I’m from Bellevue. I currently live in Bellevue, and you know what, I’m proud of it! Ever since I started college at the UW and moved to Seattle, I shuddered anytime I had to tell people where I’m from. Everyone not from Bellevue seems to very much dislike the idea of Bellevue, but having given Seattle a try and now made the decision to move home, I find that there’s much more to Bellevue than what’s stereotypically believed.
I do have to agree: the downtown area is somewhat of a mimic of the bigger and better downtown Seattle. And I definitely would not put Bellevue in a city war with Seattle, because truly there is no comparison between the two. But moving a little bit outside of downtown Bellevue, there are so many hidden paradises sprinkled all throughout the city limits.
One of my favorite spots, and one that I had the pleasure to visit today, is so hidden that it’s almost always empty–save for a few small families that come to let their toddlers play around in shallow water. Where is this hidden pleasure, you ask? It’s uniquely called Chism Beach Park, and it’s the perfect summer beach joint.
The park boasts two small rolling hills of grass leading into a short rocky/sandy patch that meets the fresh waves of Lake Washington. Large, leafy trees guard and hide the small getaway, making it the best place to pull out some summer reading and lay on a soft picnic blanket and get lost in the beauty of summer on the lake. For those who’ve never visited Bellevue, and for those who’ve lived here their whole lives and have never heard of this place, it’s a must-do to be added to summer lists.
