Alexander Beach takes its name from Alexander's Beach Resort which Caroline Alexander opened on Lake Sammamish's southeastern shore in 1917 as a small picnic area, operating it until her death in 1932 when daughter Hazel Alexander Ek and son-in-law George Ek expanded it into a beloved company picnic destination that operated until 1985. The resort property was eventually sold, structures razed, and transformed into the Alexander's on the Lake residential development that preserves the Alexander name along 206th Avenue Southeast in Sammamish. Lake Sammamish itself derives its name from the Sammamish people, a Coast Salish indigenous nation whose Lushootseed endonym sc'ababsh or sc'epabsh combined with the suffix abs meaning people of a certain area, creating Sammamish through anglicization. The lake sits in ancestral Sammamish and Snoqualmie territory where indigenous peoples harvested salmon, planted wapato in wetlands, and lived for generations before European settlement, with streams renamed in the 1980s to honor Snoqualmie families including George Davis and Zackuse families connected to this land. The beach provides freshwater swimming and recreation in a suburban King County setting where residential development surrounds most of the lake shoreline.
Swimming dominates summer activities at Alexander Beach with Lake Sammamish water temperatures warming to comfortable levels during July and August, creating ideal conditions for families with children enjoying supervised water play without lifeguards present. Kayaking and paddleboarding allow exploration of the lake's 8-mile length and 1.5-mile width, with calm freshwater conditions suitable for beginners. Fishing from shore or small boats attracts anglers pursuing largemouth bass, yellow perch, coastal cutthroat trout, and kokanee salmon that inhabit the lake. Bird watching includes spotting ospreys hunting for fish, bald eagles, great blue herons, ducks, and Canada geese. The nearby Sammamish River connects Lake Sammamish to Lake Washington, creating important fish migration corridors. Walking and biking trails along the East Lake Sammamish Trail provide exercise and lake views through suburban landscape. Beachcombing reveals freshwater shells, interesting stones, and driftwood. Photography captures lake scenery with Cascade Mountain backdrops including nearby Tiger Mountain, seasonal changes, and wildlife. The residential beach serves the Sammamish community with convenient water access for families.
Sammamish and nearby Eastside communities offer diverse dining. The Commons at South Lake Union provides multiple restaurant options. Issaquah's dining scene includes Triple XXX Root Beer Drive-In serving classic American fare with house-made root beer, burgers, fish and chips, and nostalgic drive-in atmosphere since 1895. Jak's Grill features steaks, fresh seafood, and northwest cuisine. Tanoor serves Middle Eastern and Mediterranean dishes including lamb, chicken shawarma, falafel, hummus, and wood-fired flatbreads. Rikki Rikki serves modern Japanese cuisine including sushi, robata grill items, ramen, and creative preparations. Kokkari Estiatorio offers Greek seafood and Mediterranean flavors with fresh fish, lamb, mezze platters, and traditional preparations celebrating Hellenic culinary heritage in upscale casual Eastside setting convenient to Lake Sammamish recreation.
