Things To Do
Eagle Falls on the Skykomish River
Eagle Falls consists of a series of cascading falls and rapids in a short section of the Skykomish River. It's a beautiful site to see and features smooth, flat rocks to sit and have a snack or drink a beer as well as deep pools of blue-green water. If you can manage the brisk water temperature, it's also a great place to go for a swim. The slower-moving, deep pools below the falls are usually calm, easy to get into and out of, and make for a great memory! August typically sees very low river flows and therefore calm, somewhat warmer waters. It's definitely a 'swim at your own risk' situation, though. So, be cautious if you plan to do so!
Bridal Veil Falls and Lake Serene
The hike to Bridal Veil Falls and Lake Serene offers a beautiful taste of the Cascades and begins very close to the wedding venue, making for an easy 1/2 day activity. There are also 2 options for the varying fitness and hiking 'levels' out there. The first option is to take the trail 1.8 miles (one-way) to Bridal Veil Falls, during which you gradually gain about 700 feet of elevation. This option rewards you with the idyllic, calm alcove of Bridal Veil Falls which features a tall, trickling waterfall surrounded by dense PNW pine forest. If you choose to continue past Bridal Veil Falls, option two offers an extension of option 1 and involves a steep hike up the remaining 1,800 feet of elevation gain (approximately 2,500 vertical feet total) and 1.5 miles of distance (approximately 3.3 miles total, one way) to bring you to the ultimate destination - Lake Serene. Aptly named, this snowmelt-fed alpine lake is an incredible place to breath deep, take in the cascades, and go for an icy dip!
Wallace Falls
Wallace Falls is a very popular waterfall hike in the town of Gold Bar, and justifiably so! The parking lot is about 25 driving minutes from the wedding venue. The hike follows the Wallace River as it cascades and swirls through the dense pine forest characteristic of the PNW. Those who can make it 1.7 miles (one-way) are rewarded with the lower Wallace Falls. From there follows a series of waterfalls to the end of the trail (2.5 miles total, one-way), which brings you to the Upper Wallace Falls - a tall cliff and an impressive waterfall. Alternatively... you can also drive up the mountain to the Upper Wallace Falls parking lot! One could also configure a shuttle arrangement between two or more cars to leave a car at the bottom trailhead, drive to the top, and only hike downhill. The options are a plenty!
Leavenworth
Nestled against the mountains on the east side of the Cascades mountain range exists a fun, peculiar place unlike many others - Leavenworth, where everything, and I mean everything, follows the strict aesthetic of 'little Bavaria'. Time to bust out those wooden clogs, iron that lederhosen, and raise a prost to friendship and schnitzel! This unique town offers everything Americans have determined to be Bavarian - beer, brats, pretzels, and yodeling, and is about a 1-hour drive from the wedding venue. Well worth the trip for a 1/2 day of milling about and getting a taste of little Bavaria in the PNW.
So Much Hiking
There is a plethora of hiking in the areas along Highway 2 and there is something for everyone at all ability levels to be able to catch glimpse of these incredible mountain landscapes. Between Index and Leavenworth is Stevens Pass, which is the highest point of Highway 2 and a popular ski area as well. When the snow is all gone, though, Stevens Pass offers a great access point for a ton of great hiking. You could even hike a small section of the famous Pacific Crest Trail, which cuts right across Highway 2 at Stevens Pass. If unfamiliar with the area but want to figure out some good hiking options, I recommend using the website AllTrails, which I linked here, as it offers some great information about many hikes (starting point, length, difficulty, photos, etc.).