East Terrace - Mountlake Terrace, WA

Settlement in the area originated with logging camps in the late 1800s. After the land had been cleared, agriculture briefly replaced logging before most of the farms failed during the depression. After a brief stint hosting a military airfield during World War II, residential expansion began, leading to the incorporation of Mill Creek in the mid-1950s. The population grew steadily through the rest of the 1900s, except for a slight decline in the 1980s.

Mountlake Terrace lacks a museum, as well as any appreciable arts scene. Nearby museums include the Shoreline Historical Museum and the Bothell Historical Museum, while downtown Edmonds hosts numerous galleries and holds an annual arts festival. The city initiated an arts and cultural plan in 2008 with the intent of creating a vibrant arts community.

The total number of restaurants, pubs and clubs in East Terrace tops out around 10. Despite the small amount, a variety of cuisines and experiences present themselves.

Complete with a welcoming brick fireplace, Voula's Good Eats dishes up a mix of classic diner items and original selections. Many house specials bear a Greek influence, such as the Athenian omelet, which arrives with kalamata olives, gyro meat and feta cheese, or the Mediterranean chicken shish kabobs. Numerous vegetarian dishes appear on the menu, and homemade cream pies highlight the dessert choices.

Diamond Knot Brewpub combines a craft brewery with a pub and restaurant. Freshly brewed beers flow straight to the taps at the bar or into kegs to go. Head in during happy hour for $1 off all Diamond Knot pints, as well as for food specials. For a different dining experience, order one of the Hot Rock menu items, each served raw with a 750-degree stone that you use to cook your own food. The restaurant claims Vikings used this method of cooking hundreds of years ago.

Limited nightlife opportunities exist in East Terrace, with only a handful of pubs, breweries and restaurants with full bars. Some bars offer live music, with more venues in the neighboring towns, such as Darrell's Tavern in Shoreline, which features DJ sets on Wednesdays and local bands Thursday through Saturday.

With winding roads, dead end subdivisions and the lack of a walkable core, traveling in East Terrace relies heavily on vehicles. Easy access to Interstate 5 via 236th Street Southwest and 244th Street Southwest connects drivers to the main employment, shopping and entertainment destinations throughout the region.

Despite being in Snohomish County, the only local bus service comes from King County Metro via routes 347 and 308. The Mountlake Terrace Transit Center, a short drive away, contains a park-and-ride option and connects bus riders to a number of local and commuter Community Transit routes, as well as Sound Transit commuter routes 511, 512 and 513, providing service to Seattle, Lynnwood and Everett.

Few streets in East Terrace feature bike lanes, although other than on a few main roads, walking and biking are safe in the area due to low traffic volumes. Uber's ride-share service and several cab companies operate in the area, but rides require advanced booking due to a low likelihood of hailing a cab.

Numerous parks either in or within easy reach of East Terrace tempt nature lovers. The largest of these, Terrace Creek Park, features an extensive system of trails linking forests, play fields, playgrounds and an 18-hole disc-golf course. At the north end of the park you and your canine friend can enjoy the Mountlake Terrace Off-Leash Dog Park, a full acre of wooded land for dogs of all kinds to run free. Terrace Ridge Park, a few blocks to the south, provides more walking trails, playground equipment and open grassy hillsides.

Veteran's Memorial Park, located next to the city Civic Center and Library, contains wooded paths, a play area, a gazebo, numerous picnic areas and the memorial for which the park is named. A second memorial at Firefighters Memorial Park honors all of the firemen to serve on the Mountlake Terrace force. The park, built on the grounds of a historical fire station, includes a fire truck themed playground.

The Mountlake Terrace Recreation Pavilion, run by the town's parks department, conducts events throughout the year, including dance and music performances.

The cost of living in East Terrace is average for the mid-range suburbs of Seattle, although it costs less than in the city itself. A lease on a one-bedroom apartment costs around $1,100 per month. Rides on Sound Transit commuter bus routes cost $2.50 to downtown Seattle or Bellevue, while gas prices average about 5 percent more than the national average. When heading out, a pint of beer at a local bar sets you back around $4.

Limited shopping options exist within East Terrace beyond a QFC grocery store and a few shops in the same shopping center. Among these shops, Pet Adventure supplies pet owners with everything their pets need. In addition to food, treats and toys, the store hosts regular dog adoption events and welcomes pets to join their owners in the store.

For your next barbecue or dinner, Double DD Meats continues the long tradition of the neighborhood butcher, carrying the finest cuts of beef, lamb, pork and poultry. A family-owned mainstay since 1955, Double DD also sells sausages made in-house and discounted meat packs to fill your freezer or cater large events.

A short drive outside East Terrace brings you to a number of shopping destinations, including Lake Forest Park Town Center, Costco and other chain stores in north Shoreline and the large Alderwood Mall shopping area in Lynnwood. Large retailers in the Alderwood area include Macy's, Best Buy, Target and Nordstrom.

Grocery shoppers in East Terrace head to QFC, with numerous other chain stores in the surrounding local towns, with choices like Safeway, Thriftway and PCC available. Farmers markets in Lake Forest Park, Lynnwood and Shoreline sell local farm fresh foods and goods during the summer harvest months.