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The Klahanie neighborhood of Issaquah is a nice, big planned community that gives it's residents all the comforts they could want.

There is plenty of shopping nearby, including a QFC grocery store, many restaurants and take-out places, and lots of other small specialty shops. One of the best things about Klahanie is that even though the streets are quite wide and not organized in a predictable way, it is easy to get around, even by foot, because of the trails that weave between the smaller individual neighborhoods within Klahanie.

Klahanie is full of families of all ages. Originally appealing families when it was built, many of the teenagers living there now have grown up in this safe, cozy neighborhood, while the neighborhood is still growing and attracting families with young children today.

A system of parks is interspersed throughout the development. These parks include play structures for young children as well as preserved natural areas for connecting with nature and wildlife. There are also two swimming pools in the development that serve the community with swimming lessons and regular free-swimming times for those hot summer days (which are more frequent than you might expect in this Pacific Northwest location.)

There are many schools in the area including the highly-acclaimed Challenger and Endeavor Elementary and Beaver Lake Middle School. High school students attend either of the two high schools -- Issaquah High School or Skyline High School -- both of which are ranked in the top ten high schools in Washington state. Perhaps the highly-ranked schools are what attract so many families to Klahanie.

Right on the shores of Lake Whatcom sits a lovely little neighborhood where Bellinghamsters can get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Just outside the city limits, Geneva residents enjoy the conveniences of living close enough to town that quick trips to the store are possible, while still living far enough away from it all to be able to enjoy the beauty of nature.

Walking down the quiet neighborhood streets, residents enjoy the diversity that being outside the city limits allows. Without the rules and regulations that many neighborhoods in the city must abide by, Geneva residents are able to allow their living space to express their uniqueness. The homes are as unique as the residents themselves. Some yards have carefully tended, manicured lawns, while others have vibrant, sprawling gardens. One thing that is evident throughout the neighborhood is an appreciation for natural environments and the beauty of nearby Lake Whatcom.

The neighborhood is the home to two schools – public Geneva Elementary and private Whatcom Hills Waldorf School. These schools serve the neighborhood quite well and on school-day mornings the streets are full of neighborhood children safely making their way to school.

Though there are no shops in the neighborhood, residents are served by nearby Whatcom Falls Mini-Mart and Lafeen’s Donuts right next door. The Mini-Mart, and it’s in-house sandwich shop, DaVinci’s is the perfect stop along the way to a swimming day at the lake at Bloedel Donovan Park.

The Geneva neighborhood is home to several public swimming access areas, that are beautiful enough for the residents to appreciate but not so perfect that they attract people from all over Bellingham. Our family’s favorite is at the end of Morgan Street where the morning sun reigns, making it a perfect spot for an early morning dip.

No review of the Geneva neighborhood would be complete without a mention of The Firs, which is a conference center that hosts visitors throughout the year. In the summer months The Firs is the home of a high energy day camp. In the off-season the woods of The Firs provide a nice little recreation area – a safe, natural place for children to play and a nearby haven for dogs to run leash-free.