Although Mountlake Terrace is considered a suburb, lying just 14 miles north of the Seattle, it might as well be known as recreation central. Aside from containing nine municipal parks, the local neighborhoods include 262 acres of rec areas, including public open spaces, playing fields, a golf course and a sports pavilion. If you prefer more urban activities, try the boutiques and eateries of the Town Center. If you live in an apartment in Mountlake Terrace, you will enjoy the wide variety of activities that this community has to offer.
Mountlake Terrace used to be a forest in which the Snohomish people hunted for game. Most of the modern homes popped up after World War II when returning veterans needed a place to raise their families. By 1954, the 5,000 area residents incorporated the city.
The population of Mountlake Terrace was estimated at 20,530 as of 2014. Most who rent in the area live in high-rise buildings. Whatever your living situation, you can join a board or commission to advise local government about such issues as art, community policing, urban planning and recreation.
If you enjoy the water, the nearest beach and dock is at Lake Ballinger, which encourages boating and fishing. For more organized play, head for Evergreen Playfield, the largest sports complex in the city. Its 16 acres encompass five baseball/softball diamonds, three soccer fields, four lighted tennis courts and a quarter-mile track. The largest park in the city is Terrace Creek Park, which contains 60 acres that include an 18-hole disc golf course.
For more urban activities, check out why the Town Center won the Governor's Smart Communities Award. Here, you can enjoy cuts of beef, pork, lamb and poultry at Double DD Meats, an old-school butcher shop that was established in 1955. At another classic joint, Espresso Break, you can get your fill of a variety of brews while catching up on neighborhood gossip. More liquid nourishment is available at the Diamond Knot Brewpub, which produces up to 1,500 barrels of beer each year and serves food cooked on hot stones.
The Transit Center lies at the heart of the city's transportation system. Boasting green construction, it acts as a central destination for Community Transit, Sound Transit and King County Metro, the community's public transportation options. It also contains 10 electric vehicle charging stations, if you drive an EV, and parking for 880 cars, both conventional and eco-friendly. If you prefer private transportation, nearly all places that you can rent include ample parking.
If you want a post-secondary education, you'll have to travel about 15 minutes at most from your apartment to nearby neighborhoods. Three community colleges are located in the area. Edmonds Community College and Shoreline Community College are named after the cities they're in, and Cascadia College is in Bothell.
The city contains many diverse options for employment. The three biggest are Premera Blue Cross, the Edmonds School District and the City of Mountlake Terrace itself.