Puget Sound Travel Region
Bellevue, Washington

Bellevue, Washington's French name (Beautiful View) aptly describes its location: positioned on several hills overlooking Puget Sound, Bellevue is known for its appealing, tree-lined view of the Seattle skyline. Established as a farming town more than 130 years ago, Bellevue is now one of the state's richest and most successful cities, and serves as a satellite city to Washington's largest metropolis, Seattle. The area is also home to some of Puget Sound's richest residents, many of whom reside along the coveted eastern shoreline of Lake Washington.

Bellevue is best known for the trendy shops, upscale restaurants and distinctive department stores that make up its 180-store Bellevue Square. More than 16 million people visit Bellevue Square each year, making it a destination stop in its own right. Nearby top-class hotels and award-winning restaurants complement the city's prestigious setting.

Bellevue is home to more than 50 different parks, green spaces, recreational areas and sports complexes. Mercer Slough Nature Park, on Bellevue's scenic Lake Washington, comprises a little bit of something for everyone. One of the last freshwater wetlands in the area, the 300+-acre park includes a blueberry farm, 7 miles of trails, as well as Bellevue's only nationally registered historic building. Canoeists can experience Lake Washington's beauty firsthand by following the park's circuitous canoeing trail.

Visual arts and performance take a prominent place in Bellevue at its Bellevue Art Museum, which sponsors a number of exhibitions and public events each year. Its most popular event is the Bellevue Arts Fair, a collaborative event that takes place each July in conjunction with the Bellevue Festival of the Arts. Attendance is estimated at more than 200,000, making it one of the most popular art events in the Puget Sound area.

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