Richmond Beach...the waterfront community in Shoreline

I see Richmond Beach as one of those "hidden" communities; not a lot of people, even locals, seem to know about it. It's crazy because in my opinion it has one of the best waterfront parks the Seattle Area has to offer, and the community itself is so calm and has a very peaceful feel to it.

Richmond Beach is located in the northernmost part of Shoreline, right on the Sound and bordering Woodway and Edmonds. From Aurora Avenue it is most easily accessed by 185th Street (which turns into Richmond Beach Road), heading West for about 5 minutes. The foresty road that winds down to the community eventually exposes a gorgeous view of the Sound ahead...the sunsets that can be seen are to die for!

As far as day-to-day living goes, RB has everything you need within the community...a good sized shopping strip can be found on Richmond Beach Road which includes a QFC, a large hardware store, banks, two gas stations, a Chinese restaurant and other little stores...and you can't forget the Starbucks! There are also a couple of little drive-thru coffee stands as well if you're on the wrong side of the road.

In the second shopping strip further down the road you'll find a great Thai restaurant, a small spa, a laundromat and a little mini mart, and across the street you'll find

a bowling alley/grill (great for Family Night) and next to it an adorable drive-thru neighborho od cafe surrounded by Palm trees, owned by two Seattlites who discovered their love for coffee in Italy and Spain and purchased the business when they saw it was for sale. You can drop in for a cup of coffee and a pastry, but the place also serves wine for those in the mood...they also have great hot sandwiches!

On the opposite corner of where you would turn to get to the beach is the famous "Little Store" where locals sit and chat or grab a bite to eat...it's mostly a convinience store but they do have sandwiches and little food bits for those in a hurry. The place is great especially during the summer when you're down at the beach and need a little something, whether it be a bottle of water, juice, snacks, etc.

The park itself is currently undergoing some construction but the trail on the bluff is still available to the joggers and dog walkers of the community. Views of the Sound can be enjoyed from this trail, making a walk or a jog extra special. When not under construction, you can drive down to the parking lot a level below and walk over a bridge that overpasses the railroad and down to the beach. Watching the trains go by is always a treat for kids!

Here are some pictures of the beach I took today:

Richmond Beach is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Shoreline, and you can see it in the homes. People have torn older houses down to build new homes, however for the most part you'll find homes that are as old as the 1900's and many of them in the '50s and '60s. Real estate prices here in the current market start at around $350,000 for a pretty modest home (although I've seen some crazy short sale deals as well), and condos are also available from under $200,000. Many homes have views of the Sound, and massive waterfront estates can be found on and around Richmond Beach Drive. The current most expensive property in the area is listed at just over $2 million, a gorgeous waterfront estate just shy of 5,000 square feet.