Federal Way

Federal Way is a city in King County, Washington, United States. Federal Way is considered a bedroom community by some people that is located between Seattle and Tacoma. Its western boundary is Puget Sound. It is bordered by Des Moines on the north, Kent, Auburn, unincorporated King County, and Milton on the east and Tacoma and Fife on the south. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 83,259. The population estimates for 2005 are 85,800 making it Washington’s 7th largest city.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Way,_Washington

Federal Way is home to Weyerhaeuser, the largest private owner of softwood timberland in the world. Weyerhaeuser has opened much of its land to the public, including two botanical gardens: the Rhododendron Species Foundation and Botanical Garden, and the Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection. Federal Way is also home to the US office headquarters of World Vision.

Other attractions in the city include the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center, which features an Olympic size swimming pool and had been used for the Goodwill Games in 1990, and Celebration Park, with sports fields and wooded trails. the city has also developed many lake front and neighborhood parks and playgrounds.

Wild Waves Theme Park, the largest amusement Park in the region, is known as Wild Waves and Enchanted Village. It is located on the south side of the city and is the Seattle area\'s only permanent amusement park. Six Flags purchased Wild Waves in December 2000. However after low sales, Six Flags sold the park in April of 2007 to Parc Management LLC of Jacksonville, Fl for $31.75 million.

Federal Way is locally identified by its 1990s semi-urban development, characterized by landscaped off-street multi-structure apartment complexes and shopping centers. The Commons at Federal Way (previously Sea Tac Mall), the city\'s largest and only indoor shopping center, is located on S 320th St. and Pacific Hwy south (State Route 99) near the city\'s main Interstate 5 exit.

Boasting eight miles of spectacular Puget Sound waterfront, Federal Way is centrally located in the southwestern corner of King County.  Situated 25 miles south of downtown Seattle and 8 miles north of downtown Tacoma, the city occupies approximately 22 square miles on a plateau between Puget Sound and the Green River Valley.  Portland, Oregon is three hours South, Vancouver, Canada is three hours north, and Spokane, Washington is five hours east.

Federal Way is located just 20 minutes from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.  The ports of Seattle and Tacoma, with excellent container ship, railroad, and trucking facilities, are both nearby.  the city is located at a key transportation hub on Interstate 5, with fast, easy freeway access.  I-5 and State Highways 99, 161, and 509 provide north/south transit options; State Highway 18 offers direct access to the state’s main east-west corridor, Interstate 90.