Carnation, Washington: Small, Pacific Northwest Town with Opportunities

So you've been transferred to the Pacific Northwest and don't know about the neighborhoods? Well, here's some info on one of my personal favorites, Carnation, Washington.

Carnation is located in King County in the scenic Snoqualmie Valley, nestled in the foothills of the Cascades. Bounded by two rivers, the Tolt and Snoqualmie, picturesque is an understatement for this area. Perfect for farmland, the town was renamed from Tolt to Carnation in 1917. In theory this was because of the Carnation Dairy Company located in Carnation, but this topic was and still is a great source of controversy, so much so that you'll actually see two names for the town. The Carnation company is now gone and the cows have moved on, but there is still considerable farming in the area with organic farms, flower farms, dairy farms and free ranging cattle farms.

With Microsoft and Boeing as the largest employers in King County, many individuals sought out Carnation to escape from the endless bustle and traffic of the nearby cities that saw their population boom in the mid to late nineties. But, with a population of less than 2000, Carnation offers small town benefits while being a short commute from Seattle, Bellevue, Redmond, Issaquah, Kirkland and Everett.

For such a small town, Carnation offers a variety of activities on its own and since it is within an hour of everything Seattle and the surrounding cities have to offer, the options expand enormously. The Metro bus service has a bus stop in downtown Carnation and even this will be expanding services to better fit the growing needs of commuters now that gas prices have made commuting more difficult for people's budgets.

Activities:

Family life has always been important in Carnation and this shows up in the number of parks they have created within walking distance of the downtown area.

Running along the junction where the Tolt and Snoqualmie Rivers merge, you'll find McDonald Park and Campground - This park allows public access to both the Tolt and the Snoqualmie, with organized campground space for tents and RV's. In addition, there are trails for biking and hiking that run up Tolt Hill with additional space for group camping, including an amphitheatre. McDonald Park also has areas for baseball and soccer fields, including youth teams for both of these activities, and areas for family picnics. Biking and hiking is common all around this park.

Loutsis Park is situated along the Snoqualmie Valley trail. Though small, there are both open fields and wooded areas where you often see dogs catching Frisbees or bikers getting ready to hit the trail.

Memorial Valley Park, dedicated on Memorial Day in 1949, is another small park, located right off of Blanche Street. This small park features tennis courts, wooded areas, picnic tables and a skateboard rink. There is also a small play area for kids, located near the picnic tables. The park has some wonderful old growth trees and is very relaxing to visit.

Hockert Park is located on the corner of Stossel and Commercial and is specifically designed for the younger set. Hockert offers a fenced in area for the kids with swing sets, jungle gyms and play areas. Of course there are benches for the older crowd to keep an eye on their little ones. The ground is wood chipped and there is a port-a-potty located at the site.

Are you feeling more adventurous or have a desire to lose a few pounds? The Snoqualmie Valley Trail, which runs almost 32 miles from Duvall to Rattle Snake Lake, goes right through Carnation. This is a gravel lined trail along the old railroad route and takes the biker, hiker or rider across miles of farmland, into wooded areas and up the foothills of the Cascades. No motorized vehicles are allowed but you often see walkers, bikers and horses. From Loutsis Park you have the option of going a mostly flat route approximately 7 miles toward Duvall, or you can head up the hills toward Northbend. This is tougher going out but mostly downhill on the return.

Not into hiking, biking or horse back riding? For those drawn to the mystique of the Middle Ages, there is a village in Carnation that recreates that living history. Open year round with activities picking up during the summer, Camlann Medieval Village has vendors, artisans, entertainers and jousting exhibitions. They also have a restaurant called the Bore Hede, where you can sample medieval fare, including mead, and be served in the manner of the medieval upper class.

Another attraction, many in Carnation look forward to, is the seasonal opening of the Carnation Farmer's Market and of Remlinger Farms. Both give individuals the opportunity to sample what the farms around Carnation have to offer.

Starting in May and running through September, the open air Carnation Farmer's Market is located on Bird Street, right off Tolt Avenue. This provides local farmers in the area the ability to sell their produce or products made from that produce. The market's focus is on "local, healthy, organic, and sustainable foods". At the market you'll find fresh vegetables, honey, cheese, bread, flowers, plants, shrubs and trees, herbal sachets and much more, all from local farmers.

Remlinger Farms is an actual working farm, which has set aside a portion of the farm to create a combination amusement park/learning center for children and also has their own country store and restaurant. The food is the restaurant is made with ingredients from the farm. Though at the time I visited, the wait for the food was a bit long, once I received it, the wait was well worth it. Excellent fare for reasonable prices. Their country store is a marvel and has to be seen and experienced.

Does all of the above sound too exhausting? Well, Carnation even has its own golf course! Carnation Golf Course is located at 1810 W Snoqualmie River Rd NE, Carnation WA 98014 and is a full service range including lessons. Think there is too much rain in the Pacific Northwest for good games of golf? Not true! You'd be surprised at the amount of green time you'll be able to enjoy and you can't beat the views.

With two rivers at its edge, I can't ignore the activities that go along with life on the river. All along the Snoqualmie and on parts of the Tolt, you'll find folks casting their lines from boats and fly-fishing from the banks into those rivers. From Salmon to steelhead or simply watching the world go by, these rivers offer people beauty and bounty. During the hot, dry summers, many families make a day of it along the Tolt, taking the smooth tumbled rocks and created small wading pools for their toddlers. Families picnic, wade and play along the Tolt and Snoqualmie Rivers in the summers and picnic or walk along their edges all year round.

Though not falling directly into the recreational aspect, Miller's introduces the community to a world of art. From classes to symposiums, this lovely shop offers a wonderful presence in the town. Lee also opens her doors to various town committee meetings, like the Chamber of Commerce and Miller's even posts their weekly schedules on-line.

There's one more activity center I can't forget to mention, for the young ones are not the only residents who have a special place in Carnation's heart. The young at heart seniors are quite busy with the very active Sno-Valley Senior Center. Located right in the heart of Carnation's downtown area, the center's goal is to assist and support seniors in living independent, healthy and productive, all while having a great deal of fun. The activities and services of this group are too many to list but you can read all about them on their website. I have never seen such an active group and their fund-raisers often include the most delicious food, including some incredible pies.

All of the above do not even begin to touch the activities available to Carnation, particularly if you look toward some of the small surrounding towns. To name but a few, there's the beautiful Snoqualmie Falls with it's surrounding gardens and the nearby Salish Lodge. There's the Snoqualmie Depot where volunteers not only restore trains but also the depots and tracks between Snoqualmie and Northbend, offering scheduled rides between those cities that will take you back to an earlier time. There is also the beautiful Mt. Si in Northbend, and at the edge of the Snoqualmie River, the swimming hole at McDowell Park in Duvall.

Schools and Churches:

Carnation has two elementary schools, grades K through 5: Carnation Elementary and Stillwater Elementary, and its own Middle School, grades 6-8: Tolt Middle School. The high school, Cherry Valley High is shared between Carnation and Duvall.

In the Pacific Northwest, many find an enormous degree of tolerance and respect for all belief systems. And for many in Carnation, their church community life is also important. I'm aware of five churches within the Carnation city limits, though there may be more not listed here:

Tolt Congregational Church 4851 Tolt Avenue, Carnation, WA 98014, (425) 333-4254

Carnation Bible Church 32615 NE 45th St Carnation, WA 98014

Christian Life Assembly of God 31957 E Commercial St Carnation, WA 98014

St Anthony's Catholic Church 31911 E Blanche St Carnation, WA 98014

Church of Jesus Christ of LDS 32751 NE 45th St Carnation, WA 98014

Restaurants and Shopping:

For those dining out, Carnation also has much to offer with even more to come. These are all sit down and take out restaurants. At the time of this article, there's Blake's Pizzeria & Ice cream, Jia Mei which serves a variety of Oriental fares, great steaks and sandwiches at Pete's Grill & Pub, plus nightly specials and live music, and if Mexican is what you're interested in, there's Ixtapa, run by the same family for years who constantly receive rave reviews for their excellent service and food. In addition, there are coffee shops ranging from Starbucks to Sandy's Espresso.

Carnation also has several shops to choose from. Most are located in the QFC plaza at Eugene and Tolt Ave, where you'll find the Shell station, the local QFC grocery store, a Video shop and the Variety Store. The latter is a fun little shop which sells everything from cards to vacuum cleaners, does repairs on sewing and vacuum machines and takes in the local dry-cleaning too. On Carnation's main street, Tolt Avenue, the list expands to a local barber shop, a thrift store, Ace Hardware & Liquor, and a classic car restoration shop. Carnation is currently in the process of converting the old town's septic tank systems with a new sewer system and water treatment plant. Expect the number of restaurant and stores to broaden considerably within the next few years, though Carnation's planning board is being very careful not to lose the current charm and hospitality of the current town.

Living in Carnation:

Whether you are eight or eighty, Carnation has a community spirit which seems rarely seen these days. Clean air, scenic surroundings and a welcoming attitude make it a place people enjoy moving to and retiring in. Though you can travel to Seattle in an hour, enjoying Seattle's Mariners, shopping and extraordinary museums, many choose to spend at least a few of their weekends in the abundant activities found in their own valley.

SOURCES:
http://www.ci.carnation.wa.us
http://carnationchamber.com/index.htm
http://www.camlann.org/
http://www.carnationfarmersmarket.org/
http://www.remlingerfarms.com/
http://www.carnationgolf.com/
http://www.millersarts.com/
http://www.snovalleysenior.org/
http://www.toltucc.org/