Life at Valley · Pacific Northwest
Train here. Live here.
The region
Everything within reach.
On the water
Puget Sound
Water is part of daily life across the region, from beaches and bluff-top trails to ferries out to the islands and summer days out on Lake Washington.
On the water
Lakes, rivers and Puget Sound make paddling, swimming and sailing part of everyday life from spring through fall.
- Lake Washington — Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park in Renton, for swimming, kayaking and paddleboarding
- Lake Union and Lake Sammamish — rentals, sailing and summer swims
- Puget Sound — sea kayaking, beaches, and ferries to Bainbridge, Vashon and the San Juan Islands
Hiking and snow
The mountains
The Cascades and Olympics are within reach for hiking, skiing, and alpine lakes.
Hiking
Trails start minutes from the hospital and stretch to three national parks. Spring wildflowers, summer alpine lakes and fall larches mean there is always a reason to go back.
- Cougar Mountain and Tiger Mountain — forested foothill trails, 15–25 minutes
- Rattlesnake Ledge, Mount Si and Twin Falls — classic North Bend hikes along I-90, about 35 minutes
- Snow Lake and Snoqualmie Pass trails — alpine lakes and ridges, under an hour
- Mount Rainier National Park — Paradise and Sunrise meadows, about 2 hours
- Olympic and North Cascades National Parks — rainforest, coast and glaciers for weekend trips
Skiing and snow sports
Winter in the lowlands is mild, but the mountains get deep snow from December into spring, close enough for an afternoon or a full weekend.
- Summit at Snoqualmie — the closest lifts, about 50 minutes, with night skiing
- Crystal Mountain — Washington's largest ski area, beside Mount Rainier, under 2 hours
- Stevens Pass — about 2 hours
- Nordic and backcountry — cross-country trails, snowshoeing and ski touring at the passes and around Rainier
- Mount Baker and Whistler — for longer trips north
City life
Seattle
A short trip from Renton, with markets, neighborhoods, ballgames, and city life. The food is wonderfully multicultural: dim sum and pho in the Chinatown-International District, Ethiopian, Korean, Filipino, Mexican, and Somali kitchens, teriyaki and fresh seafood, and a boba or tea shop on nearly every corner.
Photo: Steven Pavlov, CC BY-SA 4.0 (opens in a new tab) via Wikimedia Commons
Home base
Renton
Home base for the program, clinic, and hospital community. Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park on Lake Washington and the Cedar River Trail are minutes from the hospital, and Renton, Tukwila, and Kent have some of the most varied food in the region, from Vietnamese, Somali, and Ethiopian to Mexican, Indian, and Pacific Islander.
Trails, biking and climbing
Paved and gravel trails link Renton to the rest of the region, and the Cascades are known for climbing of every kind.
- Cedar River Trail — starts in Renton and follows the river east
- Burke-Gilman and Snoqualmie Valley Trails — long, flat routes for riding and running
- Palouse to Cascades Trail — a rail trail over Snoqualmie Pass, including the Snoqualmie Tunnel
- Rock climbing — crags near North Bend, plus Leavenworth and the Cascades for longer trips
Drive times are approximate from Renton, without traffic.
Through the year
Festivals in every season.
Spring
- Skagit Valley Tulip Festival — Every April, miles of tulip fields bloom in red, pink, purple, and yellow stripes around Mount Vernon and La Conner, about an hour and a half north. Go early on a weekday, bring boots, and stop in La Conner on the way home.
- Cherry blossoms at the University of Washington — the Quad's old cherry trees bloom in late March.
- Northwest Folklife Festival — free music, dance, and food from many cultures at Seattle Center over Memorial Day weekend.
Summer
- Seattle Pride — one of the country's largest Pride parades and festivals, in late June.
- Renton River Days — Renton's own summer festival in Liberty Park, along the Cedar River.
- Seafair — a summer of neighborhood parades, hydroplane races, and the Blue Angels over Lake Washington in early August.
- Bon Odori — Japanese summer dance festivals at Seattle's Buddhist temples.
Fall
- Bumbershoot — Seattle Center's music and arts festival over Labor Day weekend.
- Washington State Fair — rides, animals, and fair food in Puyallup each September, about 40 minutes south.
- Issaquah Salmon Days — a street festival in early October as salmon return to Issaquah Creek.
Winter
- Holidays at Seattle Center — lights, ornaments, and a winter market around the Space Needle.
- Clam Lights — Renton's holiday light display along the lakeshore at Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park.
- Leavenworth Christmas Lighting — a snowy Bavarian-style village across Stevens Pass, about 2½ hours away.
- Lunar New Year — lion dances, food, and celebrations in the Chinatown-International District.
Resident guide
Neighborhoods, weather, and getting outside.
Our residency is only a 20-minute drive from Seattle. The area has great food, excellent restaurants and bakeries, farmers markets, and outdoor and indoor activities. Many residents enjoy kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding around Lake Washington, Lake Union, and Puget Sound, and there are plenty of day and weekend trips for hiking and camping, including the Olympics, the Cascades, and Mount Rainier. Snoqualmie has nearby hikes in every season, plus skiing and snowshoeing in the winter.
Where residents live
- Seattle
- Capitol Hill and Columbia City (past residents have also lived in Ballard and West Seattle)
- Near the hospital
- Renton, Kent, and Auburn
- Eastside and beyond
- Bellevue and Maple Valley
Common questions
Does it really rain all the time?
No. The Seattle area receives only about 36 inches of rain a year — less than San Francisco, Chicago, or New York. Most of it falls between November and January, and on most rainy days a good rain jacket is enough; you won't even need an umbrella.
What is the weather like the rest of the year?
Seattle has a moderate climate with mild winters and summers. The average summer temperature is 75 degrees, and there are fewer than 15 days a year when the temperature drops below freezing, so outdoor activities are possible year-round.
What kinds of recreational activities are available?
Thanks to the mild climate you can hike, bike, kayak, and sail year-round. Ski areas are about a 40-minute drive from downtown Seattle, and Whistler, B.C. is a five-hour drive. The Cascades are well known for rock climbing, and Mount Rainier is good for day hiking — or a guided trip to the summit.
Helpful links
- Go Northwest (opens in a new tab) — A travel guide to the Pacific Northwest
- City of Renton (opens in a new tab) — Events and information in Renton
- Living in Seattle (opens in a new tab) — City, housing, and transportation overview
- Washington Trails Association (opens in a new tab) — Trail guides, trip reports, and conditions
- Mount Rainier National Park (opens in a new tab) — Park information, roads, and seasons