by Kathleen Richardson

Created on: November 16, 2008   Last Updated: March 19, 2009

Selected by CNNmoney.com in 2007 as one of the best places to live in the United States, Mercer Island is just a bridge away from trendy, downtown Seattle.

While Mercer Island's core population hovers around 22,000, residents and the many area visitors can easily and quickly get to sixty movie theaters, 4,500 restaurants, 420 bars, 128 public golf courses, 111 libraries and nine AAM-accredited museums, all situated within thirty miles of Mercer Island. Those who love winter sports will find nine ski resorts within one hundred miles of this small, King County island community.

Mercer Island can be a haven away from the hustle and bustle of the Seattle area. This small family-oriented community "feels much more 'small town' than a city." Five miles long and 1-1/2 miles wide, it allows travellers to get where they want to go, on and off the island, quickly.

What is there to do on Mercer Island itself? The first thing to do is to drive across the Homer M. Hadley Memorial Bridge, the fifth longest floating bridge in the world. Along with the Lacey V. Murrow Memorial Bridge, the second longest in the world, it carries Interstate 90 from Mercer Island to Seattle. On the other side of the island, I-90 is carried by the East Channel Bridge and links to Bellevue. In addition to numerous lanes of vehicular traffic, the bridges also accommodates bicyclists.

Summer "Seafair" celebrations in Seattle feature the U. S. Navy's Blue Angels flying by, and in order to prevent distractions to both pilots and drivers, the bridges are closed during certain hours. The City of Mercer Island posts closing dates and times. http://www.ci.mercer-island.wa.us/Page.asp?NavID=229 3

For those who like to shop, two large shopping areas (with apartment complexes) are currently available: Mercer and Island Square.

The Park on The Lid, located at the corner of I-90 and W. Mercer Way, features numerous picnic areas, playgrounds, basketball and tennis courts, and softball fields, all with a view of downtown Seattle.

According to the City of Mercer Island website, the Luther Burbank Park, located on the north end of the island at 2040 84th Avenue Southeast, "features spectacular views of Lake Washington, and has facilities for several water-based activities, including swimming, boating and fishing."

This park is further promoted as "a large park of 77 acres with three-quarters of a mile of Lake Washington waterfront. Much of the park has been left undeveloped to foster a variety of wildlife, including 135 species of birds, 50 species of waterfowl, raccoons, beaver, muskrats, tree frogs and rabbits. Many of these animals live in the wetlands that occupy the north and south ends of the park."

What is there to do on Seattle's Mercer Island? Residents and visitors are encouraged to enjoy everything from shopping to walking, hiking, biking, bird watching and participating in land and water sports. This laid-back community is not only a great place to live and raise a family, but also it is a place where Seattle visitors can come to take a break and a deep breath of fresh air.

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