Emily Nelson and her husband, Patrick, call the Snoqualmie Valley home – they even got engaged at the Snoqualmie Falls!
This travel guide is based on Emily and Patrick’s favorite things to do in the area. Emily asserts that following this guide would make for “truly the perfect summer weekend.”
Emily and Patrick at their home in the valley
The night Emily and Patrick got engaged at the snoqualmie falls
Nestled 30 minutes east of Seattle at the base of the Cascade mountain range, the Snoqualmie Valley features some of the best bucolic qualities of the Pacific Northwest. Here, dense forests open to farmlands crisscrossed by rivers and dotted with flowers and wild blackberries.
The Snoqualmie Indian Tribe has lived in the Valley for centuries and recognizes the Snoqualmie Falls as their ancestral birthplace. Six small towns form a narrow triangle around the Valley: Preston and Fall City to the west, North Bend and Snoqualmie to the east, and Carnation and Duvall to the north.
With their sleepy main streets, locally-owned eateries, and panoply of curios shops, these towns embody a bygone Americana appeal. You might recognize local landmarks like the Falls and Mt. Si from the opening sequence of the cult drama Twin Peaks – the show immortalized North Bend-based Twede’s Cafe as home to Dale Cooper’s favorite cherry pie and a damn fine cup of coffee.
Wild Blackberries at Treehouse Resort and Spa.
Pete and Judy Nelson’s original treehouse B&B, TreeHouse Point, is nestled along the Raging River in Fall City. A weekend stay at TreeHouse Point is the perfect opportunity to explore the natural, culinary, and cultural delights of the Snoqualmie Valley.
The Upper Pond Treehouse at Treehouse Point.
3:00 PM – En route to TreeHouse Point, stop by PCC (a local chain of natural markets) in Issaquah (1810 12th Ave NW) for picnic supplies and snacks for the weekend. Emily and Patrick’s picnic staples include olives, a couple of cheeses, a baguette, the deli’s Emerald City Salad, a bottle (or two) of wine, and LaCroix. Make sure to pick up ice at PCC or at the gas station near TreeHouse Point, as there is none available for guests at the B&B. For more tips on packing the perfect TreeHouse Point picnic, check out our blog post here.
4:00 PM – Head inside the Lodge at TreeHouse Point to check in, and make sure to snag a freshly baked cookie in the dining nook. You can also pick up extra picnic essentials in the Lodge, including baskets and blankets. Follow the map to your treehouse, stopping along the way to take in the forest. TreeHouse Point’s grounds brim with prehistorically-sized trees, lacy ferns, and verdant moss. Explore your treehouse and unwind for a bit, perhaps with a glass of wine on your balcony (there are bottle openers to borrow in the Lodge).
The Burl at Treehouse Point
5:30 PM – Mosey down to the bank of the Raging River for a picnic dinner. Don’t fret the namesake: the river rarely rages in the summer, preferring instead to merely babble. This river is one of the most important local estuaries for the endangered Chinook Salmon and Steelhead recovery. After picnicking, try your hand at a favorite riverbank activity of TreeHouse Point guests: crafting cairns from smooth river stones.
Picnic on the bank of the Raging river.
Crafting Cairns at the Raging River.
7:00 PM – Jump in the car for a quick drive to the main commercial hub of Fall City for an after-dinner stroll. The Snoqualmie Valley was once a major hops-growing region; stop by the Fall City Community Park (just past the roundabout en route to Carnation – 4105 Fall City-Carnation Road SE) to check out the old Hop Shed. For sweeping views of the Snoqualmie River, walk behind the right side of the adjacent baseball field.
8:00 PM – Stop by the Last Frontier Saloon (33813 Redmond-Fall City Rd SE) for drinks served with spunky local flavor. There is often live music a block over at the Raging River Saloon on weekend nights, so if you feel like swing dancing, head on over there!
Last Frontier Saloon in Fall City
Patrick at the frontier saloon
9:30 PM – Head back to your treehouse for a late-night cup of cocoa and an elevated night’s sleep!
Bedroom inside the Bonbibi at treehouse point
8:30 AM – Make your way down to the Lodge for a homemade breakfast, cooked up by the talented TreeHouse Point chefs (seasonally delicacies may include fresh nectarine Jam, butternut squash tamales, and asparagus tartines).
Breakfast spread at Treehouse Point.
9:30 AM – Head to the Snoqualmie Falls, stopping for fresh Rainier cherries from a roadside stand along on the way. Emily and Patrick prefer going to the lower observation point (37479 SE Fish Hatchery Rd) – there, you can walk past the active hydroplant and down a boardwalk to view the base of the Falls. You can also stop by the upper viewpoint adjacent to the Salish Lodge for a breathtaking view from the top (get there early to avoid massive crowds).
From the Lower observation point.
10:30 AM – Continue east toward North Bend, pausing in Snoqualmie to check out the old trains and depot. The Black Dog Cafe (8062 Railroad Ave) is a great place to fuel up on coffee and snacks (they also make a delicious dinner plus hip cocktails at night). Get back in the car and head to Rattlesnake Lake in North Bend (Cedar Falls Rd SE), soaking in the views of Mt. Si on the way. Rattlesnake Ledge (towering over the lake) is a classic hike, but can be crowded in the summer. The four-mile treck consists of relatively steep switchbacks and concludes in a rocky vantage point with sweeping views of the Valley (it’s stunning, but not best for those wary of heights). If you don’t feel up to a hike, you can opt for relaxing and swimming in the lake below – large, partially submerged tree trunks make excellent sunning stations. As of now, you don’t need a Discover Pass to park at the lake, but make sure to read signage once there in case the policy changes.
View from Rattlesnake Ledge
2:00 PM – Head back to North Bend for lunch. For lighter fare, grab some New Mexican street tacos at Rio Bravo (247 E North Bend Way | $1.75+ per taco). If a burger and beer are more up your alley, make your way to North Bend Bar and Grill (145 E North Bend Way | $15+ per dish). Save room for dessert and swing by Twede’s Cafe (137 W North Bend Way) for a slice of pie and coffee ($5+).
Cherry pie and a damn fine cup of coffee at Twede’s
Mt. Si in North Bend
3:30 PM – Drive back to TreeHouse Point for an afternoon siesta in your treehouse!
6:00 PM – For dinner, head north to the quaint town of Carnation (named for the homonymous milk product company, which operated a farm nearby for decades). Ixtapa is a locally-owned chain of Mexican restaurants – the tortilla soup is superb at their Carnation location (4522 Tolt Ave | $10+). Upscale-bistro fare and homemade desserts can be found at Carnation Cafe (4760 Tolt Ave | $17+). After dinner, stroll along the Tolt River at Tolt-Macdonald Park (31020 NE 40th St). Emily and Patrick recommend walking up the bridge there for a prime overlook of the river. For a more budget-conscious dinner option, pick up sandwiches and local produce at the Fall City Market (33521 Redmond-Fall City Rd SE) to bring to Tolt Park.
Carnation milk truck at carnation’s Fourth of July parade. Photo by Glenn Asakawa
8:30 PM – Head back to TreeHouse Point and gather a marshmallow toasting kit from the Lodge. Stargaze while cooking up s’mores at the fire pit next to the Lodge before taking to the trees for bed.
Toasting Marshmallows at the Treehouse Point Fire Pit.
9:00 AM – Indulge in TreeHouse Point’s breakfast again before packing up. Take a final lap around the grounds and engage in mindful forest-bathing, known as shinrin-yoku in Japanese.
Forest at Treehouse Point
10:30 AM – Rent paddle boards from Experience SUP and explore local waters (1 hour rental: $20). Experience SUP can advise you on the best places to paddle around for an hour or two, and also offers lessons, guided tours, and custom paddle board experiences for groups.
Emily and Patrick’s pooch, Toastybun, (pictured on far right) leads an expedition to explore local waters with Experience SUP.
1:30 PM – Stop by the Roadhouse Restaurant and Inn (200 Preston Fall City Rd SE) for a hearty lunch before you take off – the Northwest clam chowder and Dungeness crab mac & cheese are favorites ($8 – $19).
Temple of the Blue Moon at Treehouse Point.
Detailed information on lodging at TreeHouse Point can be found at www.treehousepoint.com/lodging.phtml
To the trees!
LOGIN
