Sugar rush: Top Puget Sound neighborhoods for trick-or-treating

When it comes to trick-or-treating, a few Puget Sound area neighborhoods consistently stand out. For kids, it’s all about the candy. And all you have to do is ask around to figure out how to tap into the mother lode.

We did a very informal survey around the office to come up with some of the favorites for scoring maximum sugar.

“Upper Queen Anne does a great Halloween extravaganza. Queen Anne Ave. merchants all participate and hand out candy to trick-or-treaters. Tons of parents and kids show up every year. Fun event,” says KIRO Radio’s Val Stouffer.

Another popular Seattle neighborhood is the Sand Point Country Club community.

“All the kids from northeast Seattle know that’s where you can get the most full-sized candy bars,” says KIRO Radio anchor Ursula Reutin. “They sometimes have a haunted house set up and occasionally, you’ll get a house that gives Jello shots or spiked cocoa to the adults.”

Kenmore’s Northshore Summit subdivision is another Halloween homerun for parents and kids alike. From haunted houses to cotton candy machines, neighbors go all out to one up each other. In past years, there have even been live bands to entertain trick-or-treaters in open garages of this friendly enclave. It’s not uncommon to see busloads of people making the trek.

The Eastside has more than its fair share of top notch Halloween haunts.

“If you want to feel the most massive Halloween spirit ever, go to The Lakes on Mercer Island,” says Jamie Skorheim from MyNorthwest.com. “Each house gets about 1,500 trick-or-treaters and the homeowners take Halloween night’s entertainment seriously. I’ve seen elaborate graveyard displays, popcorn and smoke machines at the houses around this neighborhood. They sometimes ask for a food donation from visitors at the entry, but it’s well worth it for a night of safe, festive Halloween fun.”

KIRO Radio’s Kim Shepard highly recommends Snoqualmie Ridge for top notch candy and community.

“I know some moms who actually bag candies into decorative Halloween goody bags, and a bunch give out full size candy bars,” she says. “Their streets are largely loops and cul-de-sacs, so pretty safe for the kids. And a lot of the houses go all out with their decorations.”

Real estate website Zillow recently ranked Seattle the fifth best city in the nation for trick-or-treating. Its index was based on median home value, Walk Score, population density and crime. Zillow picked Loyal Heights as the top Seattle neighborhood for trick-or-treating, followed by Phinney Ridge, Wallingford, Madison Park, and Bryant.

Obviously, there are plenty of other great neighborhoods for trick-or-treating around the entire Puget Sound area. What’s your favorite?

Map: Check out our favorite local neighborhoods for trick-or- treating