Lunch By Lake Washington in Kirkland

It's never supposed to rain between July 4th and October 15th in the Seattle area, but today is a dark and rainy day, something we rarely see this time of year. Here is a reminder of how wonderful Kirkland is on our beautiful summer days. These photos are from Kirkland on Tuesday, August 14th. We had a glorious day here. Luckily, I was able to take advantage of it and meet a client for lunch at The Yarrow Bay Cafe in Carillon Point, right on Lake Washington. The weather was perfect, the company divine, and the food was not bad either!

Carillon Point is one of the true gems of Kirkland and Lake Washington. It is a true piece of Kirkland history. Here one can find a 4 Star hotel, The Woodmark. The only hotel on Lake Washington comes with a great restaurant and a relaxing bar. Waters, the hotel restaurant, is usually not crowded and has wonderful food. It's tucked away on the lower level of the hotel and has a nice view of the lake. Two secrets about Waters: it's rarely crowded, so if you want a nice, quiet meal with a view you can get it here. Secondly, if you have a Passport Unlimited Card, you can get two entrees for one. The hotel bar feels as if you're having drinks in a private home. They have a great happy hour with some tasty food. The hotel has a spa with a wide variety of services. Check out their monthly special treatments.

Other hot spots in Carillon Point? Try The Yarrow Bay Grill, a long time Kirkland institution, a great gourmet restaurant with fabulous views of the lake, mountains, and city. In the fall you can take advantage of their football shuttles via boat to Husky Stadium for Husky football games. There is no better way to travel!

BluWater Bistro is a Seattle eatery that has been open less than a year. It's a nice, casual setting with good salads, sandwiches, and pastas. It took the Cucina, Cucina spot.

Do you need moorage? There is a fabulous Marina at Carillon Point, one of the few moorage spots on Lake Washington. It is a premier location with slips for 200 boats and top of the line services.

Want to try kayaking?

Summer time brings special events to the Point. Outdoor movies on Saturday evenings and The Concours d'Elegance car show are some of the events.

But what about the history of Carillon Point? It was not always known as Carillon Point and has gone through several renditions over the years mirroring the changes that have occurred on the Eastside. First developed in the late 1800's, the area, known then as Pleasant Bay was developed by the Curtiss family. Over the years, the area has been a shipyard for boat building, a winter docking area for a salmon fleet, and a tie-up area for ships from The Alaska Steamship Authority. During World War II, the shipyard boomed, employing about 9000 people, making a major contribution to the war effort. Lastly, we must not forget before the area was developed as Carillon Point, it was the home of the Seattle Seahawks!

Carillon Point is now a place of relaxation and fun, a centerpiece for Kirkland. With 6 restaurants from Starbucks to The Yarrow Bay Grill, a marina, shops, and offices, it is a gem of Kirkland.