Downtown Mercer Island - Mercer Island, WA

Mercer Island was named for a pair of brothers, Thomas and Asa Shinn, who once rowed back and forth to the island to pick berries, fish and hunt. The first settlement on the island, East Seattle, was located in the downtown section of the island and included a large hotel and resort, the Calkins Hotel, built in 1889, that was reached by steamboat. Fire destroyed the hotel in 1908 in mysterious circumstances.

Though the neighborhood houses no museums, Downtown Mercer Island is known for its island festivities, including an egg hunt at Easter, the Summer Celebration, Mostly Music in the Park, Day of Play, the holiday tree-lighting festival and Outdoor Films. Visit the award-winning Mercer Island Community and Event Center for community events or the Mercer Island Visual Arts League to find paintings, photography, glass, pottery, sculptures and much more, all made by local artists.

Find a bustling entertainment district located on and around 7th Avenue SE, at the center of the island and south of Interstate 90. Stick with traditional American cooking, or branch out to try international cuisines such as Italian, Vietnamese and Thai.

Take advantage of your proximity to the ocean at Freshy's Seafood Market on 76th Avenue East, a live seafood market that also sells fish tacos, fish and chips, sake, oysters, clam chowder and grilled seafood, all made to order.

Try The Islander on 24th Street for classy American fare, ranging from pesto salmon penne to the famed Islander Hambugers, topped with avocado, jack cheese and bacon, or gorgonzola and cracked black peppercorns. Watch out for daily specials, including prime rib and steak nights.

Visit the Island Crust Cafe on SE 24th Street for a hand-tossed pizza that comes highly recommended by locals, in a large and airy cafe that focuses on kosher and vegetarian food. Enjoy a freshly baked pastry alongside a latte, choose a country skillet or vanilla-cinnamon French toast from the breakfast menu, or select a calzone, sandwich, eggplant Florentine or ratatouille on brown rice at lunchtime or for an early dinner.

Stay in the entertainment district in the evening to visit one of the many bars and pubs in Downtown Mercer Island. Rent the Creative Bus for a special occasion and host a travelling party with music, dining, dance poles and drinks. Visit Spinnaker Bay Brewing on Rainier Avenue South to hang out at a brewery run and staffed by women, or head to the Roanoke Inn for wine and beer on the patio of an old tavern with a laid-back atmosphere. Head to the Youth Theater Northwest for live performances and music largely aimed at younger patrons.

While one bus route makes regular pickups on the island, operating every 15 to 20 minutes, personal automobiles are the primary means of transportation on the island, as well as when travelling elsewhere in Seattle and surrounding areas. One major route leads off Mercer Island: Interstate 90, which connects Mercer Island to the rest of Seattle and surrounding areas and can be accessed via the north end of the island. Limited public parking mainly serves the customers of local businesses, though two parking lots exist for locals taking public transit off of the island. When calling for a taxi or Uber, expect a wait time for your pick-up because of the distances involved.

Though walking in this neighborhood is both safe and easy, you'll need a personal automobile to reach some of the further-flung amenities and businesses. You can ride your bicycle on the sidewalks on major thoroughfares. Most public transit buses are equipped with bike racks.

The largely undeveloped Luther Burbank Park occupies 77 acres within Downtown Mercer Island, including almost a mile of Lake Washington waterfront. Amenities include a large children’s play area with a zip line, group picnic areas available to rent, five barbecues with three dozen picnic tables on a first-come, first-served basis, three tennis courts, a public boat dock, a fishing pier, a swimming beach with lifeguards seasonally, a rentable amphitheater and limited car parking. Additionally, this park features an off-leash dog area.

Visit the Aubrey Davis Park to take advantage of its two softball fields, four tennis courts, picnic shelter, two playground areas, public restrooms, two basketball courts and large open green spaces for a variety of activities.

Both parks incorporate paths and other areas on which park-goers can run, jog, play sports or perform other exercise activities. Each July, plan to spend time at the Mercer Island Celebration, which includes a parade, boat rides, basketball tournament, food vendors, arts and crafts, car show, children’s activities, performances of Shakespeare, music and other entertainment.

Mercer Island Downtown is considered exceptionally livable, thanks in large part to its stable housing market, low crime rates, high graduation rates and high income per capita. Due to its geographical location, expect to travel to and from the island via the interstate bridge that connects Mercer Island to the rest of Seattle and surrounding areas, increasing your personal transportation costs.

Public transit to the center of Seattle costs a minimum of $3 and the average rental cost of a one-bedroom apartment is $1,833. A pint of beer costs just under $9, slightly above the national average, while gasoline runs around 10 percent above the national average.

The entertainment district of Downtown Mercer Island also plays home to plenty of shopping opportunities, from clothing boutiques and outdoor gear to bookstores and hobby shops. Locals recommend the Mercer Island Youth & Family Services Thrift Shop on SE 34th Street on the corner of Mercerdale Park for secondhand goods that are sold to support the community. Independent bookstore Island Books on 78th Avenue SE features a curated collection of books, as well as gifts, cards, games and candies.

For groceries, choose from supermarkets such as QFC and the Super Deli & Grocery. Freshy's Seafood Market is the local choice for fish and seafood, while chocolate lovers enjoy Oh Chocolate on 76th Avenue SE. Visit Mercer Island Farmers Market at Mercerdale Park for a wide range of produce, including cereals, fish, meat, fruit and vegetables, flowers and prepared foods.