Many of the homes in Magnolia face west along the bluff that Captain Vancouver found as he was sailing through the northwest. He looked at the trees and thought they were Magnolias, like the trees back home, and so gave the neighborhood it’s name. In fact the trees he spotted were Madrona trees, a tree that is native to the Pacific Northwest.

Today Magnolia is known for its quiet neighborhood and views of the Puget Sound and Olympic Mountains. In most cases one will find home gardens impeccably manicured and agreeable throughout the four seasons of the year. As residents like darkness at night some streets are without lights. One of my clients wrote “It was nice to stand out in the backyard for a while listening to the quiet neighborhood with a nice breeze in the air.”

Magnolia has its own downtown area many refer to fondly as “The Village”. Being within easy walking distance of it is very desirable as there are two coffee shops, Uptown Espresso and Starbucks. Several restaurants, a Post Office, hardware store, nursery and bakery are also within two blocks.  One popular restaurant is Szmania.

Short and long hikes can be had at Discovery Park. My favorite walk is to park on the south side of Discovery Park in Magnolia and walk the steps to the beach and the lighthouse. It is a journey through different terrains and one of the best places to find native plants and do a bit of bird watching.

For those families looking for schools, Magnolia has three elementary schools, Lawton, Catherine Blaine and Our Lady of Fatima. It is said that Dravus is the border line for Lawton (to the north) and Catherine Blaine (to the south, in the village and adjacent to the community center). Those north of Dravus can apply to Catherine Blaine.