South Hill - Puyallup, WA

South Hill was first populated in the 1880s, following the construction of a military road through the area. Initially, South Hill consisted primarily of logging camps, hunting grounds and farms. The population grew slowly until World War II; after the war roads throughout the region improved, which allowed South Hill residents easier passage to nearby Tacoma and Seattle.

The area’s major annual cultural event is Meeker Days, held in nearby downtown Puyallup since 1939. The event, which draws over 60,000 attendees, celebrates the region’s history and the coming of summer with 14 city blocks of live music, arts and crafts booths, a classic car show and more.

Casual, homey restaurants are scattered throughout South Hill. For old-school, drive-in fare, locals love Out & About Burgers, offering affordable classics such as Out & About’s BMC, which satisfies large appetites with double patties and three slices of cheese. Out & About's creamy hand-dipped milkshakes and malts are also a major draw.

For a festive sit-down dinner, sombrero optional, South Hill’s Mazatlan Restaurant serves a bounty of zesty Mexican dishes, including its popular house special the steak picado, featuring sliced top sirloin fried with onions, peppers and mushrooms. Humongous frosty margaritas in every flavor imaginable complete the experience. At Karma Fine Indian Cuisine, an authentic, charming spot, South Hill residents recommend the mango lassi and pillowy cheese naan in addition to the restaurant's array of well-seasoned Indian specialties.

When you don't want to leave the house, Rose Garden Chinese Restaurant delivers massive portions of Chinese favorites to your doorstep within minutes (takeout is also available). Rose Garden provides traditional options such as sweet and sour chicken and beef with broccoli, or you can branch out with their Singapore rice noodles or Cantonese chow fan. Unexpected bonus: all dishes are MSG-free.

As South Hill is primarily residential, nightlife is quiet: you won’t find any boisterous nightclubs, and churches far outnumber bars. Most South Hill residents head to Regal Cinema’s Longston Place Stadium, the local movie theater, when craving a night out somewhere close to home.

South Hill residents primarily drive to get around. However, that is changing as Pierce Transit improves its services. Residents can quickly plan a bus trip or sign up to join a vanpool via Pierce Transit’s helpful website. Pierce Transit provides numerous bus routes between South Hill’s park-and-ride to Puyallup Station, which offers rail service to downtown Tacoma and Seattle for commuters and those looking to avoid the Seattle area's notorious traffic.

While you don’t see taxis cruising the streets in large numbers, several local cab companies offering stellar service are reachable via phone; try AAA Taxi, Ace Taxi, or King Cab. Uber, while available in nearby Tacoma, has yet to expand to South Hill.

For those who opt to drive, the Seattle-Tacoma area’s main arterial, Interstate 5, is easily accessible via State Route 512, a quick 10-minute trip from central South Hill.

Non-vehicular forms of transit are less popular. Given Western Washington’s rainy climate and the expansive distances between South Hill’s businesses, you won’t see many walkers here. However, wide streets and a relatively flat terrain make the area fairly safe for bikers.

South Hill is home to three public parks, all of which are free to access. South Hill's parks are all perfect for families and allow dogs as long as they are kept on leashes. Bradley Lake Park’s notable feature is 12-acre Bradley Lake, which is open for fishing year round. Ball fields, a covered picnic area and playground draw children and families during all seasons, and South Hill residents enjoy the park’s several miles of walking trails.

Need more trail options? South Hill Community Park’s 40 acres offers still more trekking routes, in addition to scenic man-made wetlands and two soccer fields. For a more remote atmosphere and more diverse exercise options, head to Wildwood Park, comprising 80 lush acres, 55 of which are naturally forested. Other Wildwood Park attractions include several exercise trails, multiple walking paths, a playground, 12 covered picnic shelters, two youth ball fields, a day camp facility and a historic water reservoir.

The average cost of living in South Hill is much lower than that of Seattle, however its distance from Seattle’s downtown core is a notable drawback in terms of commuting expenses. It costs $4.50 for an adult rider to travel from downtown Seattle to South Hill via public transit. The median rent for a one-bedroom South Hill residence is $875.73, lower by far than Seattle’s median rent of over $1,400 for a one-bedroom unit. A typical beer at a local bar goes for $3, slightly lower than Seattle watering-hole prices. The neighborhood gas average sits at 9 percent above the national gas average.

Several sizable shopping areas can be found in South Hill. The largest is South Hill Mall, drawing shoppers with a wide variety of mid-range specialty shops and restaurants including Aveda, Macy’s and Red Robin. Meridian Town Center, anchored by Safeway (the area's grocery option), Jo Ann Fabrics and Tuesday Morning is another large South Hill shopping center. Those in search of a bargain can check out the South Hill Goodwill.

Though national chains dominate the retail landscape in South Hill, several quirky boutiques are found here. Shopping with children in mind? Designs for Dolls is a great option for gifts. Another intriguing local business is South Hill Rare Coins and Precious Metals, which is known to pay top dollar for coins and jewelry and features many beautiful collections available for purchase. Cycling enthusiasts must stop by Inspired Ride Bicycles, a locally owned bike shop with a refreshingly down-to-earth attitude about two-wheel transportation.