Rachel’s Guidebook - additional ideas on Instagram: @igopnw or Facebook at “i.go.pnw”
Rachel
Food scene - Issaquah’s Gilman Village
Issaquah’s Gilman Village includes a mix of over 40 small stores and restaurants, and other businesses. The buildings that house most of the business were salvaged from old farm and mining land around the Issaquah Valley and give the areas its old world charm.
Gastropub for the 21 and over crowd. Creative cocktails and great food with outdoor seating available. The burgers and the fried zucchini bahn-mi bring us back every time.
14 il-persuni tal-post jissuġġerixxu
The Black Duck Cask and Bottle
317 Northwest Gilman BoulevardGastropub for the 21 and over crowd. Creative cocktails and great food with outdoor seating available. The burgers and the fried zucchini bahn-mi bring us back every time.
A great lunch stop - Simple and fresh menu of sandwiches, soups and salads, all made from scratch daily, including in-house baked bread. The decor takes you back in time - the women’s restroom even has a claw foot tub from when this building served as a boarding house for coal miners. It’s your lucky day if they have the potato dill soup. CASH ONLY!
The Boarding House
317 NW Gilman BlvdA great lunch stop - Simple and fresh menu of sandwiches, soups and salads, all made from scratch daily, including in-house baked bread. The decor takes you back in time - the women’s restroom even has a claw foot tub from when this building served as a boarding house for coal miners. It’s your lucky day if they have the potato dill soup. CASH ONLY!
Our favorite coffee shop in the area, serving drinks and light food (bakery items, prepared sandwiches, etc.) Patio seating available and they have a small kids play area.
10 il-persuni tal-post jissuġġerixxu
Issaquah Coffee Company
317 NW Gilman BlvdOur favorite coffee shop in the area, serving drinks and light food (bakery items, prepared sandwiches, etc.) Patio seating available and they have a small kids play area.
Food Scene - Olde Town Issaquah / Front Street
Easily our favorite place to dine and hang out, Issaquah’s Front Street boasts a variety of restaurants to suit all tastes and budgets in a cute setting reminiscent of Issaquah’s history as a mining town. After enjoying your meal, grab a frozen yogurt from Yum-E-Yogurt and enjoy a walk around the old Issaquah Train Depot or play at the park behind the train station.
Chef Edna serves up some really special & unique dishes with a Portuguese flair. Try Grandma’s Portuguese Bread.
Max's World Cafe
212 Front St NChef Edna serves up some really special & unique dishes with a Portuguese flair. Try Grandma’s Portuguese Bread.
21 and over only. Great salsa selection and outdoor seating available. Try the jalapeño infused bacon with peanut dipping sauce and the street corn.
8 il-persuni tal-post jissuġġerixxu
El 42 Cantina
38 Front St N21 and over only. Great salsa selection and outdoor seating available. Try the jalapeño infused bacon with peanut dipping sauce and the street corn.
Upscale bar food, with some outside seating. Our favorite blackened salmon sandwich in town.
Sunset Alehouse
20 Front St SUpscale bar food, with some outside seating. Our favorite blackened salmon sandwich in town.
Jak’s steakhouse does not take reservations and gets busy. Put your name in & enjoy a stroll down Front Street or hang out in the lively bar while you wait. Jak’s serves the best mojito in town
39 il-persuni tal-post jissuġġerixxu
Jak's Grill
14 Front St NJak’s steakhouse does not take reservations and gets busy. Put your name in & enjoy a stroll down Front Street or hang out in the lively bar while you wait. Jak’s serves the best mojito in town
We rate Sunset’s food over this, but Levitate wins for ambiance with a fun outdoor back patio and open front window for people watching. They serve the Impossible Burger for any plant-based food fans (Call ahead – they often run out!)
17 il-persuni tal-post jissuġġerixxu
Levitate Gastropub
185 Front St NWe rate Sunset’s food over this, but Levitate wins for ambiance with a fun outdoor back patio and open front window for people watching. They serve the Impossible Burger for any plant-based food fans (Call ahead – they often run out!)
New in 2019, Khao San has the most extensive menu of authentic Thai. We also think Coconut Thai is pretty great.
Khao San
100 Front St SNew in 2019, Khao San has the most extensive menu of authentic Thai. We also think Coconut Thai is pretty great.
For a special meal, Montalcino serves up some rich and authentic Italian dishes. Advanced reservations required. Many weekend nights, there is live music in the wine bar next door.
10 il-persuni tal-post jissuġġerixxu
Montalcino
15 NW Alder PlFor a special meal, Montalcino serves up some rich and authentic Italian dishes. Advanced reservations required. Many weekend nights, there is live music in the wine bar next door.
Inventive seafood, with an excellent oyster selection.
Quicker options include Dominoes Pizza and Subway
Krawbar Restaurant
80 Front St NInventive seafood, with an excellent oyster selection.
Quicker options include Dominoes Pizza and Subway
Indian food in an upscale environment at reasonable prices. They have a great lunch buffet!
Bukhara Bar & Grill (Indian Restaurant)
131 Front St NIndian food in an upscale environment at reasonable prices. They have a great lunch buffet!
Local Hikes/Sights
The Issaquah Alps offer so many awesome hikes. All of these options are less than an hour from our property.
A must-see. Visitors can choose from an easy park and walk across the street to an upper view of the falls, or moderate .7 mile hike to the bottom of the falls. The Attic at Salish Lodge is a great place for a post-hike lunch and usually has a shorter wait than the full restaurant on the main level. Free unless you park in the lot adjacent to the falls. Free parking across the street.
17 miles from our property
505 il-persuni tal-post jissuġġerixxu
Snoqualmie Falls
6501 Railroad AveA must-see. Visitors can choose from an easy park and walk across the street to an upper view of the falls, or moderate .7 mile hike to the bottom of the falls. The Attic at Salish Lodge is a great place for a post-hike lunch and usually has a shorter wait than the full restaurant on the main level. Free unless you park in the lot adjacent to the falls. Free parking across the street.
17 miles from our property
2.6 miles round trip. Stop at the mid-way view point for an easier hike or go all the way to the falls for more of a challenge. Usually a good bet for a year round hike, but can have some icy spots in the winter. Requires a Discover Pass. ($10/day)
27 miles from our property
49 il-persuni tal-post jissuġġerixxu
Twin Falls Trailhead
Southeast 159th Street2.6 miles round trip. Stop at the mid-way view point for an easier hike or go all the way to the falls for more of a challenge. Usually a good bet for a year round hike, but can have some icy spots in the winter. Requires a Discover Pass. ($10/day)
27 miles from our property
A little further out, Franklin Falls is worth the drive. 2 miles in and out, this is a relatively easy trail that lets you get up close with a waterfall. In nice weather, bring a towel to enjoy a dip at the end of the trail.
46 miles from our property
26 il-persuni tal-post jissuġġerixxu
Franklin Falls Trailhead
Denny Creek TrailA little further out, Franklin Falls is worth the drive. 2 miles in and out, this is a relatively easy trail that lets you get up close with a waterfall. In nice weather, bring a towel to enjoy a dip at the end of the trail.
46 miles from our property
Accessed from the Alpental ski area parking lot, this is recommended in summer only. 7.2 miles round trip this hike takes you to a beautiful alpine lake. Stop at the top to enjoy the view, or descend to the lake for a cool swim and lunch spot. This is our favorite "date hike" in the area when we don't have the littles in tow.
45 miles from our property
34 il-persuni tal-post jissuġġerixxu
Snow Lake Trailhead
Alpental Access RoadAccessed from the Alpental ski area parking lot, this is recommended in summer only. 7.2 miles round trip this hike takes you to a beautiful alpine lake. Stop at the top to enjoy the view, or descend to the lake for a cool swim and lunch spot. This is our favorite "date hike" in the area when we don't have the littles in tow.
45 miles from our property
4 miles round trip leads to an amazing view. Picnic at the lake afterward.
73 il-persuni tal-post jissuġġerixxu
Rattlesnake Lake
4 miles round trip leads to an amazing view. Picnic at the lake afterward.
Get there early to get a parking spot. Watch paragliders launch from the top of the mountain. From the Chirico Trail 3.8 miles round trip with a challenging 1760 ft. elevation gain. For a longer hike, start near old town.
5.1 miles from our property (the Chirico Trailhead!)
Poo Poo Point Trail
Poo Poo Point TrailGet there early to get a parking spot. Watch paragliders launch from the top of the mountain. From the Chirico Trail 3.8 miles round trip with a challenging 1760 ft. elevation gain. For a longer hike, start near old town.
5.1 miles from our property (the Chirico Trailhead!)
Seattle Downtown Scene
A must-do for anyone coming to the Seattle area for the first time. We love to go mid-morning and eat our way through the market. Favorite stops include Beecher’s Cheese, Pike Place Fish Market, Ellenos Yogurt and Piroshki Prioshki. The original Starbucks is also down there – worth a photo op, but the inside is nothing out of the ordinary and not worth the long line.
2309 il-persuni tal-post jissuġġerixxu
Pike Place Market
1531 Western AveA must-do for anyone coming to the Seattle area for the first time. We love to go mid-morning and eat our way through the market. Favorite stops include Beecher’s Cheese, Pike Place Fish Market, Ellenos Yogurt and Piroshki Prioshki. The original Starbucks is also down there – worth a photo op, but the inside is nothing out of the ordinary and not worth the long line.
Home to The Chihuly Garden and Glass, MoPOP (Museum of pop culture), The Pacific Science Museum, the Space Needle and more. Combination attraction passes available for those who want to see it all. All locations (except the Chihuly museum) are kid friendly and fun for all ages.
362 il-persuni tal-post jissuġġerixxu
Seattle Center
305 Harrison StHome to The Chihuly Garden and Glass, MoPOP (Museum of pop culture), The Pacific Science Museum, the Space Needle and more. Combination attraction passes available for those who want to see it all. All locations (except the Chihuly museum) are kid friendly and fun for all ages.
Great for kids or any marine lover on a rainy day. Close to other waterfront attractions including the Big Wheel. For a hassle-free lunch, the aquarium café on the second floor is pretty good.
390 il-persuni tal-post jissuġġerixxu
Akwarju ta 'Seattle
Great for kids or any marine lover on a rainy day. Close to other waterfront attractions including the Big Wheel. For a hassle-free lunch, the aquarium café on the second floor is pretty good.
Great photo op of the space needle and generally beautiful views of the sound. There is a small playground down the long set of stairs, but this is primarily a viewpoint. Get Mt. Rainier, the Space Needle, sports stadiums, shipyard and mountain ranges all in one shot.
881 il-persuni tal-post jissuġġerixxu
Kerry Park
211 W Highland DrGreat photo op of the space needle and generally beautiful views of the sound. There is a small playground down the long set of stairs, but this is primarily a viewpoint. Get Mt. Rainier, the Space Needle, sports stadiums, shipyard and mountain ranges all in one shot.