by Melanie Grimes

Created on: November 12, 2008   Last Updated: December 22, 2008

Mercer Island is a small island suburb of Seattle. It's located in the middle of Lake Washington, accessible via a floating bridge that links Seattle and Bellevue. Mercer Island is primarily a bedroom community comprised of single-family homes. Originally home to Native Americans, the island was named after three Illinois brothers named Mercer in the late 1800s. Early Seattleites used the island to hunt and fish, until the first settlement in 1891, named East Seattle. The island was only accessible by ferry until 1940 when the first floating bridge was built.

Recreation

Because of its island location, the community of Mercer Island offers many recreational opportunities. There are bike paths, public boat launches, picnic areas, walking trails, and horse back riding clubs.

Horseback riding

Opportunities for horse enthusiast abound on Mercer Island. You can join the Mercer Island Saddle Club. Forty acres of equestrian trails link the southeast quadrant of Pioneer Park and the club.

Luther Burbank Park

On the north end of the island, Luther Burbank Park offers. Named after the famed horticulturist, his is a 77-acre county owned park located on three quarters of a mile of waterfront. The park is a great place to bird watch, with over 135 species of birds and 50 species of waterfowl. The park also offers an off-leash dog area, barbecues and picnic tables, tennis courts, basketball court, boat dock, fishing pier, swimming beach, children's play area, and an amphitheater.

Pioneer Park

Pioneer Park comprises 113 acres with 6.6 miles of trails. The southeast quadrant is the equestrian quadrant, but the trails are open to all users. The rest of the park provides walking and biking trails as well as tennis courts, volleyball courts, basketball courts and a skateboard park.

I90

This highway that links Mercer Island is Interstate 90, the longest interstate highway in the United States. One thing you can do in Mercer Island is to begin an epic road trek on I90, that will take you all across the Continental Divide, through Chicago, al the way to Boston, Massachusetts. But there is more to do on Mercer Island than leave.

Mary Wayte Pool

The Wayte Pool offers recreational swimming and competitive programs for swimmers. The pool is 25-yard lap lanes and lessons for children, adults and seniors.

Lakes-To-Locks Water Trail

Mercer Island hosts numerous launch spots on the Washington Water Trails The Lakes-To-Locks Water Trail. Small non-motorized boats use the trail that connects Lake Washington to Lake Union, Lake Washington, and through the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks to the ocean at Shilshole Marina in Elliott Bay.

Sister City

Mercer Island's sister city is Thonon les Bains in the Haute Savoie region of France. A strong relationship exists between these cities, sponsored by the Mercer Island Sister City Association, which hosts events and organizes student and cultural exchanges.

Mercer Island is known as a suburb, but it offers wonderful outdoor activities year-round. Not just a stop on the Interstate highway, Mercer Island is a charming community worth a visit.

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