“The Eastside” of King County is a collection of suburb cities outside of Seattle, separated by Lake Washington. The largest of these suburb cities is Bellevue, probably one of the most competent mid-sized cities in the U.S.

As the fifth largest city in Washington State, Bellevue (pop. 144,444) has a lot to get excited about. Downtown is the epicenter of high-end retail converging with high-tech business. But don’t let the modern high-rise buildings fool you. The city is walkable and sidewalks not too crowded, with coffee shops, and eclectic dining options available at every corner.

Bellevue is much more than its downtown persona. It sprawls out into quiet neighborhood streets, has a shoreline on Lake Washington, and tons of green space in public parks and nature reserves. It also boasts a reputation for excellent schools and a culturally-diverse population.