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Grab a friend and load up the car for a day trip filled with a 1.4 mile rt waterfall hike, lunch at a stunning lodge above the falls, and a steam train ride through the valley that will make you feel like you’re in a movie.

Here's your plan for a day trip with a waterfall hike, lodge lunch, and scenic train ride

Snoqualmie Waterfall Hike + Scenic Train Ride 🚂

Embark on a 1.4-mile round-trip hike to the base of Snoqualmie Falls, exploring the lush local flora and the waterfall's historical significance as a regional energy source.

Waterfall Hike

✅ Before you go: 
• Ideally start your hike by 10 a.m. You’ll want enough time to refuel with lunch after, and the only other train rides of the day are offered in the early afternoon
• The Snoqualmie Falls Trail is 1.4 miles RT, but if you’re not feeling up for the trek (no judgment!), opt for the Snoqualmie Falls Lower Trail. The trailhead to the Lower Trail is located a few minutes down the road from the main trailhead, and it’s a 0.4-mile RT hike on primarily flat ground. Both portions of the trail are open year-round
• The hike is not accessible for everyone as there are stairs without a ramp near the end of the trail
• If you don’t like getting wet, pack a raincoat. There’s almost always a misty breeze at the base!
• If you’re bringing a four-legged friend, make sure to bring a required leash

🚗 Transportation:
• ~35 minute drive from Seattle

💪 Pro tip:
• Read the signs along the trail that mention the area’s native wildlife and their Lushootseed (the spoken language of Puget Sound Salish tribes like the Snoqualmie Tribe) names! You’ll see ferns, salmonberry, vine maple, western hemlock and more. You’ll also find signage explaining the waterfall’s history as an energy source for the Seattle area

Hike 1.4 miles RT to the base of Snoqualmie Falls

Enjoy delicious meals at Salish Lodge & Spa, featuring warm biscuits and signature honey drizzle. Make reservations to experience their popular dining room.

Lodge Dining

✅ Before you go: Make a reservation…
• Brunch is served from 8 a.m.-1 p.m., and lunch is served 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
• If you’re not a guest at Salish Lodge, you’ll need a reservation to dine at their restaurant The Dining Room. You can make your reservation online: salishlodge.com/dining
• Make sure to book your reservation at least a few days in advance, as Saturdays and Sundays fill up in the days leading up to the weekend
• If you don’t secure a reso, The Attic at Salish Lodge accepts walk-ins! The Attic is a relaxed atmosphere that serves light fare and drinks, but you can also order dishes from The Dining Room. The Attic opens at 2 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays and 1 p.m. Fridays-Sundays

🚶‍♀️ + 🚗 Transportation:
• If you hiked the Lower Trail: 5 minute 🚗 from Snoqualmie Falls Lower Trail to Salish Lodge
• If you hiked the entire Snoqualmie Falls Trail: 5 minute 🚶‍♀️ from Snoqualmie Falls trailhead to Salish Lodge (parking for the trailhead is located right next to Salish Lodge!) 

💪 Pro tip:
• The Dining Room’s cocktail menu is currently 100% fall-flavored and 100% delicious! If you like 🍎, try the Apple Smash, made with flavors like apple cinnamon vodka, spiced apple cider and lemon. Check out their lunch menu to peek at the rest of the drinks
• Every meal at The Dining Room includes warm biscuits and butter, plus a choice of Salish Lodge’s Honey From Heaven. This sky-high drizzle of honey tradition started in 1916 to represent the Snoqualmie Falls, and the 🍯 is made from the lodge’s own honeybees!

Grab a bite to eat at Salish Lodge & Spa

Enjoy a picturesque steam train ride through Snoqualmie Valley, with stops at the Northwest Railway Museum's exhibit hall and historic depots.

Scenic Train Ride

✅ Before you go:
• Buy your tickets: Train tickets are $30 per adult (ages 13-61), $25 per senior (age 62+) and $15 per child (2-12). Make sure to purchase your tickets online before you catch the train. You can print them out or show them on your phone. If you print your tickets, they’ll punch a hole through them like in Polar Express!
• You can board the train at either the Snoqualmie Depot or the North Bend Depot (located about 5 minutes up the road from the Snoqualmie Depot, which is located in historic downtown Snoqualmie). When you purchase your tickets, make sure to pay attention to where your train boards!
• The train ride is the same no matter which location you board at. You’ll make a stop at the Snoqualmie Depot and the North Bend Depot for passengers to board and get off, plus stops at the Northwest Railway Museum’s exhibit hall and the edge of the Snoqualmie Valley. Make sure to get off at the stop you boarded at!

❗️ April through October, the train runs on Saturdays and Sundays only. November through March, the train runs on Saturdays only

🚗 Transportation:
• 5 minutes from Salish Lodge to the Snoqualmie Depot or 10 minutes to the North Bend Depot (depending on where your 🚂 boards from!)

💪 Pro tip:
• If you’re in a window seat on the side of the train facing Snoqualmie Falls when you pass by, try to catch a peek of the 🌈 in between the trees the waterfall makes on a sunny day!

Hop on a Northwest Railway Museum steam train ride through the Snoqualmie Valley

Here's your Nudge plan for a scenic Snoqualmie Valley day trip,

where you'll hike alongside a river to a waterfall,

refuel with lunch right above the falls, and then

hop on a steam train ride through the valley.

Start by hiking down to the base of the Snoqualmie Falls.

This stunning waterfall is named after the tribe who

considers it to be the place of humanity's origin.

Next head up to the lodge perched right above the falls.

the yummiest part of this day trip is just around the corner,

biscuits are served at every meal, paired with the lodge's famous honey from heaven,

a dollop of sky high honey representing the Snoqualmie Falls.

The lunch at Salish lodge is incredible, but it's not even the best part.

You seriously can't beat this view, cheers!

head down the road and catch a classic vintage steam train for a scenic ride

you've always wished you could take a train ride that resembles

the Hogwarts Express and this Nudge makes dreams come true

it felt like Harry Potter himself was going to sit down right next to me.

The train literally stops on the edge of the

Snoqualmie Valley, over 400 ft above the ground.

This is the view people saw 100 years ago when they came to Snoqualmie by train.

The two hour train ride includes multiple stops so you can stretch

your legs and check out the Northwest Railway Museum's exhibit hall.

All you have to do to make it happen is text

this video to a friend and book your train tickets asap!

Head to West Seattle for a sip and paint date night thanks to Stir Up the Paint. Whether you’re a little artistic or not at all, their step-by-step guidance will help you create a masterpiece!

Here's your plan for a fun sip and paint night in West Seattle, creating art together

🍷 Sip & Paint Date Night 🎨

Explore various art options and secure your spot for a Sip & Paint night via Stir Up the Paint in Seattle.

Sip & Paint

✅ Before you go
• Stir Up the Paint offers a wide variety of dates and times (and locations!) for you to choose from, so head to their website to find the painting that inspires you and snag your tickets: https://wa.stirupthepaint.com.

💪 Pro tips
• There are several options for an afternoon or night of painting fun, so be sure to keep an eye on the descriptions to ensure you’re picking an event that matches your vibe. 
• The Sip & Paint night that we went to cost $55/person and included up to two glasses of wine. Other events might be hosted at pubs and don’t include alcohol in the ticket. 

Pick the art you want to recreate & grab your tickets!

Head to Alki Arts in West Seattle for a creative sip & paint night. Wear casual attire and enjoy easy parking and nearby shops.

Painting Class

✅ Before you go
• Make sure you wear an outfit you don’t mind getting a little paint on! 
• Have fun and enjoy the process as you learn to craft your masterpiece!

💪 Pro tips
• Parking at Alki Arts was incredibly easy. If we had arrived with more time, it would have been great to walk around the block because it looked like there were a few cute shops to explore!

Head to Alki Arts in West Seattle & let’s get painting! 🎨👩‍🎨

but this sip and paint night with Stir Up the Paint made me feel

like, maybe just maybe, I might have an artistic bone in my body.

So head to Alki Arts in West Seattle with me to become an artist for the night.

Alki Arts was an incredible venue filled with beautiful,

inspiring artwork from true professionals that had me in awe.

We took a look at the painting we were going to attempt to create,

then grabbed a glass of wine before class started.

It was incredible just how quickly every brush stroke filled the canvas and

began to transform a blank slate into a surprisingly passable piece of artwork.

was encouraging and helped each of us feel empowered

and confident as we worked through the details

to create our Lighthouse at Sunset masterpieces.

Sip your way through five iconic bars and speakeasies in a historic Seattle neighborhood. 

Here's your plan for exploring Belltown's cocktail bars, starting at the State Hotel. Enjoy

🍸Explore Belltown’s best cocktail bars 🍸

Start your exploration of Belltown's cocktail scene at the State Hotel by meeting your guide.

Cocktail Bar Tour

✅ Before you go
• Attempting to park downtown can be atrocious, I recommend taking the Seattle Link — the State Hotel is less than a 10 minute walk from the Westlake station. 
• Learn more about the tour and book your ticket here: https://fareharbor.com/embeds/book/savor-seattle-tours/items/616675/calendar/2025/04/?full-items=yes&back=https://www.savorseattletours.com/&gclid=CjwKCAjwzMi_BhACEiwAX4YZUMM17PZ8bBDV9IPGX55g8hteLv4vPrywolA9v-Wcfpo6aw4DZfo9IRoCSHIQAvD_BwE&g4=yes


💪 Pro tips
• Wear comfortable shoes as there is a bit of walking involved. 
• I met so many great, kind people on my tour! I encourage you to say hello and make friends :) 
• I recommend getting to the State Hotel about 15 minutes early so you can get settled in and use the restroom, if needed! (I recommend using the restroom beforehand since you only get a set amount of time to enjoy your drink at each bar).
• You probably passed a ton of restaurants on your tour — consider getting dinner at one of them! My friend and I decided to split pasta at Limoncello and it was delicious! 

Meet your tour guide at the State Hotel

If you're looking for a unique way to explore Belltown,

you should definitely take this cocktail tour.

Savor Seattle's Craft Cocktail & Mocktail Tour starts at the State Hotel.

It lasts anywhere between 2 to 2.5 hours,

your guide will bring you to 5 different bars or speakeasies through Belltown.

At each spot you'll get about a half drink pour,

I was so excited to see that they offered mocktails.

And just because I don't want to spoil the tour for you,

I won't tell you everywhere our tour guide, Judson, took us.

So Judson is an absolutely insane storyteller,

and of course every cocktail has a story.

After breaking down the concept behind the drink as well as the ingredients,

Even though I've been in Seattle for about 5 years at this point,

Not only was I introduced to new places that

I'm so excited to bring my friends back to,

but I also learned a lot about Seattle's fascinating history.

It was also just fun being able to explore Belltown because

for some reason I don't go down there that often.

This was such a great way to spend my afternoon

and I love being a tourist in my own city.

Head downtown for a delicious dinner with sourdough pasta and a hilarious improv comedy show hosted by Unexpected Productions.

Here's your plan for a fun evening: light rail to dinner, then improv comedy show

🍽️ Downtown Dinner & Improv Comedy Show 🎭 

Start your downtown adventure at Mountlake Terrace by catching the light rail to Symphony Station, ideal for reaching central Seattle without the hassle of parking.

Light Rail Travel

✅ Before you go
• Parking in downtown Seattle is a nightmare, so we opted to hop on the light rail at Mountlake Terrace. It’s a short walk from Symphony Station for some good eats and great laughs.

💪 Pro tips
• Be sure to check the light rail schedule! We caught the second to last train home after the show, so there are definitely options, but they might not be there if you head to grab drinks after the show!

Take the light rail to Symphony Station 🚉 

At Von's 1000 Spirits, savor sourdough pasta and sip on drinks. No reservations on weekends, so plan for a potential wait for your delicious dining experience.

Sourdough Pasta Dinner

✅ Before you go
• Von’s doesn’t take reservations on the weekends, so make sure you give yourself enough time to enjoy dinner and drinks before the show, just in case there’s a wait! 

💪 Pro tips
• If you have to wait for your table, there are some steps right next to the restaurant that have a beautiful view. Take a walk and enjoy until you get the text that your table is ready!

Grab sourdough pasta and drinks at Von’s 1000 Spirits 🥂

Explore the iconic Seattle Gum Wall to find Unexpected Productions' improv theater. Enjoy interactive, hilarious Theatresports shows. Seating is open, so arrive early!

Improv Comedy Show

✅ Before you go
• The famous Seattle Gum Wall has a hidden secret… it’s where the Unexpected Productions theater is located!
• Grab tickets online at https://www.unexpectedproductions.org/.
• We attended the Theatresports show, and it was an absolute blast!

💪 Pro tips
• Raise your hand to make any suggestions to help create a unique show for you and your friends!
• It’s open seating, so don’t show up too late if you’re with a group in order to make sure you’ll all be able to sit next to each other!

Head to the Gum Wall to Find the Theater! 🎭 

and come with me to laugh yourself hoarse

during an Unexpected Productions improv comedy show.

We hopped on the light rail at Mountlake Terrace because

the theater and dinner are a quick walk from Symphony Station.

you'll grab dinner and drinks at Von’s 1000 Spirits.

Their sourdough pasta was well worth every bite.

you'll find the entrance to the comedy show

We attended Unexpected Productions theater sports show,

where two improv teams compete to be the best and funniest of the night.

There are even judges that somehow managed to

keep their faces expressionless throughout the entire performance.

suggestions because the show is very interactive.

Unexpected Productions is sure to have a show that will get you LOLing in real life.

Grab your friends (or just yourself) to try your hand at wheel throwing at Silken Ceramics — no experience needed!

Here's your plan for a fun pottery class at Silken Ceramics—wheel throwing and creativity await

A step-by-step pottery class for beginners

Explore wheel throwing at Silken Ceramics in Seattle. No experience needed to make pottery in a fun and supportive environment.

Pottery Class

✅ Before you go
• Silken Ceramics offers several different classes, which you can view and sign up for here: https://silkenceramics.com/pages/classes
• As an overview, the “Day of Clay” teaches you how to center clay, create a cylinder, and form it into a cup or bowl. 
• You can pick up your finished work 2-3 weeks after the class.
• There is lots of street parking around the studio — my friend and I had zero issues finding a spot. 
• You don’t need to have any experience prior to taking the course! The instructor will walk you through the whole process.

💪 Pro tips
• Working with clay gets messy! Make sure to wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty.
• Don’t be afraid to ask the instructors questions — that’s what they are there for! 
• Did you have fun? Consider getting a membership so you can continue practicing your new skill!
• This class is great to do on your own or with a group of friends — I saved the class for a rainy day!

Head over to Silken Ceramics! 

It's been a while since I've taken one and I thought

it would be a great way to spend my afternoon.

So I headed over to Silken Ceramics to take their day of clay class,

Day of Clay is a really great way to try out

the pottery wheel without committing to an eight week course.

the instructor then took us over to the wheel

where she showed us how to prep our space,

it was then my turn to try out for myself.

And even though I've taken a couple of ceramics classes in my life,

But that's OK because the instructors were there

to help me every step of the way and answer any questions I had.

My friend decided to make a plate for her cat and I ended up with

this cup that I'm so excited about because I think it turned out really well.

and then I was faced with the hard decision of which piece I wanted to keep,

My friend and I had so much fun doing this,

and we can't wait to see how our pieces turned out when we picked them up.