Arts & Entertainment Community

Day Tripper: Issaquah is so much more than a big box store

Gas prices are sky high, and a night in a hotel is approaching astronomically expensive.  So, for the foreseeable future, I imagine many of you are going to find yourselves taking day trips rather than the road trip vacations we’ve grown to love. 

This beautiful region in which we live is ripe with opportunities to explore new places, see new things, and learn a little something at the same time. I promise to keep the longest journeys to a one-way distance of under 200 miles. Whether you want to make it an overnight trip, a weekend, or just a very long day trip, we should be able to pull it off.   

We will also check out some places that tourists flock to see in our beautiful community but most of us either take for granted or have never heard of.  If a staycation is on your horizon, I’m here to help you make the most of it.

I hope you’ll grant me the honor of your virtual company as we travel these roads together.  Happy trails!

Until recently, if you’d asked me about Issaquah, I’d have told you it’s the bedroom community along I-90 just before you start up the hill (and a steep hill it is) on your way to Snoqualmie Summit. If I stopped there at all, it was to check out what’s new at the giant Costco that is reputed to be one of the primary locations for testing potential new products before introducing them system-wide.

After a trip to the area to investigate the upcoming annual Issaquah Reindeer Festival, I can assure you that the area is so much more.

Cougar Mountain Zoo

My original purpose in making the 48-mile trek up I-5 and out I-90 was to check out some outdoor holiday activities that can be enjoyed by the entire family, particularly grandparents and younger kids. Like many grandparents during the pandemic, I discovered it’s not easy to find fun things to do outdoors that don’t require the purchase of expensive gear or come with the risk of bodily from harm from slipping and sliding on snow and ice.

I saw advertisements last year about both the Reindeer Festival and the Christmas Train in Issaquah. I headed out on an expedition to check them out. (And, of course, visit Costco just before Black Friday.)

The entrance to Issaquah’s Cougar Mountain Zoo.

First, I stopped by the Cougar Mountain Zoo. Nestled on 11 acres on the northern slope of Cougar Mountain, its perch on the side of the hill offers awesome views of Lake Sammamish, the Sammamish Plateau and the Cascades.

Opened in 1972, it primarily focuses on providing wildlife education, particularly emphasizing several endangered species, and conservation efforts. It’s much bigger and more complete than your typical petting zoo, but a lot more cozy and compact than the larger zoos that we hear so much about.

The critters

Peter and Marcie Rittler founded the zoo and ran it for 15 years before donating it to the nonprofit Zoological Society of Washington. It includes a wide variety of bronze statues, an art gallery, museum and library. These resources are maintained exclusively through admission fees, memberships and donations.

Among the animals you’ll find are gray wolves, cougars, a Bengal tiger, lemur, alpacas, emus, a number of varieties of birds, and, of course, the reindeer.

For a few days each December, eight famous reindeer have just about the toughest work schedule possible.  But what do they do the rest of the year?  Apparently, they have a vacation home at this cute little zoo.

Emus are among the attractions at the Cougar Mountain Zoo.

The festival runs Dec. 1 through Dec. 23, takes a couple of days off for the holidays, then continues through Dec. 30.  I would have thought Santa would be busy elsewhere, but somehow he finds time to join the party until the 23rd, when he’s clearly needed at the North Pole. After the holiday, Santa goes home to recover and the reindeer and the rest of their zoo buddies finish the festival out alone.

Meet the reindeer

During the festival you can get up close and personal with the reindeer.  While it will cost you pocket change to buy the feed that is available in vending machines around the zoo, the kids will have an opportunity to let the reindeer eat out of their hands.

In addition, they can get warm in Santa’s house while partaking in a cup of cocoa and writing a letter to Santa that they can mail at the post office.  When they’re ready, they can actually chat with him. Needless to say, there are a lot of photo ops.

The zoo itself operates January through November and requires a general admission ticket available at the gate or on-line. During December, access to the zoo requires purchasing timed-entry tickets to the Reindeer Festival on the Zoo’s website. A ticket gives you full access to the zoo, as well.

The Reindeer Festival offers a chance to get up-close-and-personal with these critters.

Christmas train

I was really looking forward to riding the train that runs between Issaquah and Snoqualmie/North Bend. Unfortunately, the most important thing I learned was that this activity requires preplanning.  The Yuletide Express runs on Saturdays from Nov. 25 through Dec. 16.

Departing from the historic Snoqualmie Depot, the ride is a 25-minute trip to Snoqualmie Falls and back. Sadly, it’s completely sold out for this year, so we’re all going to have to wait until December 2024 to check it out.

I also found out that the Northwest Railway Museum sponsors seasonal events and regular weekend train excursions  year round. There are 2-hour fall excursions in November, fall steam trains in October, and a Halloween train among others.

I see a return visit in the not-too-distant future. There’s so much more to explore. I’ll make sure to let you know when tickets are released for next year’s Yuletide Express.

Snoqualmie Falls

Since the Snoqualmie Valley Railroad runs from the North Bend Depot to the Falls, I decided I might as well check it out since I was there anyway. I’ve been to the falls a number of times in the spring, when the snowmelt makes it stupendous.  I’ve always heard that they’re a mere trickle in late fall, and not really worth the journey.

Snoqualmie Falls is a great place to visit regardless of the season.

Wrong! With a muted yellow, red and orange backdrop, and the hazy, almost foggy aura of a mid-November late afternoon, the view was just as awesome, only in a different way. It really made me stop and think about the beauty that surrounds us all year round that we so often take for granted. It’s well worth the trip any time you can go.

Back in Issaquah

In no particular order since each family is best able to choose the activities that are most interesting to them, I’ll tell you about a few more things to do in the area. What you choose will most likely depend on the weather on the day you choose to visit the Reindeer Festival. It may also be impacted by the ages of the kids you have with you.

The area is replete with hiking trails and picnic areas. Lake Sammamish State Park, Tradition Lake, Squak Mountain State Park and Tiger Mountain State Forest are all nearby. A little research will help you identify the best trails for you and your family.

Kids of all ages will laugh at this sign.

I decided to check out Poo Poo Point. If the kids you have with you are at all, like the younger ones I hang out with, they will find it hilarious when you stop to take a look at the trailhead for Poo Poo Point. Even the older kids may hide a snicker or a smirk. Located adjacent to the Tiger Mountain Hang Gliding and Paragliding Landing Field, it’s important to be on the lookout for a hang glider coming in. Up on the Point itself is the gateway to the Chirico Trail that offers a great hike while providing a vista for a number of local peaks.

Legend has it that the name comes from the sound of the whistles that loggers used to communicate. The logging industry is long gone, but the name and the area’s reputation as a great spot for photo opportunities survive.

Jakob Two Trees

Much has been written (including here) about the Thomas Dambo trolls that now reside in the Seattle area.  If you haven’t seen one in person, you are too close to Jakob Two Trees to not take advantage of the opportunity to stop and visit him.

He sits about ¼ mile down the Rainier Trail from Issaquah’s main Old Town shopping area on Front Street.  There are reports that some of the trolls are going to be adorned for the holidays, but I’ve been unable to confirm that Jakob will be sporting any finery. He really doesn’t need it. With his birdhouse necklace, braided hair tie, and woven bracelet, he’s festive just as he is.

If you’re going to be in Issaquah, you may as well visit Jakob Two Trees.

Shopping

Costco isn’t the only place to shop in Issaquah. The old-town area features a wide variety of small shops that are bursting at the seams with holiday gift ideas. A stroll down Front Street is definitely in order. Check out the old Darigold facility at 611 Front St., the Holiday Shop at the Historic Shell station, and the Artisan Market at the Issaquah Train Depot.

Since I was so close, stopping by Gilman Village seemed mandatory. I remember it from its glory days of the 80’s and 90’s when it was home to a variety of unique upscale shops.

The history of Gilman Village is interesting. In 1972 Marvin and Ruth Mohl started saving unwanted buildings from around Issaquah. They renovated and combined them into an attractive retail area in a park-like setting full of independent shops and restaurants. The buildings in Gilman Village represent a significant portion of Issaquah’s history. As they were originally installed, each building had to be almost completely disassembled and rebuilt, almost from scratch.

The Issaquah Reindeer Festival runs the entire month of December, except for a couple days around Christmas.

Over time, there has been considerable debate about whether the old buildings are becoming an eyesore. The Village consists now of a combination of professional and service companies, including activities for children and family. There are many restaurants, home and garden shops, and unique craft focused stores. There is also a lot of construction, but its hard to figure out whether its construction or destruction. I’ll be watching and let you know.

Cougar Mountain Zoo is less than 3 miles from Gilman Village. If you are interested in visiting a large store with a vast variety of holiday decorations, make sure to stop by Lucky Home, Suite 35 in the Village. Somewhere at the Village you’re certain to find a memento that will remind you of a great day in Issaquah for years to come.

Getting there

Time and distance: About a 1 hour drive and 49 miles from Gig Harbor

Route: Take Highway 16 to Interstate 5; I-5 to I-405; I-405 to I-90. Use exit 13, then follow Newport Way to the zoo.