CLARE & DAMONCLARE & DAMON
Things To DoThings To Do
Snoqualmie FallsSnoqualmie Falls
Snoqualmie Falls is just about 20 minutes from Issaquah! It's an easy walk to the upper viewpoint! There are 2 parking lots: the upper lot is big and typically has spots open, while the lower lot is smaller but located closer to the falls. It is also located right next to Salish Lodge.
The Museum of FlightThe Museum of Flight
This is, by far, one of the coolest museums in Seattle! There are so many interesting planes to see, ranging from WWI fighter jets to space crafts to older commercial planes. Plan to spend a good chunk of time here, as there are so many different aircrafts to see and read about. There is also a covered outdoor section where you can go inside a bunch of retired jets and planes, such as the first jet Air Force One, Concorde, the first Boeing 747, and the third Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
Woodland Park ZooWoodland Park Zoo
We love going to the zoo, especially when the weather is nice! It's a pretty decent size, and has lots of cool animals to see! There are 2 entrances- each has their own parking lot West Entrance 5500 Phinney Ave. N., Seattle, WA 98103 East Entrance 750 N. 50th Street, Seattle, WA 98103 You can pay for parking at one of the kiosks located at each of the parking lots or at the West gate entrance. Tickets can be purchased online or at the zoo!
Rattlesnake Ledge TrailheadRattlesnake Ledge Trailhead
If you're looking for a nice hike to do, check out Rattlesnake Ledge. It's about 4 miles round-trip, with 1,160 feet of elevation gain. It's located right next to Rattlesnake Lake (where we spend a lot of time during the summer). There's some elevation gain, but definitely not the worst. We've seen people hike it in flip-flops and Crocs before (we do not recommend this haha)! It is a very popular hike, especially if the weather is nice, so just know it parks up fast, but honestly, the parking lot is huge, and there are a lot of turnovers (especially as the day goes on). If you're not feeling up for a hike, you can always go to look at the lake! Rattlesnake Lake is super close to the parking lot and it's a nice "in and out" type of spot!
The Summit at SnoqualmieThe Summit at Snoqualmie
The Summit at Snoqualmie is the closest ski resort to our area! Located about 35-45 minutes away from Issaquah. There are 4 mountain areas at the resort. While it will be the tail-end of the ski season for this mountain, there is a possibility that some (if not all) areas will still be open when our wedding happens (no promises on how good the snow conditions will be though haha). The best way to stay up-to-date on whether the mountain will be open or not is to check their website and plan accordingly! If they are open, you can buy day lift tickets and rent gear at their facility or online. If you have an Ikon pass, you should be able to use that here, as well.
Gilman VillageGilman Village
A super cute outdoor "mall" that features local shops, eats, and activities! Some of our favorite places are: Issaquah Coffee Company- the name kind of tells you all you need to know about this place haha, but their coffee and pastries really are amazing! Crumble and Flake - great pastries and paninis Mudhouse Pottery Painting - let us know if you do this, and once your piece is ready, we can ship it to you The Black Duck Cask and Bottle - great pub food and drinks!
The Black Duck Cask and BottleThe Black Duck Cask and Bottle
Amazing pub food and drinks! It's only a 5-minute walk away from our place, so needless to say, we are frequent customers. It is our favorite restaurant in Issaquah! Our favorites are the cheese curds, the burgers, and the onion rings! Please note: You must be 21+ to get into the restaurant
Issaquah Coffee CompanyIssaquah Coffee Company
Great spot for coffee and pastries right by our apartment! It's located within Gilman Village.
Din Tai FungDin Tai Fung
We absolutely love this place! It's mainly a Chinese restaurant, specializing in dumplings and wontons, but they also have many other great dishes. We HIGHLY recommend you make a reservation in advance, as walk-in wait times are usually 1.5-2 hours! Some dishes we recommend are: Xiao Long Bao (soup dumplings) Cucumber Salad Shrimp & Kurobuta Pork Spicy Wontons String Beans with Garlic Noodles with Spicy Sauce Shanghai Rice Cakes with Chicken Chocolate & Mochi Xiao Long Bao (basically just melted chocolate in a wrapper and it's amazing!)
Jak's GrillJak's Grill
Nice steakhouse located in our downtown area!
Khao San Thai CuisineKhao San Thai Cuisine
Our favorite Thai resturant in Issaquah! Great for take-out or dine-in!
NOLITA Italian Food and Wine RestaurantNOLITA Italian Food and Wine Restaurant
If you happen to be in Seattle proper, check out our favorite Italian joint! It's located in the Ballard neighborhood. The food is amazing, the people working there are super nice, and it's very reasonable in price. Everything we've had is great, but make sure to save room and get the tiramisu! It's the best!