors favoring buyers. The inventory is about 34 percent larger than a year ago.

Everett WA Neighborhoods
The city of Everett maintains an Office of Neighborhoods which facilitate communication between the city and the 19 established neighborhood associations, with one proposed neighborhood/mixed-use development. Each of the officially recognized neighborhood associations operate independently to better their established geographic areas within the city. The neighborhoods are:

Bayside - comprising much of the central business district, the waterfront, and the surrounding residential areas.
Boulevard Bluffs - primarily residential area of the city bordering Mukilteo.
Cascade View - residential area in South Everett, north of Everett Mall
Delta - primarily residential area north of downtown Everett
Everett Mall South - the area surrounding Everett Mall, a mix of residential and commercial areas.
Evergreen - primarily residential area in South Everett.
Glacier View - older residential area south of downtown.
Harborview-Seahurst-Glenhaven - older residential areas south of downtown.
Holly - a mix of residential, commercial, and industrial areas on the southern edge of the city.
Lowell - formerly an independent town, Lowell is a primarily residential area southeast of downtown.
Northwest - older residential areas northwest of downtown.
Pinehurst-Beverly Park - mix of residential and commercial developments in South Everett.
Port Gardner - residential neighborhoods south of downtown.
Riverside - areas just northeast of downtown.
Seaway Park - Industrial complex with residential developments located near the Boeing Plant.
Silver Lake - residential and commercial areas surrounding Silver Lake in the extreme southeastern part of the city.
South Forest Park - residential neighborhood near downtown.
Valley View-Sylvan Crest-Larimer Ridge - residential areas in southeast Everett.
View Ridge-Madison - residential areas near downtown, or central part of Everett.
Westmont - primarily multi-family housing in the southwestern part of the city.

The City of Everett, population over 101,000, is the county seat of Snohomish County, Wash. Located about 25 miles north of Seattle, Everett is a Pacific-Rim city situated on Port Gardner Bay. Once a mill town built on wood-based industries, today's labor force of more than 80,000 is predominately employed in technology, aerospace and service-based industries. The city government operates with an elected mayor and a seven-member city council. Everett was home to the late U.S. Sen. Henry M. Jackson.

Major Employers Include: The Boeing Company (747, 767, 777 wide-bodied aircraft, and the 787 Dreamliner), Naval Station Everett (the Navy's state-of-the-art base with seven ships, including the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln), Providence Everett Medical Center, Verizon (telecommunications), Snohomish County Government, City of Everett, Kimberly-Clark Corp., Intermec (bar code manufacturing), Fluke Corporation (electronic testing equipment), Everett Community College and Everett Mall.

Educational Opportunities: The Everett School District and Mukilteo School District serve the city’s K-12 students. Everett Community College, the University of Washington and UW Bothell Branch Campus, Cascadia College, Edmonds Community College, Puget Sound Christian College and ITT Technical Institute provide higher education in the area. University Center at Everett Station offers upper level classes from several state universities.

Transportation: Interstate 5 is the major north/south highway access. The Everett marina is the second largest marina on the West Coast. Snohomish County Airport at Paine Field has the capacity for a large range of aircraft sizes and types. The Washington State Ferry System operates from Mukilteo, Edmonds and Seattle. Everett Transit, Community Transit and Sound Transit operate extensive bus routes. Amtrak and Burlington Northern provide rail service, and Sound Transit provides commuter light rail service to Edmonds and Seattle. Everett Station, a transportation center near downtown, offers local, cross-country and express buses as well as trains, shuttles, taxis and Park-and-Ride facilities.

Recreational Opportunities: Residents and visitors enjoy more than 40 parks, trails, golf courses and open spaces. Summer and winter sports opportunities abound at nearby lakes, rivers and campgrounds, the Cascade and Olympic Mountains, Whidbey and San Juan Islands. Everett is home to the AquaSox baseball team, a Class A minor league team associated with the Seattle Mariners. The Everett Events Center, which seats 8,000, opened September 2003 and is home to the Everett Silvertips, Western Hockey League and the Everett Hawks, an arena football team.


Everett WA Real Estate. Live in Everett Washington

May 15, 2008

North Cascades. Real Estate and Living in North Cascades WA Area

North Cascades. Real Estate and Living in North Cascades WA Area


The North Cascades defining features are Mount Baker, the North Cascades National Park, several National Wilderness Areas, and Ross and Chelan lakes. The principle highway serving the area is Route 20, the North Cascades Highway. The seasonal highway usually is open mid-April through mid-November.

The approach from the west passes through the towns of Concrete, Rockport and Marblemount, which lie along the Skagit River. The Skagit is home to a thriving population of Bald Eagles and the three communities celebrate the return of these magnificent birds with an annual Upper Skagit Bald Eagle Festival usually held in late January or early February.

The traveler approaching from the east will find the towns of Winthrop, Mazama and Conconully; each of which retains an air of the wild west with its saloons, trading posts and classic hotels.

A popular tour is the Cascade Loop Scenic Highway. The circular route presents magnificent alpine views and high mountain passes, semi-arid orchard lands along the Columbia River and the beautiful scenery presented by the waters of Puget Sound.

Southwest Washington Cities. Real Estate in Southwest WA

Southwest Washington
Real Estate in Southwest WA


Cities
Aberdeen, Camas, Castle Rock, Cathlamet, Central Park, Centralia, Chehalis, Chinook, Cosmopolis, Elma, Hoquiam, Ilwaco, Kelso, Kalama, Long Beach, Longview, McCleary, Montesano, Nahcotta, Naselle, Ocean Park, Ocean Shores, Pe Ell, Raymond, Seaview, Silverlake, Skamokawa, South Bend, Tokeland, Vancouver, Westport, Winlock, Woodland

Areas
Columbia Basin, Grays Harbor, Long Beach Peninsula, Willapa Bay

Southeast Washington Cities. Southeast Washington Living

Southeast Washington
Southeast Washington Living

Cities
Anatone, Benton City, Beverly, Clarkston, Colfax, College Place, Dayton, Ellensburg, Garfield, George, Kennewick, Kittitas, Mattawa, Moses Lake, Othello, Pasco, Paterson, Pomeroy, Prosser, Pullman, Quincy, Richland, Ritzville, Rosalia, Royal City, Vantage, Walla Walla, Wallula, Washtucna, West Richland

Areas
Juniper Dunes Wilderness Area, Tri-Cities, Umatilla National Forest

South Central Washington. Real Estate South Central WA

South Central Washington. Real Estate South Central WA

Cities
Bingen
Glenwood
Goldendale
Grandview
Granger
Klickitat
Moxee City
Naches
Outlook
Selah
Sunnyside
Toppenish
Trout Lake
Union Gap
Wapato
White Salmon
Wishram
Yakima

San Juan Islands WA. Real Estate San Juan Islands

San Juan Islands

San Juan Islands WA. Real Estate Assistance San Juan Islands

Lopez Island Cities
Lopez, Port Stanley, Richardson
Orcas Island Cities
Deer Harbor, Doe Bay, Eastsound, Olga, Orcas, West Sound
San Juan Island Cities
Friday Harbor, Roche Harbor

Olympic Peninsula. Real Estate Services Olympic Peninsula WA

Olympic Peninsula
Olympic Peninsula. Real Estate Services Olympic Peninsula WA

Cities
Amanda Park, Brinnon, Discovery Bay, Eldon, Forks, Hoodsport, Hoquiam, Humptulips, Kalaloch, La Push, Lilliwaup, Moclips, Neah Bay, Ocean City, Ozette, Pacific Beach, Port Angeles, Port Hadlock, Port Ludlow, Port Townsend, Potlatch, Quilcene, Quinault, Sequim, Shelton, Union
Areas
Colonel Bob Wilderness, The Brothers Wilderness, Buckhorn Wilderness, Lake Quinault, Mt. Skokomish Wilderness, Olympic National Park, Wonder Mountain Wilderness

Olympic Peninsula. Real Estate Services Olympic Peninsula WA

Puget Sound WA Cities. Puget Sound Real Estate Services

Puget Sound WA Cities. Puget Sound Real Estate Services

Cities
Allyn, Arlington, Auburn, Bangor, Belfair, Bellevue, Bonney Lake, Bremerton, Brownsville, Burley, Chico, Clinton, Coupeville, Des Moines, Edmonds, Everett, Fox Island, Freeland, Gig Harbor, Gorst, Graham, Grapeview, Greenbank, Hansville, Holly, Indianola, Issaquah, Kent, Key Center, Keyport, Kingston, Kirkland, Lake Stevens, Langley, Little Boston, Lynnwood, Manchester, Marysville, Mill Creek, Mukilteo, Navy Yard City, Oak Harbor, Olalla, Olympia, Orting, Port Gamble, Port Orchard, Poulsbo, Purdy, Puyallup, Redmond, Renton, Seabeck, SeaTac, Seattle, Silverdale, Snohomish, South Colby, Southworth, Steilacoom, Suquamish, Tacoma, Tahuya, Tracyton, Tukwila, Tumwater, Yelm

Areas
Anderson Island, Blake Island, Bainbridge Island, Camano Island, Kitsap Peninsula, Mercer Island, Vashon Island, Whidbey Island

Northwest Washington State Realtors and Cities

Northwest Washington State Realtors and Cities

Cities
Anacortes
Bellingham
Birch Bay
Blaine, Bow
Burlington
Deming
Ferndale
La Conner
Lynden
Lummi Island
Mount Vernon
Nooksack
Sedro Woolley

Areas
Fidalgo Island

Northeast Washington. Real Estate Listings in Northeast WA Cities

Northeast Washington. Real Estate Listings in Northeast WA Cities

Cities
Bridgeport,
Chewelah
Colville
Coulee Dam
Coulee City
Davenport
Deer Park
Dishman
Ephrata
Evans
Grand Coulee
Ione
Kettle Falls
Liberty Lake
Metaline Falls
Newport
Okanogan
Omak
Opportunity
Orient
Oroville
Republic
Spokane
Spokane Valley
Soap Lake
Sprague
Tonasket
Usk
Wauconda
Areas
The Okanogan, The Scablands

WA Cascade Mountains Cities

Washinton Cascade Mountains Cities
Find Realtors and real estate assistance in the Washington Cascade Cities and Towns


Central WA Cascades
Cities
Baring, Carnation, Cashmere, Cle Elum, Coles Corner, Easton, Fall City, Gold Bar, Index, Leavenworth, Monroe, North Bend, Peshastin, Plain, Roslyn, Skykomish, Snoqualmie, Snoqualmie Pass, Sultan, Thorp, Wenatchee

National Forests
Mount Baker - Snoqualmie, Wenatchee

Wilderness Areas
Alpine Lakes, Boulder River, Henry M. Jackson

Other Areas
The Enchantments, Mission Ridge, Snoqualmie Pass, Stevens Pass

South Cascades
Cities

American River, Alder, Ashford, Carson, Cougar, Crystal Mountain, Eatonville, Elbe, Enumclaw, Glenoma, Greenwater, Mineral, Morton, Mossyrock, Nile, Packwood, Stevenson, Randle, Rimrock, Washougal

Areas
Clearwater Wilderness, Crystal Mountain, Glacier View Wilderness, Goat Rocks Wilderness, Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Indian Heaven Wilderness, Mount Adams Wilderness, Mount Rainier National Park, Mount St Helens National Volcanic Monument, Norse Peak Wilderness, Tatoosh Wilderness, Trapper Creek Wilderness, William O. Douglas Wilderness, White Pass

Find Realtors and real estate assistance in the Washington Cascade Cities and Towns

May 14, 2008

Aberdeen WA Real Estate. Aberdeen WA Living

Aberdeen WA Real Estate. Aberdeen WA Living

Those interested in residential real estate in Aberdeen will find many types and styles of homes for sale in Aberdeen, as well as community events of interest and local amenities unique to the Aberdeen area. Others may enjoy outdoor activities and family friendly atmosphere of Aberdeen, WA.

If you are considering buying or selling property, planning to relocate, looking for Aberdeen homes for sale, or looking for any other information about real estate in Aberdeen, or the surrounding areas, you have come to the right place.

Acres of trees encircle Aberdeen WA, testimony to the area’s timber-oriented history. Hoquiam River edges the west side of the city and separates it from Hoquiam, Aberdeen’s small neighboring city, just across the water. The Chehalis River runs along the south side, and empties, like the Hoquiam River, into Grays Harbor, which in turn empties into the Pacific.

Gray’s Harbor, however, has several attractions to offer the growing influx of tourists. In the summer, a replica of an old sailing ship stands in the harbor, manned by sailors in period costumes and open for tours. Historical buildings in Hoquiam are worth a tour, and there are two museums with exhibits featuring old area artifacts.

If you think charming architecture is for the birds, wander around Grays Harbor National Wildlife Refuge. Here shorebirds wade in 500 acres of estuary. Or, join locals at Lake Sylvia State Park, to do your own wading when the weather permits. Temperatures in Aberdeen peek in the low 60’s in summer, so don’t expect a warm swim if you decide to jump in.

Aberdeen is located 82 miles southwest of Seattle and 44 miles west of Olympia.

Aberdeen WA is proud to offer a wide variety of big-city services and attractions with a small-town atmosphere. In addition to a number of national and local retail businesses, we have a fine hospital, beautiful parks and athletic complexes and some of the friendliest people in the United States. We have some beautiful neighborhoods with housing prices that are extremely reasonable and a freeway that connects us to the I-5 corridor, which is the main north-south route in the State of Washington. We have little traffic congestion, we have excellent water and clean air and dozens of outdoor activities for everyone to enjoy.

Aberdeen is a city in Grays Harbor County, Washington. Aberdeen was founded by early settler Samuel Benn when he had a plat filed in 1884. The population was 16,461 at the 2000 census. The city is the economic center of Grays Harbor County, bordering the cities of Hoquiam and Cosmopolis. Aberdeen is sometimes called the "Gateway to the Olympic Peninsula," though it is more widely known as the "Birthplace of Grunge," due to being the hometown of the founding members of Nirvana, Kurt Cobain and Krist Novoselic.

Aberdeen WA Industry

Despite attempts to diversify the local economy that stretch back decades, Aberdeen and the rest of Grays Harbor remain dependent on the timber industry.

On October 21, 2005, Weyerhaeuser announced that on December 19 it would close the Aberdeen large-log sawmill and in early 2006 the Cosmopolis pulp mill. This was expected to result in the loss of at least 342 jobs. Many employees were not told by Weyerhaueser management, but learned about the closures from local radio stations, who had received a press release early in the morning prior to a scheduled press conference.

Top employers on the Harbor include locally owned Grays Harbor Paper L.P., The Westport Shipyard, Sierra Pacific, The Simpson Door Co., Hoquiam Plywood, the Stafford Creek Corrections Center, a state prison which opened in 2000, and Safe Harbor Technology, a technical support center.

Other major employers include cranberry-growing collective Ocean Spray, Wal-Mart and Washington Crab Products.

Imperium Renewables of Seattle has begun construction on a $40 million dollar biodiesel plant at the Port of Grays Harbor in the Aberdeen area. It is estimated the plant will produce as much as 100 million gallons of diesel fuel made from plants and vegetable material annually. This is a vast increase in the state's production, and a boost to the Grays Harbor economy. When completed it will be one of the largest plants of its type in the United States.

Seattle Washington Real Estate. Seattle Washington Living

Seattle Washington Real Estate. Seattle Washington Living

Seattle, Washington is a breathtakingly beautiful city surrounded by water. To the west lies saltwater Puget Sound; to the east, freshwater Lake Washington; in the middle, Lake Union. Seattle is a rich and exciting cosmopolitan city. With access to a strong and vibrant economy, affordable housing, and a thrilling culture, Seattle is a perfect place to live, work, retire or raise a family!

Everywhere, the backdrop is water. Fisherman's Terminal is a successful commercial fishing port, the Port of Seattle is fundamental to marine trade, and the urban waterfront is bustling with commercial, retail and tourist ventures. Ferries crossing Puget Sound and seaplanes lifting off from Lake Union support an thriving island culture in the San Juans, on Vashon and Bainbridge, and two floating bridges spanning Lake Washington carry travelers east to west. Always listed in "Most Romantic Things to Do in Seattle" is taking a ferry ride ... anywhere.

With a population of 563,374 residents, Seattle WA is a leading center for advanced technology in aerospace, computer software, bioinformatics, genomics, telemedicine, electronics, medical equipment, and environmental engineering. The region's single most important employer is Boeing, which is the largest aircraft manufacturer in the world and consistently one of the top three exporters in the United States. Seattle is also home to REI, Eddie Bauer, Nintendo, Starbucks, Amazon.com, RealNetworks and Microsoft. Some of the world's most dynamic new companies are spinning out of the Puget Sound area, which is naturally the nation's leader in internet business start-ups, but also a leader in business start-ups in general. There is a palatable sense of entrepreneurship here. The median household income is $72,200

The local cultural scene continues to blossom with nationally respected opera, ballet, art galleries, museums, festivals, and theater. In fact, Seattle boasts more theaters than any comparably sized US city, and the number of total performances ranks second only to New York City. Seattle is one of only six American cities with resident major symphony, opera and ballet companies. Music ranges from a dynamic club scene to a vibrant jazz community to the internationally acclaimed Seattle Symphony. Experience Music Project showcases popular music with a one-of-a-kind mix of interactive exhibits, unique artifacts, and live performance, all in an amazing building designed by Frank Gehry. Whether your interests run to contemporary or traditional art, aviation, Asian art, Nordic cultures, native cultures or history, Seattle's many museums offer something for everyone. Seattle's International Film Festival, held annually mid-May to mid-June, is the largest film festival in the entire country. In Seattle, art is the lifestyle.

The housing market in Seattle is diverse and exciting. Choices include single-family homes in a wide variety of styles, luxury gated communities, investment properties, waterfront lots, town homes and condominiums. In Seattle the average sales price for a single-family detached home is $439,000. The average sales price for condominiums is $235,000.

Since the premier unveiling of Safeco Field in 1999, Seattle has transformed into a baseball town. The game's sole single-name superstar - Ichiro - has had a major role in this, as well as Seattle hosting the 2001 All-Star Game. But baseball is by no means the only game in town. Seahawks Stadium, just north of Safeco - with the same great skyline and water views - hosted its inaugural game in August 2002 and is already established as a prime venue with state-of-the-art facilities for both football and soccer. KeyArena, anchored at Seattle Center, is home to the Seattle SuperSonics; the WNBA professional women's basketball team, the Seattle Storm; and hockey's Seattle Thunderbirds. Horse racing at Emerald Downs, minor league baseball with the Everett Aquasox and Tacoma Rainiers, PRCA Rodeo, and a host of other spectator and participatory sports are some other reasons Seattle's environment is irresistible.

Seattle's mild winters and cool summers enable year-round outdoor activities. High temperatures in July average about 750 F (240 C), while low temperatures in winter drop below freezing an average of only 15 days per year. Average yearly rainfall in Seattle is 36.2 inches (92 cm), compared to 19.5 inches (50 cm) in San Francisco, 34.5 (88 cm) in Chicago, 39 inches (99 cm) in Washington, D.C. and 40.3 inches (102 cm) in New York City.

Among the most popular urban attractions are the Seattle Center and the Space Needle, Pike Place Market, the Hiram Chittenden Locks, Woodland Park Zoo, Tillicum Indian Village, Seattle Aquarium, waterfront, lakeside and sound beaches, Pioneer Square, International District, and local wineries and breweries. Outdoor activities include boating, fishing, golf, water sports, hiking, biking, mountain climbing, and skiing. In addition to being situated on the shores of two large lakes and Puget Sound, with remote wilderness less than an hour away, Seattle is flanked by two major mountain ranges (Olympics and Cascades), with Mount Rainier in full view.

Many acclaimed local chefs have placed Seattle squarely on the international cuisine map, and the list of names is growing all the time including Tom Douglas, Kaspar Donier, Thierry Rautureau, Kathy Casey, Jim Drohman, Scott Staples, Christine Keff, and Tamara Murphy. Their new style of cooking is eclectic, exciting, and world-class. Their use of the freshest seasonal ingredients, harvested locally or grown especially for a restaurant, is stimulating and daring cuisine that is distinctly Seattle. The local bounty is splendid: salmon, shellfish, sweet onions, mushrooms, stone fruits, berries and asparagus. Given its close proximity to the Pacific Rim, Seattle's collaborative cuisine also takes full advantage of Asian ingredients and embraces the city's many cultural influences to craft cutting-edge fusions and colorful works of art.

Seattle Economic history
Seattle has a history of boom and bust cycles historically common in cities of its size. Seattle has been sent into precipitous decline by the aftermaths of its worst periods as a company town, but has typically used those periods to successfully rebuild infrastructure.

The Seattle Central Library, designed by Rem Koolhaas, is the result of a public vote on the "Libraries for All" bond measure approved by Seattle voters on November 3, 1998.The first such boom, covering the early years of the city, was fueled by the lumber industry. (It was during this period that the road now known as Yesler Way was nicknamed "Skid Road"after the timber skidding down the street to Henry Yesler's sawmill. The term later entered the wider American vocabulary as Skid Row.) This boom was followed by the construction of an Olmsted-designed park system.

The second and largest boom was the direct result of the Klondike Gold Rush of 1896, which ended the national depression that had begun with the Panic of 1893. On July 14, 1897, the S.S. Portland docked with its famed "ton of gold", and Seattle became the main transport and supply point for those heading north. The boom lasted well into the early part of the 20th century and funded the start-up of many new companies and products. In 1907, 19-year-old James E. Casey founded the American Messenger Company (which later became UPS) in Seattle with $100 borrowed from a friend. Other Seattle companies founded during this time period include Nordstrom and Eddie Bauer.

Downtown Seattle facing the Monorail station.Next came the shipbuilding boom in the early part of the 20th century, followed by the unused city development plan of Virgil Bogue. Seattle was the major point of departure during World War II for troops heading to the North Pacific, and Boeing manufactured many of the war's bombers.

After the war, the local economy dipped but rose again with the expansion of Boeing, fueled by the growth of the commercial aviation industry.When this particular cycle went into a major downturn in the late 1960s and early 1970s, many left the area to look for work elsewhere, and two local real estate agents put up a billboard reading "Will the last person leaving Seattle — Turn out the lights."

Seattle remained the corporate headquarters of Boeing until 2001, when the company announced a desire to separate its headquarters from its major production facilities. Following a bidding war among a number of major cities, Boeing moved its corporate headquarters to Chicago. The Seattle area is still home to Boeing's Renton narrow-body plant (where the 707, 720, 727, and 757 were assembled, and the 737 is assembled today), and Everett wide-body plant (assembly plant for the 747, 767, 777 and the upcoming 787 Dreamliner); and BECU, formerly the Boeing Employees Credit Union.

Technology companies, including Microsoft, Google, Amazon.com, RealNetworks, McCaw Cellular (now AT&T Wireless), VoiceStream (now T-Mobile USA), and biomedical corporations such as Philips, Boston Scientific, ZymoGenetics and Amgen, found homes in Seattle and its suburbs. Even locally-headquartered coffee company Starbucks held investments in numerous Internet and software interests. This success brought an influx of new citizens[verification needed] and saw Seattle's real estate become some of the most expensive in the country,[verification needed] along with that of San Francisco, New York City, and Los Angeles& Boston. Many of these companies remain relatively strong, but the frenzied dot-com boom years ended in early 2001.

Seattle Cityscape

The Columbia Center is the tallest building in Seattle, and with 76 stories, has a greater number of floors than any other building west of the Mississippi River.

The Space Needle is a defining symbol of the Seattle skyline.

The Smith Tower was the tallest building on the West Coast from its completion in 1914 until the Space Needle overtook it in 1962.

The Washington Mutual Tower is the second tallest building in the Seattle skyline and is the former headquarters of Washington Mutual.

The Chapel of St. Ignatius at Seattle University was designed by Steven Holl.

The Seattle Central Library was designed by Office for Metropolitan Architecture

The Starbucks Center in Seattle's SODO neighborhood just south of downtown is the largest building in Seattle, at just over 2,000,000 square feet (186,000 m²). The building, once the Sears northwest catalog distribution center, now serves as the Corporate Support Center for Starbucks as well as containing Sears and OfficeMax stores.

Washington State Cities and Towns T-Z

Washington State Cities and Towns T-Z

Tacoma, WA
Tekoa, WA
Tenino, WA
Tieton, WA
Toledo, WA
Tonasket, WA
Toppenish, WA
Tukwila, WA
Tumwater, WA
Twisp, WA

Union Gap, WA
Uniontown, WA
University Place, WA
Vader, WA
Vancouver, WA

Waitsburg, WA
Walla Walla, WA
Wapato, WA
Warden, WA
Washougal, WA
Washtucna, WA
Waterville, WA
Waverly, WA
Wenatchee, WA
West Richland, WA
Westport, WA
White Salmon, WA
Wilbur, WA
Wilkeson, WA
Wilson Creek, WA
Winlock, WA
Winthrop, WA
Woodinville, WA
Woodland, WA
Woodway, WA

Yacolt, WA
Yakima

Washington State Cities and Towns P-S

Washington State Cities and Towns P-S

Pacific, WA
Palouse, WA
Pasco, WA
Pateros, WA
Pe Ell, WA
Pomeroy, WA
Port Angeles, WA
Port Orchard, WA
Port Townsend, WA
Poulsbo, WA
Prescott, WA
Prosser, WA
Pullman, WA
Puyallup, WA

Quincy, WA

Rainier, WA
Raymond, WA
Reardan, WA
Redmond, WA
Renton, WA
Republic, WA
Richland, WA
Ridgefield, WA
Ritzville, WA
Riverside, WA
Rock Island, WA
Rockford, WA
Rosalia, WA
Roslyn, WA
Roy, WA
Royal City, WA
Ruston, WA

Sammamish, WA
SeaTac, WA
Seattle, WA
Sedro-Woolley, WA
Selah, WA
Sequim, WA
Shelton, WA
Shoreline, WA
Skykomish, WA
Snohomish, WA
Snoqualmie, WA
Soap Lake, WA
South Bend, WA
South Cle Elum, WA
South Prairie, WA
Spangle, WA
Spokane, WA
Spokane Valley, WA
Sprague, WA
Springdale, WA
St. John, WA
Stanwood, WA
Starbuck, WA
Steilacoom, WA
Stevenson, WA
Sultan, WA
Sumas, WA
Sumner, WA
Sunnyside, WA

Washington State Cities and Towns K-O

Washington Cities and Towns K-O

Kahlotus, WA
Kalama, WA
Kelso, WA
Kenmore, WA
Kennewick, WA
Kent, WA
Kettle Falls, WA
Kirkland, WA
Kittitas, WA
Krupp, WA

La Center, WA
La Conner, WA
Lacey, WA
LaCrosse, WA
Lake Forest Park, WA
Lake Stevens, WA
Lakewood, WA
Lamont, WA
Langley, WA
Latah, WA
Leavenworth, WA
Liberty Lake, WA
Lind, WA
Long Beach, WA
Longview, WA
Lyman, WA
Lynden, WA
Lynnwood, WA

Mabton, WA
Malden, WA
Mansfield, WA
Maple Valley, WA
Marcus, WA
Marysville, WA
Mattawa, WA
McCleary, WA
Medical Lake, WA
Medina, WA
Mercer Island, WA
Mesa, WA
Metaline, WA
Metaline Falls, WA
Mill Creek, WA
Millwood, WA
Milton, WA
Monroe, WA
Montesano, WA
Morton, WA
Moses Lake, WA
Mossyrock, WA
Mount Vernon, WA
Mountlake Terrace, WA
Moxee, WA
Mukilteo, WA

Naches, WA
Napavine, WA
Nespelem, WA
Newcastle, WA
Newport, WA
Nooksack, WA
Normandy Park, WA
North Bend, WA
North Bonneville, WA
Northport, WA

Oak Harbor, WA
Oakesdale, WA
Oakville, WA
Ocean Shores, WA
Odessa, WA
Okanogan, WA
Olympia, WA
Omak, WA
Oroville, WA
Orting, WA
Othello, WA

Washington State Cities and Towns D-J

WA Cities and Towns D-J

Darrington, WA
Davenport WA
Dayton WA
Deer Park WA
Des Moines WA
DuPont WA
Duvall WA

East Wenatchee WA
Eatonville WA
Edgewood WA
Edmonds WA
Electric City WA
Ellensburg WA
Elma WA
Elmer City WA
Endicott, WA
Entiat, WA
Enumclaw, WA
Ephrata, WA
Everett, WA
Everson, WA

Fairfield, WA
Farmington, WA
Federal Way, WA
Ferndale, WA
Fife, WA
Fircrest, WA
Forks, WA
Friday Harbor, WA

Garfield, WA
George, WA
Gig Harbor, WA
Gold Bar, WA
Goldendale, WA
Grand Coulee, WA
Grandview, WA
Granger, WA
Granite Falls, WA

Hamilton, WA
Harrah, WA
Harrington, WA
Hartline, WA
Hatton, WA
Hoquiam, WA
Hunts Point, WA
Ilwaco, WA
Index, WA
Ione, WA
Issaquah, WA

Washington State Cities and Towns A - C

Washington State Cities and Towns A-C

Aberdeen, Wa
Airway Heights, Wa
Albion, Wa
Algona, Wa
Almira, Wa
Anacortes, Wa
Arlington, Wa
Asotin, Wa
Auburn, Wa


Bainbridge Island, Wa
Battle Ground, Wa
Beaux Arts Village, Wa
Bellevue, Wa
Bellingham, Wa
Benton City, Wa
Bingen, Wa
Black Diamond, Wa
Blaine, Wa
Bonney Lake, Wa
Bothell, Wa
Bremerton, Wa
Brewster, Wa
Bridgeport, Wa
Brier, Wa
Buckley, Wa
Bucoda, Wa
Burien, Wa
Burlington, Wa


Camas, Wa
Carbonado, Wa
Carnation, Wa
Cashmere, Wa
Castle Rock, Wa
Cathlamet, Wa
Centralia, Wa
Chehalis, Wa
Chelan, Wa
Cheney, Wa
Chewelah, Wa
Clarkston, Wa
Cle Elum, Wa
Clyde Hill, Wa
Colfax, Wa
College Place, Wa
Colton, Wa
Colville, Wa
Conconully, Wa
Concrete, Wa
Connell, Wa
Cosmopolis, Wa
Coulee City, Wa
Coulee Dam, Wa
Coupeville, Wa
Covington, Wa
Creston, Wa

May 11, 2008

Washington Cities with Webcams

Washington Cities with Webcams

Washington State Webcams

Washington State Webcams

Seattle Cams - (For Seattle Traffic Cams see Washington Traffic Cams.)

Downtown - View from Queen Anne Hill.
A second view.
Ferry Dock -
Seattle to Bainbridge Island. Seattle to Bremerton.
Fishermen's Terminal - View the NW fishing fleet and the Ballard Bridge.
Lake Union - Watch seaplanes, kayaks and boaters.
Lake Washington - Great view of Lake Washington, Juanita & the Cascade Mountains from Matthews Beach (North Seattle), and seasonally this cam will focus on a Great Blue Heron named Cabo.
Magnolia - View from Magnolia Bluff overlooking Puget Sound.
Mid-Town City Cam
Neighborhood Cam - View of a busy intersection.
Port of Seattle - 2 cams. Views of giant Hyundai cranes and loading area.
Queen Anne Tower Cam - View downtown, the Space Needle and stadiums.
SeaTac Airport - Watch cars entering the SeaTac Airport terminal.
Seattle Pacific University - 2 live cams on North Queen Anne Hill.
Space Needle -
Looking at, from the Mar Queen Hotel.
Live, controllable cam atop the Space Needle.
View of Space Needle and Queen Anne Hill.
University of Washington - 2 cams: Seattle's Red Square & Tacoma campus.
Waterfront -
Loftcam.
Woodland Park Zoo - Bear cam.

Ski Slopes Cams
Crystal Mountain - Base cam.
Mission Ridge - View from the top of Chair 2.
Mount Bachelor - 3 cams: West Village, Rainbow Chair & Cone Cam. (Bend, OR)
Mount Spokane - View of the slopes from Lodge #2.
Snoqualmie Pass - 6 Washington DOT Snoqualmie Pass cams.
Steven's Pass
-
Cam 1, Cam 2.
Whistler-Blackcomb - BC Canada. 3 controllable cams: Whistler, Blackcomb
& Terrain Park.
White Pass

Washington State Traffic Cams
Bellevue - Washington DOT cams.
Bellingham - 8 WA DOT traffic cams in Bellingham.
Blaine - 2 live streaming webcams overlooking Drayton Harbor.
Blaine - 7 DOT cams at or near the US-Canada border.
Canadian Border - Abbotsford, Aldergrove, Pacific Highway and Peace Arch.
Canadian Border - 4 cams on the BC side of the US-Canada border. BCMOT.
Hood Canal - Bridge cam. Also see: SR-3, SR-104, and SR-104/522 Interchange.
King County - King County Traffic Cams.
Mount Vernon - 8 cams.
Mountain Passes - Includes weather reports & tire restrictions.
Olympia - 4 traffic cams near the State Capitol.
Oregon - Oregon DOT.
Puget Sound - Seattle, North to Marysville and South to Pierce County. WA DOT.
Seattle - City of Seattle Traffic Cams.
Snoqualmie Pass - Looking West, plus several other Pass cams.
South Sound
Spokane Area
State-wide - Washington DOT cams - Pick cams using map links.
State-wide - Route description & camera list - Pick cams using text links.
Tacoma - Washington DOT cams.
Vancouver, WA - Plenty of cams around Vancouver, and toward Camas.
Wenatchee - 3 cams.


Washington State Cams:
Cities and sights around the state.
Anacortes - 3 Ferry cams. View of East San Juan Islands.
Arlington - Airport Web Cam.
Astoria-Megler Bridge - View the Columbia River & Oregon.
Auburn - From Auburn HS.
Bainbridge Island - Live ferry dock cam.
Baring - Mountain Cam.
Bellingham -
WWU's Red Square Cam.
Bellingham Bay cam.
A third cam.
Bellevue - View across Lake Washington and Seattle skyscrapers.
Blaine - Blaine Airport web cam.
Bremerton - Weather cam.
Clinton - 4 Ferry Cams on South Whidbey Island..
Darrington - View of mountain.
Easton - Easton airport web cam.
Friday Harbor - 6 San Juan Island view cams. Friday Harbor ferry cam.
Ilwaco - Fish Cam and 6 other coast cams.
La Push - Beach cam.
Lake Chelan - View from Campbells's Resort.
Lake Chelan - Several view cams.
Lake Samish - Samish, Washington.
Lake Sammamish - 3 Cams.
Leavenworth - A Bavarian village. View of Front Street.
Leavenworth - Icicle Junction Mini-Golf Course and Family Fun Center Cam.
Long Beach - Clam Cam 1 (Ocean beaches)
Heron Cam (Downtown Long Beach)
Clark's Tree Cam
Main Street Cam
Lopez Island - Fisherman Bay cam.
Methow Valley - Sun Mountain Lodge, Winthrop, WA.
Morton - Downtown Cam.
Mt. Rainier - View from Paradise, Mount Rainier National Park.
Mt. Rainier - View of Mount Rainier and Puget Sound.
Mt. St. Helens - Volcano Cam.
Naselle - View of wooded nearby hills.
Newhalem - View from North Cascades National Park visitor center.
Oak Harbor - Peekaboo view of water.
Ocean Shores - 3 cams.
Ocean Shores - Live beach cam.
Olympia - Waterfront.
Olympia - Evergreen State College construction cam.
Olympia - Airport web cam.
Olympic National Park - Lake Crescent.
Olympic Peninsula - RainForest Cam overlooking the Sol Duc River.
Orcas Island - Ferry cam. View from Smugglers Villa Resort.
Port Angeles -
Downtown, Strait Cam, Waterfront.
Port Townsend - 2 cams of the waterfront and ferry terminal.
Port Townsend - Airport web cam.
Pullman -
Main Street, 2 WSU Cams
Renton - Cam has closed down.
Roche Harbor - San Juan Island.
Rosario Resort - Bird's eye view of Rosario Resort on Orcas Island.
San Juan Island - View of Puget Sound...looking for Orca whales.
San Juan Island Ferry Cams
San Juan Island - Orca whale cam.
San Juan Island - 5 cams on the West side of the island.
Sekiu - Olson's Resort cam.
Silverdale - Olympic Mountains & Hood Canal.
Skagit - CacheCam.
Skykomish - Airport web cam.
Snohomish - Harvey Airfield web cam.
South Bend - Willapa River Oyster Cam.
Spokane - Skycam.
Spokane - Spokane International Airport, exit lane cam.
Tacoma - Tacoma Narrows Bridge aka Galloping Gertie.
View 1. View 2.
Tacoma - Cafe Tacoma.
Tacoma - 3 live cams at the Port of Tacoma.
Tacoma - Pacific Lutheran University Red Square Webcam.
Tacoma Weather Webcam - 2 cams pointed at Mount Rainier - one wide-angle, the other, 10X close-up - looking for lenticular clouds, which can be quite awesome! Cool time-lapse videos.
Tukwila - Area view with Seattle downtown visible in distance.
Vancouver - Downtown cam.
Walla Walla - Whitman College - Olin Hall.
Weather Cams - Washington/Oregon coast weather cams. NOAA.
Wenatchee
Westport - Ocean beach cam.
Wild Watch Cams - Eagle, Bat, Heron, Seal and Salmon cams.
Wishkah - View of nearby trees.