Paine Field-Lake Stickney - Everett, WA Area Guide

While the neighborhood has been settled since the early 1900s, its history is heavily linked to the construction of the nearby Boeing airplane manufacturing plant in the 1960s. The airfield itself was first built in 1936 and was manned by the Army Air Corps during World War II and by the Air Force during the Korean conflict. When the Air Force moved out in the early 1960s, the field was transitioned to an industrial airfield and has grown along with the Boeing.

For an in-depth look at the area's link to the aviation industry, check out the airport's Museum of Flight and the nearby Boeing manufacturing plant's Future of Flight exhibit, which includes a tour of the manufacturing plant.

Dining options in the neighborhood are mostly spread along Highway 99, with some restaurants along Airport Road and 128th Street Southwest. The restaurants are primarily fast food and Vietnamese and Thai cuisine. A few taverns and a casino also line Highway 99. Chain restaurants in the neighborhood include Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, Subway and Starbucks.

O'Finnigan's Pub provides an exception to the fast food and Asian heavy fare, dishing up standard Irish and American pub food, with house specialties such as the "Avocado Bacon Burger" and the "Tropical Thunder Burger," complete with grilled pineapple and jalapeños. The pub also sports a long cocktail menu, and head in on Sunday for free pool all day.

For drinks, food and fun, head to Royal Casino, which provides gaming opportunities in poker, baccarat, blackjack and pull tabs. The casino also holds regular poker tournaments, cash drawings and other giveaways. For those working in the hospitality industry, Wednesdays feature 50 percent off food, and for everyone, happy hour specials run daily, and Saturday evenings feature dinner specials, such as prime rib for $14.99.

The main roadways in the neighborhood are Highway 99, Airport Way, Highway 525 and 128th Street Southwest. Highway 525 and 128th Street provide easy access to Interstate 5, which connects Everett with the greater Seattle metropolitan area.

Everett Transit provides local bus routes throughout the neighborhood, with connections to the remainder of the city. Community Transit runs the Swift bus rapid transit line along Highway 99, which connects to downtown Everett to the north and Edmonds, Lynnwood, and King County to the south.

Commuters heading to Seattle and Bellevue will find several park-and-rides along Interstate 5, with Sound Transit commuter bus service connecting to the business cores of both cities via Routes 510, 512 and 532. You can also catch the Sounder commuter train to downtown Seattle in Mukilteo, a short drive west of the neighborhood. The Washington State Ferry to Whidbey Island likewise departs from Mukilteo.

For owners of private planes, Paine Field offers hangars and small plane runways. Commercial flights, however, do not fly out of Paine Field.

The neighborhood is home to two medium-sized parks. Paine Field Community Park, located at the south end of Paine Field, consists of a playground, picnic areas and four baseball fields. Lake Stickney Community Park lines the wetland-dotted eastern shore of Lake Stickney. The park has a number of trails, picnic areas and an off-leash dog area. While not in the park, a boat ramp on the north side of Lake Stickney provides access for non-motorized boats. Fishing opportunities in the lake include rainbow trout, large mouth bass and yellow perch.

To the northeast of Paine Field sit the adjacent Kasch and Loganberry Lane parks. Kasch Park is home to a number of athletic fields, with city leagues operating throughout the year, while Loganberry Lane Park offers numerous wooded trails and a large off-leash area for dog owners.

The cost of living in the neighborhood is below average for the suburbs of the Seattle, as well as for the city of Everett. A one-bedroom rental averages $934.14 per month, which is around $500 less per month than in the city of Seattle. A pint of beer at a local pub runs about $4.

Gas prices in the neighborhood is a few cents more per gallon than the national average, but about 10 percent less than in the city of Seattle. Bus fares on Community Transit range from $2 a ride for trips within Snohomish County to $4.25 for rides to King County. Everett Transit charges $1 per ride. You will save over cash prices with the Orca Card regional transit pass, which is accepted by all three agencies.

Industrial supply shops, home furnishing wholesalers, automobile dealerships and repair shops are the most plentiful shopping destinations in the neighborhood. Other retail shopping options in the neighborhood are limited, although the adjacent Everett Mall South neighborhood provides an abundance of shopping options, including many large retailers. Home Depot and Dollar Tree are the only chain stores in the neighborhood, although a Walmart and a Fred Meyer lie just north along Highway 99. Grocery shoppers, likewise, must head outside the neighborhood, either north along Highway 99 or Everett Mall Way, or across Interstate 5 to the Silver Lake neighborhood, where grocery options include Costco and Safeway.

Amidst the industrial and auto retail-centric businesses in the neighborhood, pet owners can find the Pacific Northwest pet supply chain Pet Pros. The store carries a wide number food and treat choices, including numerous organic, special diet and raw food selections.

Boat owners can head to The Prop Shop for specialized propeller and motor repair, as well as for a wide selection of new inboard and outboard motors. The store has been serving the local boating community for over 35 years.