Redmond: Ideal Senior Living for Those Who Enjoy Day Trips and Other Adventures
March 1, 2022If you’ve been checking out retirement communities in Washington state, then you know there are plenty of options for senior living in our beautiful state. The Redmond area in particular is a great place for active older adults to live, for many reasons.
For instance, if you like to get out and explore your surroundings, you’ll find all kinds of inviting ways to spend an afternoon, a day or even a weekend. In fact, there are so many possibilities, it could be a challenge to squeeze in everything you want to do!
Taking in the Local Scenery
When the weather is nice, there are countless outdoor choices — from hiking and biking on the many scenic trails throughout the area to catching a baseball game in nearby Tacoma or Seattle.
Bear Creek Trail is a prime example of the kind of trails you’ll find in Redmond. It’s about 3 miles long, paved and mostly flat, so it’s a great place to go for a brisk morning walk, an afternoon bike ride or an evening stroll.
If you’re looking for a more arduous hike, you won’t have to go far. There are nearly 60 miles of public trails winding through Redmond alone, and thousands more in the Seattle area.
Did Someone Say Wine?
This region of the state is a paradise for oenophiles, with more than 100 wineries within an hour’s drive of Redmond (and hundreds more on the east side of the Cascade Mountains).
If you prefer beer or something a little stronger, you’re also in luck. Craft breweries and distilleries that specialize in small-batch spirits dot the map, with many offering tours — or tastings, at the very least.
In the Neighborhood
For those times when you feel like getting out and keeping it low-key, there are festivals, fairs and outdoor concerts in the local parks from spring through fall.
Meandering through one of several farmers markets in the area is another option. Depending on when you go, you might also have a bite to eat and listen to some live music while you’re there.
You could also take a short excursion to the Keep It Simple Farm and bring home some garden-fresh organic produce for dinner.
Avoiding Isolation With Weatherproof Pursuits
The physical, mental and emotional effects of social isolation in elderly adults can be harsh, especially during the winter months when people tend to stay home. The lifestyle in a senior living community like ours is, by design, antithetical to social isolation.
There’s a variety of indoor activities for seniors to enjoy in Redmond and nearby cities all year long. So, even during the rainy season or when the temperatures drop, you can still enjoy a good time.
On Display
Do a quick online search and you’ll discover an impressive array of art galleries and museums in the area. For example, Tacoma is home to the Museum of Glass, which has installations by Dale Chihuly among its exhibits. There’s also the Museum of Pop Culture, or MoPOP, in Seattle, where you can be assured of having a truly unique experience.
Music and Much More
If you’re into the performing arts, you can choose from an assortment of plays, ballets, operas, comedy and magic shows and other performances, including concerts by the Eastside Symphony. Most days of the week you can also find live music in some of the local cafes and coffee shops.
Speaking of Coffee
It’s no secret that the Seattle area has some of the best fresh brews in the States. Maybe even the world. Coffee houses are a big deal around here. You can always grab a cup to go, but you can also stay and savor your beverage while people-watching or working the daily crossword. Sunrise Donuts & Espresso is a popular spot amongst our residents, with their scrumptious donuts making their way to Emerald Heights on a regular basis.
Between the Covers
Once you’ve had your morning cup of joe, it would be a great time to head over to a bookstore to roam through the shelves. Along with Barnes and Nobles, there are some great independent bookstores in and near Redmond. McDonald’s Book Exchange, for instance, offers an ever-changing inventory to explore.
Traveling Near and Far
We’ve mentioned going to events and places in Seattle and Tacoma. Unless you’re familiar with the area, you may not realize how easy the jaunt from Redmond to either of those cities can be. Seattle is only about a 20-minute drive, and Tacoma is less than an hour away.
If you have more distant destinations in mind, Redmond offers easy access to West Coast highways, Sea-Tac International Airport and Pier 91 in Seattle — which serves as the home port for nearly half a dozen of the best-known cruise lines.
One of the perks of living in a retirement community such as Emerald Heights is not having to worry about anything at home while you’re gone, no matter how long you plan to be away. There’s no need to arrange for someone to cut your grass or check on your home. You just lock the door and go.
You Can Have It All, Right Here at Home
As you can see, there’s a tremendous variety of places to visit and adventures to be had in the Redmond/Seattle area. It’s no wonder that people of all ages love living in this part of the Pacific Northwest.
Truth be told, though, if you lived at Emerald Heights, you wouldn’t have to step foot outside of the community to experience much of what we’ve written about in this blog post. If you lived here, you could:
- Enjoy the beauty of nature from the walking trails on our 38-acre campus
- Feel good about ordering (and eating!) the fresh, local, organic produce featured on our seasonal menus
- Stop by our library to see what’s new, or join one of the book clubs and compare your perspectives
- Meet your friends and neighbors for coffee and pastries at the Emerald Market and Coffee Shop
We’ve purposely created a microcosm of the greater community that surrounds Emerald Heights, where it’s easy to continue your active lifestyle. The biggest difference is we’ve eliminated the hassle of home maintenance. We take care of all of that so you don’t have to.
Plus, as the only Life Care community in the Redmond/Bellevue area, we can offer unlimited access to advanced health care services (assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing care) for life, with no increase in your monthly fee for these services.
Senior Living at Emerald Heights
When you choose independent living at Emerald Heights, it’s more than a place to live. It’s a newfound freedom to focus on what you want to do.
If we have one key piece of advice to offer, it’s this: Make the move sooner than you intend.
So often, we hear new residents say they wish that’s what they had done. They get here and realize how much more time they have to focus on what brings them joy — like taking day trips and traveling, or developing new interests and hobbies.
By waiting to move, you’re more likely to encounter the obstacles and challenges that time can bring.
We encourage you to ask questions and learn all you can. A great way to get to know Emerald Heights is to attend one of our events. You can also contact us to set up a virtual visit or schedule an in-person tour.
When you’re ready to start your next big adventure, we’ll be here to welcome you into our community!
