Attractions

Explore scenic attractions... make memories...

The Valley became a popular tourist destination on July 4, 1889 with the arrival of the first excursion train running from Seattle. Nowadays, the Valley continues to be a favorite playground for visitors of the Puget Sound area.

With an elevation of over 3,800 feet, Mt. Si dominates the skyline of the Upper Valley. This local landmark is a popular destination for hikers of all skill levels. Atop Mt. Si, hikers enjoy expansive views of the Valley and wildflowers during the spring and summer months. On clear days, distant views of Mount Rainier, the Seattle skyline, and Olympic Mountains complete the landscape. Mt. Si has become Washington's second-most, popular hiking trail. For information on many more local hikes visit the Web site for the Washington Trails Association (WTA).

A 45-minute drive gets you to the ski areas at Snoqualmie Pass and the entrances to Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest and Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area.

Snoqualmie Falls, one Washington's top scenic attractions, is easily accessible from Highway 202. At 268 feet, the falls reaches 100 feet higher than Niagara Falls. Puget Sound Energy uses water from the falls to operate a hydroelectric plant. Perched above the falls, the impressive four-star Salish Lodge & Spa caters to guests in grand style with gourmet cuisine and world-class service. Paved walks lead the way to a picnic area and an observation deck offering breathtaking views of the falls and Lower Valley with a peek-a-boo view of Fall City.

The Northwest Railway Museum offers train excursions during Spring, Summer and Fall weekends. Passengers enjoy one-way and round-trip tours between the Snoqualmie and North Bend depots, and Snoqualmie Falls. Visit the Web site for more info on the Depot Bookstore and special events such as the Santa Train.

Another favorite attraction is the Snoqualmie Valley Historical Museum in North Bend featuring Indian and pioneer artifacts. Books and photos are available for purchase.

Adjacent to the Snoqualmie Valley Historical Museum is the Visitor's Information Booth staffed from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Nearly 50 factory outlet stores make up the Factory Stores at North Bend. Shoppers enjoy the easy access from I-90 at exit 31.

For the perfect Christmas tree, click here for information on the area tree farms - most are open the weekend following Thanksgiving Day.

Seattle, one of our nation's most-livable cities, offers numerous museums, theaters, the Seattle waterfront, Woodland Park Zoo, Seattle Aquarium, the world-famous Pike Place Fish Market, and everyone's all-time favorite, Space Needle, which was erected in commemoration of the 1962 World's Fair celebration.

Attention sports fans! Seattle is also home to major league sports including Mariners baseball, SuperSonics basketball, and Seahawks football. My Oh My!

For additional information about tourism and other attractions in the greater Seattle area visit:

• Experience Washington
• Seattle Convention and Visitor's Bureau
• seattle.net entertainment