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Surrounding Tiger, Cougar, and Squak Mountains
provide a rugged backdrop to Issaquah and are connected by
an elaborate trail system that gives retirees quick access
to some spectacular vistas, wonderful wildlife viewing and
invigorating back country activities (hiking, camping,
fishing and more). Twenty minutes down the road, along
I-90, is Summit at Snoqualmie, a busy downhill ski resort
(which occasionally closes due to avalanches), and nearby
Lake Sammamish provides boating, fishing and
kayaking. Numerous golf courses are also close
at hand.
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In and around town,
the Village Theater is one of the premier musical houses in the
Pacific Northwest and offers a full schedule of
performances. Cougar Mountain Zoo is a fun place to
visit and houses endangered species from around the world. The Salmon Days
Festival is an award-winning
festival that celebrates Issaquah's history and the return of
salmon to their birth waters, and each Saturday residents enjoy a
wholesome Farmers' Market. Downtown's Front Street
and the vibrant civic center remain the heart of the city, and
with Seattle just 18 miles away, residents have access to world
class amenities whenever needed. Downtown is also
the site of the Issaquah Valley Senior Center, a multi-use
facility for those 55+. The cost of membership is $12 a year
(although one can participate in activities without being a
member), and services include fitness classes (line dancing, Tai
Chi), trips and outings, interest groups (cards, crafts, etc.) and
community lunches ($3) twice a week. Volunteers are always
welcome. There is no hospital in Issaquah,
although one is planned in Issaquah Highlands. Current
hospitals, though, are close enough so that medical care for
Issaquah retirees is quite good. Valley Medical Hospital is
in Renton (4 miles). Overlake Medical Center is in Bellevue
(13 miles), and Seattle has another seven or more hospitals,
including the well-respected University of Washington Medical
Center.
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The Pacific Northwest is known for its cool, rainy
weather, and Issaquah is no exception. The city
has 154 days of sun a year and receives an average of 60
inches of rain and 11 inches of snowfall annually.
The average January high temperature is in the 40s (lows
in the 30s), and the average July high temperature is in
the mid-70s (lows in the 50s). Humidity is high,
averaging 90% in the mornings but dipping to nearly 50%
in the afternoons (at least during the
summers). Some roads in town are hilly, and
tire chains are occasionally needed to reach Issaquah
Highlands and higher destinations.
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Yes, retirement in Issaquah has a few drawbacks.
For many retirees, the weather may be one, and the fact that public transportation is
limited may be another (although there
is a free circular bus that travels around the center of town).
Traffic congestion is a problem along Front Street and throughout
much of the city, but city
leaders are studying the issue and promising improvements.
Some citizens are advocating for a
trolley system, but currently there is no working trolley.
Crime is above the national average, but violent crime is
rare. And, of course, the high cost of living is a drawback
for many. Issaquah
is a picturesque community, rugged, clean and becoming rather
chic. It still has a small town quality, but Seattle's
growth is encroaching, and Issaquah will face difficult challenges in
keeping its high quality of life intact. Today, though,
Issaquah's natural beauty, healthy economy and quiet affluence are
reasons to consider this as a place for retirement. Return
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