When people think of the suburbs, they think of freeway exits like Kent, Auburn, Federal Way, or Kirkland. They think of strip malls and four-lane thoroughfares, track housing and SUVs. But a little more than 30 minutes from Seattle via I-90, North Bend is the bedroom community many have never considered. Famous for Twin Peaks, Mount Si, and cherry pie, North Bend is the quintessential Northwest mountain town. Buddying up to neighboring Snoqualmie (the fastest growing city in the state for about a decade-plus), North Bend plays home to more well-off techie types and business execs than its quaint exterior lets on. By definition, the suburbs suck, but North Bend is different… just as all those commuters already know.

Read all of our picks for People & Places, and explore the rest of this year’s edition of Best of Seattle.