Picnic Point-North Lynnwood Lynnwood, WA

Until the 1970s, the Picnic Point and North Lynnwood neighborhoods were part of a sparsely populated, semi-rural area between the cities of Seattle and Everett. As Seattle's suburbs expanded in the 1970s and 1980s, Lynnwood grew first into a bedroom community and then into a small city in its own right. In the decades since, the neighborhood grew into a series of subdivisions, with a small commercial presence along Highway 99 and 164th Street. With the continued commercial growth of southern Snohomish County, an increasingly smaller portion of the population commutes into Seattle although the city remains the primary employment region of the area.

The restaurant fare in the Picnic Point-North Lynnwood neighborhood consists primarily of fast food chain restaurants along Highway 99, such as Dairy Queen and Ivar's Seafood Bar. Interspersed along the highway, a few local eateries with cuisine varying from pizza to Korean barbecue provide additional dining options. A few miles drive south of the neighborhood, diners can find a multitude of eateries and several high-end restaurants that overlook the Puget Sound 10 minutes southwest at the Edmonds waterfront.

For those looking for a tasty slice, Sparta's Pizza and Spaghetti house serves up a variety of pizza options with homemade sauce and fresh dough. Choose from the daily specials, or create your own pizza from a long list of toppings, including hot pepperoni, pineapple, fresh garlic and alfredo sauce.

Taster's Wok on Highway 99 serves up pan-Asian cuisine from China, Thailand, Korea, India and Japan. In addition to sumptuous a la carte options, the restaurant offers several full dinner menus for groups of two or more, with appetizers and multiple main dishes with portions big enough to share with your friends. While the restaurant closes at 9 p.m., the restaurant's full bar stays open until 2 a.m. and continues to serve food until closing. Karaoke starts at 9:30 p.m. every night.

Main thoroughfares in the neighborhood include Highway 99, Highway 525 and Interstate 5. In the residential areas west of Highway 99, 148th Street Southwest and Shelby Road comprise the primary routes. Between Highway 99 and Interstate 5, the main artery comes in the form of 164th Street Southwest. Commuters to Seattle, Bellevue and Everett access Interstate 5 from 164th Street.

Provided by Community Transit, local buses service the neighborhood, with additional commuter routes provided by Sound Transit. The Ash Way Park-and-Ride located near the junction of 164th Street and Interstate 5 connects commuters with downtown Seattle via routes 511 and 512 and with downtown Bellevue via route 532. Community Transit's Swift rapid bus line runs north and south on Highway 99, connecting riders with commercial areas from Lynnwood to Everett.

Eight miles to the southwest of the neighborhood in Edmonds, commuters can board the Sounder commuter rail line to downtown Seattle as well as the Washington State Ferry route to the Kitsap Peninsula.

Located on the southwest corner of the neighborhood, Meadowdale Beach Park features 108 acres of wooded trails and beaches to explore. The rocky beach includes a picnic shelter that can be rented and displays panoramic views of the Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains. Similarly breathtaking views can be seen at the smaller Picnic Point Park, located a few miles north along the beach. The aptly named park includes a number of picnic tables and a small beach. Both parks serve as favorites for beachcombers and provide a special treat as the sun sets behind the mountains.

This neighborhood's cost of living sits around average for the near suburbs of the Seattle metropolitan area. A one-bedroom apartment averages around $1,000 a month, around $400 less per month than in the city of Seattle and $100 to $200 more a month than more distant suburbs. A pint of beer at a local pub runs about $4 for mass-market beers and $6 for craft beers.

Gas prices in the neighborhood average a few cents less per gallon than the national average and about 15 percent less than in the city of Seattle. Bus fares on Community Transit range from $2 a ride for local routes to $4.25 for commuter routes. Sound Transit fares average $2.50 per ride, while the Sounder commuter train costs $3.50 from Edmonds to either Seattle or Everett.

Limited shopping options exist within the neighborhood, with the commercial areas along Highway 99 dominated by auto dealerships and fast food restaurants. However, a short trip southeast of the neighborhood brings shoppers to the Alderwood Mall shopping area of Lynnwood, where almost anything can be found either at large chain stores, such as Nordstrom, Best Buy or Sears, or at local shops.

In the neighborhood, Petticoat Junction Dance Shop specializes in apparel and footwear for all types of dancing, including ballet, tap, ballroom and square. The shop sells clothing and shoes, including clogs, for men, women and children.

For beer drinkers, Special Brews carries over a thousand different beers, ciders and meads from around the world, including some difficult-to-find options. Unlike many beer shops, Special Brews houses a pub with 15 rotating beers on tap, so you can shop the extensive selection while sipping on your favorite pint.

Safeway stands as the main grocery store in the neighborhood, although a short trip south on Highway 99 leads shoppers to QFC, Walmart, Fred Meyer, Trader Joe's and Albertson's. The small Village Market located in the residential area of the neighborhood provides a convenient destination for smaller shopping trips.