Perhaps one of the best qualities about North America is its great diversity of terrain. No region better illustrates that asset than Snohomish County, Washington, the county with the funny name situated in northwest Washington state just a short distance from Seattle and the Olympic Peninsula, as well as Vancouver, British Columbia. Snohomish County is reaping the benefits of a healthy economy bolstered by the presence of aircraft manufacturer Boeing; the imultaneously revered and hated Microsoft Corporation; and by a steady stream of tourists.

Snohomish County is located in one of the country's most beautiful spots, between Puget Sound and the snow-capped Cascade Mountains. County residents enjoy the convenience of living just 15 miles from Seattle and 100 minutes from Vancouver, one of Canada's most breathtaking large cities and site of excellent skiing facilities (most notably Whistler Mountain). Hop aboard a ferry, and you'll be delivered to such nearby destinations as the Olympic Peninsula or the San Juan Islands, a favorite destination for whale-watching tourists. Snohomish County is in every sense the gateway to the Pacific Northwest.

While this region receives a generous amount of precipitation to be sure, it's hardly worthy of Noah's Ark. If it were, residents wouldn't be the outdoorsy folk that they are; and thousands of tourists wouldn't flock here annually to hike, fish, canoe, sail and white-water river raft. And with this precipitation comes an enormous scenic payoff: spectacular mountain peaks, crystal-clear streams, the blue waters of Puget Sound and vast stretches of pine trees. The surrounding environment is of great concern to Snohomish county leaders, who have continued to support the preservation of wildlife sanctuaries.

The laid-back, adventurous spirit of Snohomish residents is infectious. That attitude pervades the entrepreneurial as well as recreational arenas. Consider the Pacific Northwest's proliferation of high-tech start-ups, many of them started by recent college graduates and slightly older twentysomethings. But Snohomish residents play as hard as they work; within their own backyard is a constant inspiration to seek balance between work and recreation. White-water river rafting enthusiasts frequent the Skykomish, Sauk and Stillaguamish rivers. Hikers head for the foothills of the North Cascades. And downhill skiiers who don't have the patience to drive to Vancouver can simply visit Stevens Pass, a resort with plenty of excellent trails.

A live-and-let-live atmosphere has also carried over to the streets of Snohomish County. The Pacific Northwest is revered for its high-quality coffees. While the tradition of coffee drinking is all about relaxation, Snohomish residents take their coffee seriously. Snohomish County has successfully cultivated some of the best java in the United States, which has given rise to more than a few eclectic coffee houses (and monster coffee franchise Starbucks). A visit here will present you with the enviable dilemma of which coffee house to park yourself for a few hours while you relax with a newspaper indoors or at an outdoor table, watching the world go by. Following closely behind coffee are residents' shared passions for antiques, music and art.

Snohomish County has several diverse museums from which to choose. Among them: the Air Station Museum at Arlington Airport, a tribute to historic aircraft; the Everett Firefighters Exhibits, an assortment of early to mid-20th century firefighting equipment; the Mukilteo Lighthouse; Old Snohomish Village, a collection of relocated historic homes and commercial structures from within Snohomish County; and the scenic Tulalip Tribes' Interpretive Trail, an informative 1.5-mile walking tour of a route developed by the namesake tribe of Native Americans.

Snohomish County home prices remain consistent with Seattle's; in other words, if you're new to the area and are unaccustomed to asking prices for single-family homes, you're in for an eyebrow-raising experience. The Pacific Northwest's regional economy is thriving, and perhaps that explains why its residential real estate market is thriving, as well. The average selling price of a single-family home in Snohomish County in December 1999 was $205,556. The average asking price of a condominium in Snohomish County during the same month was $141,795. Asking prices have yet to deter a steady flow of new residents -- from recent college grads lured by high-tech companies to up-and-coming professionals to retirees. Snohomish County truly offers the best of all worlds. Its spectacular landscape, its location at the heart of the Pacific Northwest and its relaxed attitude -- not to mention the promise of high resale prices for residential real estate -- are likely to keep Snohomish County on top of the list of America's hot markets.

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Published: February 7, 2000

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