Best Nature and City Activities to Do in Issaquah, Washington
Issaquah is one of my favorite suburbs in King County, and not just cause I lived there for several years! It is so much more than just a bedroom community for those commuting into Seattle or Bellevue. Issaquah is nestled right at the base of the Cascade Mountains and you’ll have mountain views from most areas of the small city.
As you may have guessed, those outdoor views provide many of the top things to do in Issaquah, but Issaquah is more than just it surrounding scenery. The historic Olde Town area and an excellent lakeside state park are also can’t-miss attractions in Issaquah.
Best Things to Do in Issaquah
I lived in Issaquah when I first moved to Washington and still frequently spend time there. Here are my favorite things to do, see, and eat in Issaquah.
Front Street – Things to Do in Old Towne Issaquah
Let’s start with the best things to do in downtown Issaquah aka Olde Towne aka the Creative District. To me, Issaquah’s downtown area will always be the Old Town, but the city is rebranding it as Issaquah’s Creative District, which is also a very fitting name for this artsy and vibrant area.
Downtown Issaquah is also commonly referred to by locals as Front Street since that’s the main road slicing through the downtown area. Sunset is the other one. Both roads going into the center of town get very backed up most week days from 2:30pm on, and during mealtime hours on the weekends.
On either side of Front Street you’ll find some of Issaquah’s best restaurants. Here are some of my faves:
- Krawbar: Awesome seafood and cocktail bar with a southern twist.
- Levitate Gastropub: Excellent gastro-fare and craft beer menu with a small patio at back. I would (and do) go here just for the pretzel appetizer…that cheese dip, yum!
- Jak’s Grill: Home to some of the best steaks, gourmet burgers, and onion rings in Issaquah.
- Montalcino: Some of the best Italian cuisine I’ve had anywhere – including in Italy! (2024 Update: Montalcino has been sold and the family is now running Amarone in the Issaquah Highlands. I haven’t been to Montalcino under the new ownership, but I’ve heard it’s still excellent!)
For dessert and drinks, I like getting macaroons at , wine at Vino Bella or Capri Cellars, beer at Levitate, and cocktails at Krawbar.
Front Street doesn’t just have great food. It’s also home to a playhouse: the Village Theatre. The productions here are truly excellent in an intimate setting. Fun tip: If attending a family-friendly show (like Cinderella, which I took my kids to see recently), make a reservation for afternoon tea at Paisley Parlor just a few blocks away for some posh-feeling treats before the show.
Front Street is also home to some historic attractions. Taking a picture in front of the old timey Shell gas station makes for a fun Instagram photo, or you can take a photo in front of the mural by the Darigold dairy on the northern end of Front Street.
Just behind the corner of Sunset Way and Front Street is Issaquah City Playground, which is commonly referred to as Depot Park.
It has a fun climbing playground right by a huge grassy field, which connects to a bridge over Issaquah Creek and a few more short trails.
I gets its name from the nearby old depot center. Issaquah was a bustling railway town back in the late 1800s. You can walk around the historic depot and some vintage train cars while taking breaks to read info placards.
Another top thing to do by Front Street deserves its own section: Salmon Days.
Salmon Days Festival in Issaquah
Every fall, downtown Issaquah is transformed into a festival of food, artisan stands, live music, and learning opportunities all centered around one thing: the salmon run.
Each October, one of my family’s favorite things to do is go see the salmon swimming their way upstream Issaquah Creek to spawn. At the end of the creek is the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery. During Salmon Days, docents are on-hand to answer questions about the salmon and their importance to the PNW ecosystem. I learned so much the first time I went! And still learn more every year.
And, of course, there’s usually salmon to eat (not the ones swimming upstream!), among more yummy food vendors.
Outdoor Activities in Issaquah
As mentioned earlier, Issaquah is surrounded by PNW outdoor beauty. The city backs up to two state forests: Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park, Squak Mountain State Park Natural Area, and Tiger Mountain State Forest. All offer some of the best hiking in western Washington.
One of the most popular hikes is Poo Poo Point, which in addition to having a fun name, offers one of the best views in Issaquah at the top. But it’s a hard, long hike so make sure you bring lots of water and are ready to work up a sweat.
I also like the East Sunset Way trail. There are some inclines, but they aren’t long so it’s a nice hike with some pretty views, plus a convenient parking lot.
For some family friendly hikes, check out the trail system around the Issaquah Highlands community (head up NE Park Dr) off of Highlands Drive.
If you prefer biking to hiking, the East Lake Sammamish Trail is a mostly flat popular paved trail for bikers (and walkers).
More to Do and See in Issaquah
Beyond the hiking trails and downtown, Issaquah has even more to offer. Here are a few more of my top things to do in Issaquah
Cougar Mountain Zoo
This privately owned zoo has incredible views of Lake Sammamish and is home to tigers, reindeer, cougars, wolves, and more. It’s a small zoo, but it’s a hit with kids. Come for the big cats and stay for the delightful bird show.
Lake Sammamish State Park
Lake Sammamish State Park was dramatically revamped a few years ago and now has a state of the art playground and an excellent beach area. This place is often pretty busy in the summertime with locals and visitors alike cooling off in the lake. My kids love the zipline and climbing structure at the playground.
There is a day use fee if you don’t have a Washington State Park pass.
Gilman Village
If you love shopping, you can’t miss whiling away a couple hours at Gilman Village, located a mile or so from Olde Town, off of Gilman Blvd. It has my favorite home goods store (Lucky Home), my favorite gifts shop (Lucky You), the aforementioned tea parlor (Paisley Parlor) and my favorite boutique (Suburban Soul).
It also has a popular coffee shop (Issaquah Coffee Company), several other shops, and some good restaurants.
Plus, it’s just a cute complex to walk around!