There are a few reasons why I would find myself driving out to Snoqualmie:
1. The Summit (Skiing and Snowboarding)
2. Snoqualmie Casino (Gambler's Paradise)
3. Hiking Trails (Especially around the North Bend Area)
4. And Snoqualmie Falls
Snoqualmie Falls is just one of those places where my folks take out-of-town guests. When my husband and I first went to Seattle, that was one of the top destinations of places to show him. It's a beautiful thing to see and it's also only a 45 minute drive from downtown Seattle.
There is a mini hike down to the base of the falls. The hiking trail starts at the service road behind the Gift Shop/Visitor's Center. It's probably a 20 minute hike down and back up again…but exploring the riverbed is probably the part that'll take more time.
A little bit from Snoqualmie Falls is the actual town of Snoqualmie. It is an incredibly small and quaint place that is home to the Northwest Railway Museum. It is worth checking out, as there are some pretty awesome train cars on exhibit outside the museum. There are also a few shops and restaurants in the area…but, most likely, if I am looking for a place to eat, I'd drive back on I-90 towards Issaquah's Gilman Village for some food and shopping (I-90 Exit 17).
For lunch, we headed out to Gilman Village and popped into The Egg & Us. It was a good way to end the early afternoon. This shopping center was actually one of the places that I really liked checking out when I was in high school…Cute little shops full of accessories, toys, clothes, art, and household knick-knacks. It's got that "country" vibe that's just different from the city (maybe it's more of a "vacation" vibe).
Snoqualmie has a lot of charm, especially for people who like checking out historic towns, railroad museums, waterfalls, or seeing a bit of nature that's only 45 minutes from Seattle's downtown.
