Cascade-Fairwood Renton, WA

First settled in the late 19th century, Cascade-Fairwood began as a coal mining and farming community with initial settlements primarily along the Cedar River. Residential subdivisions began replacing rural farms in the middle of the 20th century spurred in part by the development of the Boeing Company's aircraft manufacturing facility in Renton, which provided employment to many residents. The transition from rural to residential land has continued through today with Renton annexing Cascade in 2008. The Renton History Museum in downtown Renton charts the history of the Cedar River area through a series of permanent and rotating exhibits.

A minimal arts scene exists in Cascade-Fairwood, although the Fairwood branch of the King County Library hosts numerous events, including author readings and signings.

Fast food chains, such as McDonald's and Subway, and Thai restaurants feature heavily in the local dining scene. Several pizza places and Mexican restaurants fill out the bulk of the roster of dining options.

Apogee Pub & Eatery, a local family-owned destination for over 40 years, breaks free from the lack of variety. The pub serves an extensive list of traditional diner and pub food accentuated by house specialties like the "Gut Buster," a burger topped with ham and a fried egg. For dessert, consider trying the pie in a bowl. The pub also caters food and drinks for local events.

Beyond Apogee, the nightlife features only a few restaurants and taverns that stay open late, such as R Bar & Grill. For more options, you can head into Renton or to other nearby towns and cities.

The rural and suburban residential nature of the area necessitates driving to get around. Southeast Petrovitsky Road and 140th Avenue Southeast connect drivers to Highways 169 and 167, which connect to the major freeways of the region. Commuters to larger cities must drive to either Renton or Kent to find park and rides and rapid commuter bus routes. Several King County Metro bus routes run on the major roads in the neighborhood, including route 148 to downtown Renton and the Renton Park and Ride.

Bicycle lanes are few and far between on local roadways, although joggers and bicyclists can exercise in safety on the 17.3-mile-long Cedar River Trail that runs along Highway 169 or the 6.3-mile Soos Creek Trail to the south. Uber and multiple cab companies operate in Cascade-Fairwood, although cabs are infrequently available to hail as they pass. Free parking occurs throughout the neighborhood.

Cascade-Fairwood tempts nature goers with several large parks and open spaces. Mountain bikers, walkers and trail runners flock to Lake Youngs for the 9-mile gravel lined loop of trails around the inaccessible lake, or reservoir, which provides drinking water for the area. A short trail connects Lake Youngs to the Soos Creek Trail, which runs over 6 miles of paved walkway through the lush forest lining the creek. A number of parks connect the trail, including Boulevard Lane Park, which features ball fields and a playground for exercise and fun.

Smaller area parks include Tiffany Park and Cascade Park, while at the north end of Cascade-Fairwood, a string of parks along the Cedar River connect the Cedar River Trail. Among these, Cedar River Park offers a large off-leash area for dog owners, and Ron Regis Park caters to the athletically minded with soccer fields, a softball field and a basketball court.

Life in Cascade-Fairwood runs more expensive than most adjacent residential areas but less than the larger population centers of the region. Rental prices for a one-bedroom apartment average just over $1,050 per month, which costs about $200 to $300 more per month than many neighborhoods in the Renton-Kent area. Bus trips to central Renton cost $2.25 per trip on Metro routes, while commuters to Seattle pay $2.50. Filling up with gas sets drivers back about 3 percent more per gallon than the national average, while patrons of local pubs spend an average of $4 for a domestic pint and $6 for microbrews.

A small cluster of stores centers around Fairwood Center at the intersection of Petrovitsky Road and 140th Avenue, while another cluster anchored by Fred Meyer occupies the junction of Petrovitsky Road and Highway 515. Otherwise, to fulfill your shopping needs, you must travel to central Renton, to IKEA on the far side of Highway 167 or to the major shopping area surrounding Southcenter Mall about 8 miles to the northwest.

Albertsons, Safeway and Fred Meyer satisfy local grocery shopping needs, while seasonal farmers' markets in Kent, Renton and Maple Valley supply local farm-fresh produce, meats and baked goods.

For a boutique wine shopping experience, visit The Wine Alley and browse a diverse selection of local and international wines. For the best shopping experience, you should time your trip to arrive during one of the weekly wine tastings between noon and 6 p.m. on Tuesdays and from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m on Fridays. Friday tastings also feature local beer selections.

For over 30 years, Fairwood Pet Center has supplied pet owners with a wide selection of foods and necessities as well as full service dog grooming. The store also has regular vaccination sessions. If you're looking for a new dog companion, Fairwood Pet Center sells puppies bred by the same local breeder for more than two decades.