Wilburton-NE 8th St - Bellevue, WA

Until 1940, when a floating bridge was created to connect Seattle with Bellevue, Bellevue was a rural area without much access to the development happening across the lake. Bellevue grew into a bedroom community with the addition of the bridge, and started to expand rapidly with the development of a second bridge connecting it to the city of Seattle. Bellevue began to develop high-rise buildings, a downtown core and posh shopping center, and eventually became the large, exclusive suburb it is today.

Wilburton-NE 8th Street continues to grow with the city, and city planners work to ensure that commercial and residential growth go hand in hand to preserve the appeal of the residential portion of Wilburton. The community also hosts some popular annual events. The Bellevue Arts and Crafts Fair, held downtown, draws visitors from around the state every July. Bellevue's Downtown Park hosts the Bellevue Sculpture Exhibition biennially, which draws thousands.

Wilburton residents enjoy the convenience and vibrancy of the downtown life while maintaining amazing access to parks and recreation right outside their doors. Downtown Bellevue is within walking distance and provides a nightlife scene exciting enough that Seattle residents often drive across the lake to enjoy it. A night out downtown could include cocktails and live music at Bake's Place - a popular choice for happy hour on the patio on sunny days, and a dimly lit lounge after hours.

The Goose Pub and Eatery offers a lively experience at night, featuring daily happy hour specials and big-screen sports action. With billiards, darts and a variety of video games, you can enjoy some friendly competition with your friends. The kitchen serves standard bar food, but the Goose Pub is especially known for its interesting and delicious spin on tater tots.

Residents of Wilburton don't even need to travel the two miles to the downtown area, as there are dining and entertainment options right in their neighborhood. As Bellevue continues to expand, Wilburton-NE 8th Street is becoming more commercial - and the addition of more restaurants is a vital part of that expansion. For an evening of entertainment and food, try Mox Boarding House, a chic gaming cafe that serves beer on tap, amazing food and an artisan atmosphere. The interior is huge, with high ceilings, comfortable seating and multiple board games. Locals love the seven cheeses mac and cheese and the ever-rotating beer selection.

Though Wilburton-NE 8th Street is a short distance from the Bellevue city center, the neighborhood itself is still considered car-dependent. Most residents use a car for everyday errands, and easy access to multiple interstates makes living in Wilburton convenient for car commuters. Public transportation is an option in Wilburton, though not extremely easy to use. Transit riders can get around the Eastside suburbs with the bus system, and an hourlong bus trip connects to the Seattle transit system. Residents can call a cab, and on busy weekend evenings hailing a cab in downtown Bellevue is possible. Uber is not available in Bellevue yet. Parking in residential Wilburton is easy, but it becomes expensive and harder to find as you move closer to downtown. Wilburton doesn't have many bike-only lanes, but there are many bike-friendly roads in the neighborhood, and cyclists can connect to bike paths that span the greater Seattle area.

Wilburton-NE 8th Street has ample access to multiple parks; many residents choose this area for its outdoor spaces in proximity to city life. Wilburton Hill Park is one of the most popular parks in the Bellevue area and provides access to the Lake to Lake trail and Greenway System. The park also offers a children's play area and play fields that are available to rent for active play.

The Bellevue Botanical Garden is another popular destination for Wilburton residents- it hosts guided tours, is open to the public and draws visitors from around the area. The park is normally free to enter, though events at the park do cost money. During the holidays, the popular Garden d'lights displays amazing light displays and family-friendly entertainment.

Robinswood Park is a popular park for residents with dogs. The huge off-leash area offers a lot of open space and an area for small and shy dogs.

The cost of living in Bellevue is significantly higher than the national average, and slightly higher than the average for Washington state. The cost of housing in Wilburton-NE 8th Street is lower than the average for Bellevue; average rent for a one-bedroom apartment is $1,222. A beer at a local pub in Bellevue will cost between $5-$6. Gas is about 9 percent higher in Bellevue than the rest of the nation. Public transportation into Seattle will cost about $5 each way.

Wilburton is uniquely situated because much of its landscape is commercial; it has long been a popular area to purchase cars, but more retail stores appear all the time in this rapidly developing neighborhood. Large stores like Target, Whole Foods and Safeway can be found in the area, as well as speciality grocers.

Uwajimaya is a popular choice for Japanese takeout food as well as speciality items. The store has what is arguably the best fresh seafood counter in the city. Residents frequent the store for an amazing selection of Sake, gluten-free sauces and specialty items for cooking Japanese, Korean and Thai food at home.

Bellevue is known around the Seattle area for its high-end shopping district at Bellevue Square. Bellevue Square is a large mall, with staple stores such as Macy's and Nordstrom, and specialty stores including Hugo Boss, Tiffany's and Victorinox Swiss Army. Bellevue Square is a destination shopping mall for many Seattle-area residents, and its proximity to downtown Bellevue makes the shopping experience unique. Though Bellevue Square is the most popular shopping destination, Wilburton residents can also find thriving shopping centers a short drive away: Factoria, Crossroads and Overlake.

The Shops At The Bravern offer high-end shopping and dining on the outskirts of Wilburton. Neiman Marcus, Hermes and Jimmy Choo are just some of the iconic brands shoppers can find at the European-inspired outdoor village. Many "first in the Northwest" shops can be found here, and easy access to transit to and from downtown Seattle make this a popular shopping spot for residents and travelers alike.