Lakeland South - Pacific, WA Area Guide

Lakeland South is a census-designated place and part of unincorporated King County. In 2007 residents rejected an annexation proposal that would incorporate the area into Federal Way. The neighborhood is largely residential with some small convenience stores and several parks.

Lakeland South does not contain any museums or art galleries. Residents looking for an art scene will need to travel to nearby neighborhoods or to Seattle for high-end galleries. The local churches put on several community events each year.

Designed as a family-friendly residential area, Lakeland South does not have many commercial opportunities. Diners and shoppers alike will need to travel outside of the neighborhood to fulfill their dining and shopping needs. Luckily the surrounding neighborhoods have an abundance of options to choose from.

Crockett's Public House serves signature dishes and drinks in an old-style bricks-and-mortar atmosphere. Located 6 miles south of the neighborhood in Puyallup, its breakfast, lunch and dinner menus delight locals and visitors alike. Famous foodie, Guy Fieri raved about the Public House meatballs, made by hand with veal, pork and sirloin. Pair it with Crockett's signature bloody mary, and finish up with the butterscotch bourbon pudding.

Close by in Federal Way, Koharu Japanese Restaurant serves sushi, tempura and other Japanese dishes with authentic Japanese flair. Waitresses wear Japanese kimonos, and the owner is a licensed sushi chef. Try a sushi combo or the gindara kasuzuke, and don't forget to finish up with the coffee Jello dessert.

Locals claim that Poverty Bay Cafe has the best coffee in all of the Seattle area. It might just be true; Poverty Bay Coffee Company serves as a small micro-roaster that sources all its beans from farm collectives that grow the coffee beans in the shade of the rain forests. If you stop by for breakfast, make sure and try the Eggs Neptune: poached eggs with salmon on an English muffin. Don't forget to cast your vote for best coffee in Seattle while there.

Searching for a neighborhood watering hole? Stop by Coco Joe's Bar & Grill, located on the east side of the neighborhood. Residents gather here to socialize with friends and meet new people while grabbing a pint or two and catching a game. For a more active nightlife scene, you will need to travel north to Seattle.

Lakeland South residents enjoy lush green yards with tree lined private streets featuring sidewalks suitable for walking. Streets do not contain bike lanes, so care should be taken when traveling by bicycle.

Most commuters residing in Lakeland use personal vehicles for transportation. Commuters have access to Seattle or Tacoma via I-5, and Highway 167 to the east provides access to other suburban areas. If you would rather arrive via taxi or ride share, consider calling one of the local cab companies in advance or use your smartphone to request a Lyft ride.

You can catch a bus on 28th Avenue South, on the west side of the neighborhood, but buses do not travel through neighborhood streets. A bus trip to Seattle takes between 75 and 120 minutes, depending on the day and traffic speeds. A trip to Tacoma by bus takes approximately 55 minutes.

The neighborhood is located 25 miles south of Seattle and 12 miles east of Tacoma. Residents travel 18 miles north to Seattle-Tacoma International airport to catch a flight to destinations all over the world.

Residential areas in Lakeland South have private parking; street side parking possible too. Commercial areas and business complexes provide ample free parking. Parks and recreation areas also provide free parking.

Lakeland South features five large lakes: Trout Lake, Spider Lake, Lake Killarney, Lake Geneva and Five Mile Lake. Five Mile Lake Park provides access to Five Mile Lake with a large boat dock and swimming area. The park also contains a playground, tennis courts and a baseball diamond. People often fish from this lake for its trout, and fishermen have reported catching bass, crappies and perch as well. The park covers an extensive part of the shoreline for shore fishing. If you have a small watercraft, you can carry it from the park’s parking lot to the shore for assess to other areas of the lake. The park does not feature a boat launch, so the watercraft needs to be small enough to carry to the shore.

Lakeland South hosts several baseball tournaments at the South Kings County Baseball Fields. The park contains five baseball fields, a half basketball court and a large grassy play area for kids to run in. Lake Geneva Park rests on the north east side of Lake Geneva. It contains a grassy soccer field, playground and boat ramp. Fishermen choose this lake for fishing because of the stocked rainbow trout and largemouth bass.

Dog owners enjoy bringing their pets to the parks, but dogs must remain on their leash at all times.

No official events are hosted in the Lakeland South parks, but all of them offer reservation systems for private parties.

Living in Lakeland South carries a higher cost of living – about 23 percent higher than the national average and 12 percent higher than Washington in general. Residents happily trade the higher cost of living for homes on large open lots with lakeside views, access to highly rated schools and light vehicle traffic. You can find a variety of housing types in the neighborhood, though the bulk of the housing is single family residences. The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the area runs around $865 a month.

Taking the bus from Lakeland South to Downtown Seattle will take between 75 and 120 minutes and cost about $4.50. A trip to Tacoma will cost around $7.00 and take just under an hour. Gas prices run about 17 percent higher than the national average. You can expect to pay around $4 to $5 for a pint of beer.

Lakeland South does not have many commercially zoned areas. Residents will need to travel to Auburn, Federal Way or Tacoma for shopping needs. Lakeland residents can find the shops they need for everyday shopping on the west side of I-5. Costco, Walmart and Home Depot can be found there. Locals can find a 1st Saturday Market every month at the Resurrection Catholic Church. If you would like to shop a farmers market more frequently, check out the Federal Way Farmers Market.

Gardening fans looking for an exquisite selection of rhododendrons, azaleas and hydrangeas check out the Rhododendron Garden Nursery. If you visit in the spring, you will be dazzled by the blossoms sparkling in the sunlight filtered by tall firs and madronas. Diane Bell, the owner of the garden, takes an active role in the garden and has nurtured the 7 acres for over 20 years. If you need advice for what to plant in your own garden, seek her advice, she won’t steer your wrong.

Comic-con fans should stop by Fantasium Comics and Games for a new board games or the latest version of your favorite comic book. Located in Federal Way, the shop features new and used comics, pop culture figurines and collectibles, and a large selection of games. Board game aficionados looking to get together with like-minded board game players head over on Saturday afternoons to play their favorite games in a friendly setting.

Shoppers travel five miles east to Auburn to shop at the Outlet Collection Mall, which contains store such as Nordstrom’s Off Rack, Burlington Coat Factory and Old Navy. If you are looking for exclusive shops such as Barney’s New York, you will have to travel to Seattle’s Pacific Place on Pine Street.