Issaquah Attractions

Step into a community with small-town charm, unmatched beauty, amazing recreation and world-class amenities . . . nestled at the base of the majestic Cascade Mountain range, yet mere minutes to the bustling hub of the Northwest’s most vibrant regions of commerce, arts and industry. Discover a community known regionally and globally for its outstanding schools, amazing arts and festivals, and home to a major Fortune 500 company. Discover our community . . . Discover Issaquah.

Vibrant cultural and business districts coupled with a lively civic center form the heart of this hometown, along with great amenities –

• Innovative arts
• Fine dining
• Historic treasures
• Boutique shopping
• A bounty of natural wonders

Cultural Center

Historic downtown Issaquah combines art galleries, fine dining, the award winning Village Theatre, and generations of local merchants including the WestFarm Foods creamery (formerly Darigold).

Art Walks and Music on the Streets give the community a chance to meet and celebrate talented local artists. The City Arts Commission sponsors a variety of fine art events, and colorful murals give a vivid look into Issaquah’s past.

The historic Hailstone Feed Store and Shell Gas Station on Front Street, restored to its 1940s glory, is a tribute to Issaquah’s motoring history on the route to Snoqualmie Pass. The Train Depot and Gilman Town Hall display a multitude of early local photos and artifacts, including a two-cell jail dating back to 1914.

The Issaquah Valley Trolley is a unique project of the Issaquah History Museums. Following renovation, rides will be offered on the old mile-long track through town.

Just up the plateau, Bake’s Place, one of the nation’s top Jazz Supper clubs, belts out the best in smooth jazz and hot blues year round.
 

Public Amenities

Issaquah’s civic center is perfectly placed in historic downtown and includes city hall, a public swimming pool, community and fitness center, senior center, trails center, and an historic railroad depot. Just a block away, the open-beamed public library fits seamlessly into the landscape, nestled among parks, and the state’s only urban fish hatchery.

Blakely Hall and historic Pickering Barn play host to community gatherings, including the Issaquah Farmers Market and various other events each year.
 

Community Celebrations

Issaquah celebrates the remarkable return of the salmon to our lakes and streams with the annual Issaquah Salmon Days Festival, the city’s most treasured event. More than 125,000 visitors flock to town during the free two-day event.

Presented the first full weekend of October and free to the public since 1970, the Salmon Days Festival highlights include –

• 300 artists and crafters, many featuring salmon-related arts;
• Field of Fun giant children’s area;
• Grande Parade;
• Foods of the World;
• Entertainment on five stages;
• Kiwanis Salmon Barbecue;
• Rotary 5/10K Run; and
• 60 local non-profit and service organizations.

The Issaquah Salmon Days Festival has been recognized for its outstanding promotional and marketing campaigns with numerous national and international awards.
 

Outdoor Abundance

Nestled at the foothills of some of the Puget Sound’s most majestic mountain ranges, Issaquah plays the role of “base camp” for families, individuals or organizations seeking the best in hiking for all ages and skill levels. The “Issaquah Alps” provide over 200 miles of hiking trails established by members of the Issaquah Alps Trail Club. Within minutes of downtown, hikers can leave behind urban stress for forest adventures on Cougar Mountain, Squak Mountain and Tiger Mountain. On summer weekends, paragliders hike or drive to Poo Poo Point and launch themselves into the atmosphere.

Swimmers, boaters, anglers and picnickers enjoy nearby Lake Sammamish State Park. Winter sports enthusiasts flock to Snoqualmie Pass for the best in skiing, sledding and snowboarding – just 30 minutes east of Issaquah.

The Cougar Mountain Zoological Park is a unique teaching zoo specializing in endangered species and local wildlife.
 

Summer Activities in Issaquah

• May through September:
• Art Walks, sponsored by the Downtown Issaquah Association
• Farmers Market at Pickering Barn
• Classic car shows at the last remaining 1950s-style Triple XXX Root Beer in the United States

June

• Tastin’ and Racin’ limited hydroplane races on Lake Sammamish
• Mountains to Sound Greenway Days, including the Fenders on Front Street classic car show

July

• Down Home Fourth of July featuring the Kids, Pets ‘n Pride Parade, and old fashioned games
• Concerts on the Green every Tuesday evening on the Community Center lawn
• Chocolate, Wine & All That Jazz, a celebration of local restaurateurs, wine makers, jazz and our own Boehm’s Candies