Kirkland sits on the east shore of Lake Washington, about 10 miles from downtown Seattle, wedged between Bellevue to the south and Redmond to the east. It is one of the more appealing towns on the Eastside — smaller and less corporate than Bellevue, with a walkable waterfront, a handful of good restaurants, and public beaches along the lake.
The downtown stretches along the shore with galleries, cafes, and parks where you can watch float planes land on the lake. Marina Park is the hub of the waterfront, connecting to beaches and the Burke-Gilman Trail. The Peter Kirk Building, the Kirkland Woman's Club, and other surviving historic structures tell the story of the town's founding industrialist, whose steel mill dreams never materialised. Juanita Beach Park at the north end of the city has the best public swimming, with a wetland trail alongside. It is not a must-see destination for visitors with limited time in the Seattle area, but anyone spending more than a few days — or considering a move to the region — will find Kirkland worth an afternoon. The truck-eating bridge on NE 6th Street is a low overpass that has been claiming delivery truck roofs for decades, and a minor local legend.