Gilman - Issaquah, WA Area Guide

Issaquah features a rich history represented across three different museums in the area. In Gilman, the Gilman Town Hall Museum tells “The Story of Our Town” with photographs and artifacts depicting life in the Valley when it was first settled. It also has a hands-on exhibits that gives guests a chance to experience what it was like to cook back in the day among other chores. In the back, this museum maintains a two-celled jail circa 1930.

Issaquah hosts a number of local events from Wine and Art Walks to live music and celebrations of local heritage. One of its most famous events, Salmon Days, takes place in early October. Residents celebrate the salmon run all through the fall, visiting the local hatchery to witness the event. A number of holiday-themed events dominate the end of October through January.

Gilman's proximity to downtown Issaquah opens up a full range of menu options all along NW Gilman Boulevard. Classics like Italian, Mexican, and American stand available as well as Thai, Mediterranean, and more.

American favorites from burgers to steaks dot the main drag. The steak and seafood dishes at Flat Iron Grill can be a bit pricey for some, but the namesake steak and oysters keep it one of Issaquah's most popular restaurants. Triple XXX Root Beer Drive In steps back into the 1950s with burgers, shakes, and root-beer floats encased in a classic diner.

One ethnic favorite, Garlic Crush, feature a gyro plate and shawarmas that please patrons, to say nothing of its garlic fries. Meanwhile, Taqueria La Venadita delivers classic Mexican dishes. Their arroz con pollo and the fresh flan keep diners coming back. Chaat N Roll's mango lassi and authentic parathas give Indian food lovers a thrill. For a quick bite, try Tao Bistro cooks up authentic Taiwanese dishes like their tasty pork buns and beef noodle soup.

Residents head down to the Issaquah Brewhouse for a kobe burger and a wide selection of rouge ales and spirits. Locals looking for more excitement head into Bellevue, but for a casual night out, the Brewhouse makes the perfect destination. Perhaps best of all, the owners of the establishment also host dog-friendly events.

The city of Issaquah promotes “Salmon-Friendly Commuting” from biking and walking around the city to choosing public transportation for commutes into the greater Seattle area. On Gilman's mostly rural, residential streets, parking rarely presents a problem and residents can walk or bike at their leisure.

Interstate 90 runs alongside Gilman, giving residents access to downtown Issaquah and greater Seattle area. I-90 also guides travelers over the mountains and acts as the primary link between Eastern and Western Washington.

Living this far out, Uber drivers and cabs can be hard to come by. Two taxi companies, Seattle Town Car and Eastside for Hire, service the area. Still, residents usually drive themselves or catch a bus from the Issaquah Highlands Park and Ride to commute into Bellevue and other cities.

A local route gives residents an alternative to driving or biking around Issaquah, and two transit centers host a dozen buses, giving residents easy access to the greater Seattle area. The Issaquah Highlands Park and Ride gives riders a central location to catch Metro buses, while the Issaquah Transit Center hosts Sound Transit Buses. Riders can also catch buses running along major streets like Newport Way. Express buses take commuters into downtown Bellevue in 20 minutes or downtown Seattle in about 30 minutes.

With so much natural landscape around the area, kids and dogs can run free just about anywhere, but Central Park specifically gives kids wide open spaces, a playground, tennis courts and soccer fields. Nearby trails also give kids and families a place to hike or bike their way through nature.

The Issaquah State Salmon Hatchery lets visitors get up close and personal with local fish. One of the most popular hatcheries in the state, locals bring the whole family to learn about the salmon and see the fish ladder. While you can come anytime, the best time to visit is during the salmon run — between early September and late October.

Abundant trails wind through Gilman. One of the most popular trails, West Tiger Mountain Trail #3, sits about 10 miles north. This three-mile trek up Tiger Mountain takes around two hours for most hikers to reach the summit, providing beautiful views as well as a great workout.

Also nearby, Lake Sammamish State Park stretches across 512 acres with almost 7,000 feet, kissing the edge of Lake Sammamish. This Native American treasure acts as a preserve for deciduous forest and wetland vegetation and the salmon that live there. Visitors bike or hike the trails and rent kayaks in the summer. Some come to hunt or fish, while others simply soak up the scenery or do a little bird watching. Day passes can be purchased for $10, but many locals find the Discover Pass a much better deal. For $30 a year, pass holders can visit Lake Sammamish and any other state park as often as they like. An automated pay station at the park allows visitors to purchase either type of pass.

Overall, the cost of living in Issaquah neighborhoods like Gilman hovers around 42 percent higher than the national average. Most goods and services simply cost a bit more out here — a beer at the Brewhouse runs around $5 for instance, and a trip to the movies costs about $11 a person. Rent runs higher than in most areas, with one-bedroom units going for around $1,324 per month. Gas also tends to run about 9.2 percent higher than the rest of the nation. Commuters working in Bellevue or other cities may prefer to avoid paying for gas and parking, instead choosing to take a bus for $2.25 to $3 a trip.

Gilman is mostly a residential neighborhood with a few public buildings, but it sits right on the cusp of downtown Issaquah, where shops and restaurants line Northwest Gilman Boulevard. For daily needs, residents can shop Costco, Safeway, Fred Meyer or Target. For more specific needs, local businesses fill the gap.

The Grange supplies more rural needs for farmers, but it also has a selection of clothing and household items as well as pet food and lawn or garden supplies. Alongside promotional events, The Grange also holds community events.

White Horse Toys features something both fun and educational for any age group. This shop specializes in puzzles and science-related games rather than movie-themed or mainstream options, yet the selection goes above and beyond the average retailer's.

Two shops draw customers looking for hidden treasures - Doubletake Vintage and Revolve Consignment. Doubletake Vintage and Consignments specializes in vintage clothing and some decorative items, making it a great place to find accessories for just about any occasion. Shoppers looking for used items in good condition head over to Revolve Consignment to browse the large selection of clothing, shoes, bags and other accessories. Aside from running frequent sales on designer apparel for men and women, this place also offers the parties parting with their clothes a steaming service to get the goods wrinkle-free and rack-ready.

From May through September the Issaquah Farmers Market sells organic produce from a variety of local farms and hosts a wide array of vendors who sell everything from flowers and baked goods to homemade arts and crafts. The market also hosts family-friendly activities, small concerts and educational demonstrations.