There’s a point in everyone’s life journey when you start to feel like life’s pace is running faster than you can keep up. For 24 years I thrived in the energy and convenience of Seattle's Eastside. In my twenties I lived in downtown Kirkland, then downtown Bellevue, settling in Newcastle as I raised my babies into elementary kiddos, then sharing fence lines in the East Renton Highlands with some of the Seahawks most notable players. As I experienced life race by, I longed for a balanced pace—a chance to experience a change in scenery that would change my life without leaving behind what I cherished.
The hum and hustle of the Eastside is different from its sister to the West of the I90 bridge—the vitality and energy found in the many parks most of them along the waterfront, with kid friendly play areas and more designer dogs than there are handbags at The Bravern. Bellevue Square and Lincoln Square shopping not to be topped by the number of places to eat some of the most amazingly fresh seafood and sushi, soup dumplings and of course USDA Prime steaks with a 360 view of North Lake Union to The Space Needle to Mt. Rainier. Summers cruising Lake Washington Blvd in Kirkland, daily farmers markets from Bothell to Mercer Island and of course the plethora of community events like Woodinville Wine Passport, Issaquah Salmon Days and you cannot miss the nightly show that nature puts on from atop Newcastle Golf Course and our friend the bagpiper in the distance. But somewhere along the way, I began to crave a different kind of balance for not only myself, but the frenzied everyday rush was not what I wanted for my kids to normalize as daily life and routine.
Birthday Revelation
For my birthday last June, I wished for a weekend off-grid, yet close enough to enjoy shopping, dining, and amenities we’d grown accustomed to (like "The Cookie" and fresh hot soup at Metropolitan Market). That weekend turned into an unexpected revelation. We had planned to just disconnect and take in the sun from Wollochet Bay, but we ended up finding the perfect balance between downtime and access to the comforts of life and activities that filled our weekend on the water....and, a life changing decision about where we called home.
Gig Harbor, with its hidden gems and welcoming atmosphere, was a place we never thought we’d consider until we found ourselves strolling through charming downtown boutiques. The highlight, and maybe even what sealed the deal for us? Tides Tavern, the best halibut tacos we’d ever had while soaking in the picturesque view of the marina. The warm sun shone down on us, Mt. Rainier in the distance framed the harbor in all her glory, and we felt truly alive. That’s when I realized how much a change in scenery could refresh your entire outlook. The slower pace did wonders for our spirit, and we quickly recognized how this area in the South Sound offered the perfect balance of rural tranquility paired with the amenities we needed to enjoy life in full. I tell everyone that as I observed the local kids around town, I saw them holding more ice cream cones than cell phones, again another selling point for the community and lifestyle I wanted for my daughters.
Discovering Familiar Comforts in a New Setting
After exploring the vibrant downtown of Gig Harbor, we headed north to the gated country club area of Canterwood. This community reminds me a lot of the Eastside with its familiar warmth similar to Sahalee and Issaquah Highlands, here the people in this community truly make time to connect with neighbors, most of them cruising through the secure gated community in their golf carts. And get this, there's hardly ever a line to get fuel at the pumps at Costco! For the first time in a while, life seemed to slow down yet still had the essence of all the things I loved about our previous home—just without the congestion or rush.
Change Your Scenery, Change Your Life
The truth became clear throughout this entire experience: when you change your scenery, you change your life. Of course, it’s not about leaving everything behind—Gig Harbor doesn’t ask you to do that. It offers the perfect complement to the vibrancy of urban life. The sense of community and the natural beauty here provide the deeper, quieter moments that help you recharge, without losing touch with everything you enjoyed in a city. The accessibility of everything you need, paired with the peaceful embrace of waterfront living, creates a lifestyle that’s both dynamic and restorative.
Change your scenery, and you’ll find a life full of balance, connection, and opportunities to enjoy every moment—allowing you to live well, wherever you are.