Redmond/Woodinville
Marymoor Park
Map
6046 W Lake Sammamish Pkwy NE
Redmond, WA 98052
(206) 205-3661
Marymoor Park, the most popular park in the King County Park System and one of the most diverse parks in the entire Puget Sound area, plays host to more than 3 million people each year. If you are interested in soccer, baseball, cricket, flying, regional trails, the largest off-leash dog area in the state, a velodrome, climbing rock, rowing, birding, King County’s cultural heritage, gardening, a family picnic, concerts, or out door movies, this 640 acre jewel of a park is the place for you!
The Summer Concert slate at Marymoor Park is outstanding and the outdoor concert facility is equally outstanding. Whether you have reserved seating or you just brought your blanket, you’ll enjoy the experience. The beer garden and concessions area close by and easy to get to, as is the kids play area, and parking. What’s not to like, warm summer night, great entertainment, and you don’t have to fight downtown traffic. Check the line up and schedules at the Marymoore Concerts website
“Movies @ Marymoor” outdoor cinema series features family favorites, hilarious comedies and even a little mystery. In the months of July and August, Load the family into the car, bring a blanket or lawn chair, a picnic basket and the dog if you like—watch the movie under the stars. Admission is free, but a donation of $5 for individuals and $15 for families is suggested. Check the line up and schedules at the Marymoore Movies website
Wine Notes Concerts is a concert, a wine tasting, and a culinary fair all rolled into one. Presented by Woodinville Wine Country, this two day/July festival is one of the primer summer events you don’t want to miss. 24 world-class Woodinville wines, along with fare from celebrated regional restaurants, and entertainment provided by nationally acclaimed artists are featured for your pleasure. Bring your sun glasses, umbrella and windbreaker, the show goes on, rain or shine—tickets are not refunded on account of weather. This is a new event so check to see if and when it will happen in 2009, ticket and other information should be available at the Wine Notes Concert website
The Microsoft Visitor Center (Tour)
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Building 127
4420 148th Ave. NE
Redmond, WA
(425) 703-6214
Microsoft Visitor Center Tour website (Please contact the Visitor Center in advance of your visit.)
Discover the essence of Microsoft. What is software? How is software made? How do you experience software in your everyday life? Discover Microsoft—where did it come from? Who works there? What's the culture like? What are its values? How has the company helped people realize their potential? Explore a 30-foot Microsoft timeline that showcases the company's amazing 30-year history. Experience the latest Microsoft products in fun, interactive, and hands-on ways. Get a glimpse of what’s to come—Innovations for the home, new information tools and amazing personal devices. Be sure to check out these new additions:
Making Movies: visitors are able to direct and star in their own movies.
Gamers' Paradise: Xbox and PC Games team up to create the ultimate "gamers' paradise."
Innovation: Explore hands-on exhibits featuring exciting software innovations, including facial recognition, gesture-based computing, and more.
Café Mobilité: A café motif sets the stage for a variety of mobile devices to be explored, used, and played with.
Redmond Town Center
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16495 NE 74th St
Redmond, WA 98052
(425) 869-2479
The Redmond Town Center is an exquisite mix of shopping, dinning, and entertainment located in the heart of downtown Redmond. This is not just a shopping center but a town with in a town, offering over 110 shops and restaurants, entertainment venues and its own three star hotel. The Town Center offers an outdoor environment, one of a kind art work, cobble stone plazas and modern architecture. Don’t miss the Free musical programs in the Center Street Plaza. (As these events are seasonal, go to the Redmond Town Center website for dates and times.
SecondStory Repertory
Map
16587 NE 74th Street
Redmond, WA 98052
(425) 881-6777
www.secondstoryrep.org/
SecondStory Repertory is located in the Redmond Town Center near the Center Court, on the second level next to Borders Books & Music. Since its opening in October 1999, the Eastside's first full-time theatre ensemble has offered a year-round season of musicals, comedies, revues, and dramas, along with its popular Sprouts Children's Theatre series of original musicals for ages 4 and up.
The theatre also presents jazz and folk concert, improvisational comedy, poetry readings, informal stagings of new works, and many other special events. In all, there are more than 150 performances each year.
Redmond Derby Days (Summer Festival)
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Redmond City Hall
15670 NE 85th St
Redmond, WA 98052
Derby Days website
Redmond, the bicycle capital of Washington, throws a summer party every year called Redmond Derby Days, its annual bicycle race, America’s oldest. Bring the whole family to this one—there is something for everyone at this bash. Not one but two parades, The Kid’s Parade and The Grand Parade, a Funtastic Carnival, Continuous stage show entertainment, a Beer & Wine Garden, and Events called: Wet and Wild Sprinkler Garden, Hoola Hoopalooza, Jumping Jump Ropes, Bouncing Beach Balls, Inflatable Fun, Climbing Wall Challenge. And of course there are Bicycle Races galore—after all, that’s what the whole thing is about… The Redmond Derby Days Criterium! (A Criterium is a multi-lap race on a closed course, and laps are typically shorter than one mile. This style of racing has bred a unique athlete, stressing speed and bike handling.) Just round up the kids and show up.
Marymoor Velodrome
Map
6046 W Lk Sammamish Pkwy
Remdond, WA 98052
(206) 957-4555
Watch some high speed bicycle racing on one of the longer velodromes in the world every Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings from May to September—some of the best riders in the country, even the world can be seen competing here. There’s excitement for all ages and abilities. You or someone in your family might want to take part in one of many track cycling educational programs. Who knows where that could lead…
Hiking/Cycling/Bridle Trails
If you are a walker, stroller, skater, bicyclist or horseperson, Redmond offers you a variety of great trails to ply your pastime.
Ashford Trail
1/4 mile: Soft surface equestrian and hiking trail linking Hartman Park with Avondale Road through the Ashford Park development along 180 Ave NE.
Bridle Crest Trail
2 miles: Soft surface trail for horseback riding, mountain bicycling and hiking. Connects Bridle Trails State Park to Marymoor Park and Sammamish River Trail passing through Redmond, Bellevue and Kirkland.
East Lake Sammamish Trail (King County)
This 11 mile King County regional trail offers connections from Issaquah to Redmond along former railroad corridor. It links the cities of Issaquah, Sammamish and Redmond, and ties in to King County's public access system for cyclists, walkers and runners.
Farrel-McWhirter Loop Trail
1-1/4 miles. Soft surface trail for horseback riding and hiking within Farrel-McWhirter Park. Connects to the Nichol's Trail on the west side which extends north to the Puget Power Trail.
Hidden Ridge Trail
1/2 mile. Asphalt trail over utility easement and sidewalk. Extends from NE 104 St. along NE 99 St. to Hartman Park. The trail connects to the 172 Street Trail extending north from Hartman Park.
Redmond/Puget Power Trail
3.1 miles: Links Sammamish River Trail to Farrel McWhirter Park. Soft surface trail for horseback riding, mountain bicycling and hiking.
Sammamish River Regional Trail (King County)
9.4 miles: Paved multi-purpose trail for bicyclists, skaters and hikers with a parallel, soft surface trail for equestrians. Extends from Marymoor Park to Burke Gilman Trail in Bothell.
Tolt Pipeline Trail
15 miles: Extends from the Sammamish River Trail south of Woodinville to Snoqualmie Valley Road over the Tolt Pipeline corridor. Soft surface trail for horseback riding, mountain bicycling and hiking.
Viewpoint Open Space Trail
25 miles: Soft surface pedestrian trail through wooded greenbelt linking NE 24th and Bellevue's Tam O'Shanter Park.
Watershed Preserve Trails
7.5 miles: Soft-surface trails for hiking, horseback riding and bicycling. The Powerline and Gasline Trails are multi-use; Trillium Trail is for equestrians and hikers; Siler Mill Trail is hiking only. West entrance is for equestrians and hikers only with parking at Farrel-McWhirter Park. Parking, restrooms, and ADA accessible boardwalk (Tree Frog Loop Trail) at south support facility off Novelty Hill Road. Trout Loop Trail is a short loop adjacent to the parking area. No pets allowed. Rangers on duty in summer.
172 Street Trail
1 mile: Soft surface trail linking Hartman Park and the Puget Power Trail. The trail portion along the west side of Hartman Park has not been built; one must parallel 172 Ave NE across NE 104 St. and follow the trail along the western border of Redmond High School property through Abbey Lane III development. Connects to the Hidden Valley Trail extending east from Hartman Park.
And How It All Came About
Luke McRedmond, from Ireland, and Warren Perrigo, from New England, first met and settled at Port Madison in Kitsap County. Both men wanted to homestead and after some searching, found the area east of what is now Seattle. With its rich soil and plentiful water, they quickly decided this was the place for them. In 1870 and 1871, respectively, the two men filed Homestead Act claims and began clearing their land.
Perrigo built a house that could be used as an Inn and named it Melrose House after his home town in Massachusetts. Early pioneers stayed there while scouting out the area for their homesteads. With his Inn at the center, Perrigo blazed early trails and later roads in every direction. This created a network of connections to neighboring communities in the area. Clever guy that he was, Perrigo, with his centrally located Inn and his connecting road ways, soon became the foremost trader in the region.
McRedmond was more interested in creating a village. His village was originally was named Salmonburg, due to the abundance of dog salmon in the rivers and streams. Later, because of the popularity of the Melrose House, the village was renamed Melrose. In 1882 McRedmond became postmaster and soon after that, officially renamed the village Redmond. Would you be surprised to learn that this decision created bitterness between the two families for years to come? Well, yes it did!
The logging and fishing industries provided jobs for many newcomers, who in turn created a demand for goods and services. With all this increased activity and Perrigo’s booming trading business, the village of Redmond began to grow. A rail road built through the village, in answer to the needs of the lumber industry, further fueled the growth. Life was good in Redmond, lots of trees – jobs for loggers, shake and saw mills – jobs for others, fishing and hunting – jobs for more, farming – jobs for homesteaders.
From Redmond’s neighboring settlement Kirkland, located on the eastern shore of Lake Washington, Seattle was an easy ferry ride or barge haul away for those who had goods to sell to the eager Seattle merchants, trying to provide for Seattle’s ever increasing population.
In 1912, with the population stalled at 299, Redmond was still unable to incorporate and become a proper town. Then someone remembered a baby boy had been born a few weeks earlier to some town folks and had not been counted. Oh, happy day, and it only took the birth of a child to make it possible for Redmond to become an officially incorporated town.
Today, Redmond, Washington, USA is a name known around the world. In 1986 Microsoft moved from its original offices in Bellevue to its new corporate headquarters in Redmond. Nintendo of America also is headquartered in Redmond. Additional well known and not so well known hi-tech companies, along with continuing growth in research and development in electronics, pharmaceuticals, and other fields continue to raise the visibility of Redmond, Washington worldwide.
Redmond has 23 public parks, totaling over 1,000 acres. Many of these are neighborhood parks with picnic areas, covered or uncovered, and sports fields. There are 17 miles of trails for hiking and biking. The Sammamish River trail can be followed all the way to Seattle’s Golden Garden Park on Puget Sound. Every July Redmond hosts the Redmond Bicycle Derby Days. This blowout event is a multi-day affair with non-stop entertainment of all kinds, for all ages.
During the summer there are music events and concerts by local groups, as well as, big name national performers. These events are to be found in city parks and local establishments throughout the city. There are so many of these events, one wonders how to find the time to see them all.
On a year round basics, the performing arts groups have a variety of performances and exhibits for your enjoyment. Redmond certainly has come a long way since it was popularly know as Salmonburg.
Kirkland Arts Center
620 Market Street
Kirkland, WA 98033-5421
425 822-7161
www.kirklandartscenter.org/
Map
The Kirkland Arts Center Gallery fosters regional artist, encourages innovation and creativity, and provides rare opportunities for independent curators. Committed to engaging, accessible contemporary art, the KAC gallery showcases emerging and established artists and examines emerging themes and regional styles. Critically and popularly accalimed, the KAC Gallery is the only free, professional non-profit gallery on the Eastside.
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