By: Christy Gerrard, Executive Director, Visit Issaquah Washington
Issaquah Washington is homey, with small-town vibes where you can trade the Seattle area traffic and crowded streets for open-air adventures that let you discover the “wilderness within.”
You don’t have to be a seasoned adventure enthusiast to enjoy the quintessential Pacific Northwest outdoor experience. The Issaquah Alps Trails Club offers guided hikes for all abilities, making trailheads less intimidating to the novice hiker, and providing entertaining education along the journey; from birding to plein-air painting, nature walks, and hands-on environmental programs.
Comfortable with self-guided exploration? Issaquah has miles of mostly flat, pathways that connect the historic downtown to Lake Sammamish State Park, and quaint shopping districts, as well as trailheads for hiking the Issaquah Alps, on Tiger, Squak, or Cougar mountains.
Are you a thrill seeker? You will find an adrenaline rush in Issaquah. Known globally as a premier paragliding and mountain bike destination, Issaquah’s outdoor recreation outfitters can meet your needs. Try a tandem paragliding experience with locally owned and operated Northwest Paragliding or Seattle Paragliding, both launch from Tiger Mountain’s Poo Poo Point. Duthie Hill Mountain Bike Park offers miles of both flowy and technical trails, including jumps and other skill building features for the newbie rider to the competitive mountain bike racer.
Less adrenaline and more zen? Issaquah has that too from shore to summit! Paddling Yogini offers stand up paddle board yoga classes on Lake Sammamish for all fitness levels. For a more “elevated” experience consider GreenHeart Yoga, blending the healing influence of nature with a guided hike and yoga experience in a welcoming and inclusive environment.
Issaquah is a multi-cultural community deeply dedicated to supporting arts and culture. On most evenings you will find live music, and Broadway-quality theatrical productions. Issaquah has a growing outdoor public art inventory including murals, mosaics and sculptures, including Jakob Two-Trees, our 14-foot-tall troll, part of 2023 The Way of the Bird King, Northwest Trolls project.
In the fall, Issaquah celebrates the return of the Salmon with the largest outdoor festival in Washington state – the nationally award-winning Salmon Days Festival, the first full weekend of October. Salmon Days brings over 150,000 visitors to the downtown and salmon hatchery grounds for two days of perusing artist booths, tasting a variety of ethnic cuisines, live entertainment, and of course, watching the salmon action at the hatchery’s fish ladder!
There are plenty of unique family-friendly experiences too! The historic, alpine-themed, Boehm’s Candies offers guided and self-guided tours and classes. Learn more about the magic of their candy kitchen, and then visit the retail store at the front of the chalet where you can purchase some of the candies you saw being made! Visit the Issaquah History Museum’s Train Depot. Great for your little (and not so little) train lovers! Built in 1889, the Depot now holds a museum with exhibits that explore the industrial revolution. Issaquah’s Cougar Mountain Zoo focuses on and promoting conservation through education. Your family can enjoy the zoo at your own pace or consider a guided tour or close encounter experience to take the visit to the next level! Don’t miss the annual Issaquah Reindeer Festival every December!
For complimentary concierge consultation on these offerings and other tour experiences
