Redmond, WA

Getting around Redmond has gotten much simpler now that the light rail line links the Eastside straight across Lake Washington into Seattle. The city naturally splits into a few distinct areas. You have a walkable, laid-back downtown tucked along the river valley, the bustling commercial and tech hub over in Overlake, and quieter residential neighborhoods climbing up the surrounding hills. Depending on where you choose to live, your daily commute might mean catching the train from Overlake, pedaling along the river trail, or driving down quiet wooded roads into the valley.

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Microsoft is the biggest name in town with its sprawling headquarters in Overlake, and Nintendo of America calls Redmond home as well. The local economy also pulls in plenty of aerospace, space tech, and gaming startups along the Highway 520 corridor. Despite all the high-profile corporate campuses, the town manages to keep a relaxed, down-to-earth atmosphere. You can spend your workday on a modern tech campus and still head into downtown for dinner at a local pub, a stop at a neighborhood brewery, or an evening stroll by the river.

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Outdoor recreation is huge here. Runners and cyclists love having the paved Sammamish River Trail and East Lake Sammamish Trail connect right near downtown, giving you miles of traffic-free riding toward Woodinville wine country or down to Lake Sammamish. Just south of the city center, Marymoor Park is the Eastside's favorite weekend playground, packed with sports fields, a 40-acre off-leash dog park, outdoor summer concerts, and the Jerry Baker Velodrome. Between weekend trail rides, farmers markets, and winter light festivals, people here spend plenty of time outside.

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Long before tech companies moved in, Redmond began as a logging and homesteading settlement named Salmonberg. Over the decades, it earned its reputation as the Bicycle Capital of the Northwest, celebrated each summer during Derby Days. The annual festival started back in 1939 with a bike race and has evolved into a fun weekend of parades, live music, carnival rides, and community races. Downtown Park serves as the central gathering lawn, complete with splash pads, open green space, and a sheltered pavilion for outdoor performances along the paved Central Connector trail.