Lake Sammamish State Park
Lake Sammamish State Park is full of incredible scenery and fun activities that will keep you busy all day! This 531-acre park features two lakefront beaches, trails that take you through the forest and the wetlands, a picnic area, and a playground.
You can take a boat out on the lake to spend some much-needed quality time with the family, enjoy the gorgeous views, and soak in the sun. There are also rentals for water sports activities like kayaking and paddleboards available at Tibbetts Beach. Fishing is also allowed on the lake as long as you have a recreational license to do so; just make sure you’re in an area that is not overpopulated with other guests enjoying the water.
The hiking trails can be used for bikes or walking and are a combination of paved walkways, gravel, and dirt trails. You can enjoy the beautiful natural surroundings and immerse yourself in plant and animal wildlife. Maybe you’ll even get the chance to see one of the great blue herons or bald eagles that are native to the area!
Need a break from hiking and being on the lake? Settle down and enjoy lunch in the picnic area. You can either pack a lunch, use the kitchen shelter to cook your meal, or head to the concessions area for some snacks. When you’re done eating, you can lounge on the beach while your kids have fun on the brand-new state-of-the-art play structure. The picnic area also has a sandy volleyball court, although you have to provide your own ball and net.
Dogs are allowed on the beach while on a leash but are not permitted on designated swim beaches.
Friends of Issaquah Salmon Hatchery
The Issaquah Salmon Hatchery was built to restore the historic salmon runs that had been destroyed by coal mining, logging, and other human activities throughout the years. Taking your family to spend a day at the hatchery gives you bonding time as well as educational opportunities. This is also a great place to come back to since there are different experiences for the different seasons.
Fall is the most active time for salmon since it’s when adults migrate back to the hatchery. During this time of year, you will get to see salmon build their nests as well as spawn, which is how the hatchery extracts the eggs and milt from the fish. This process may not be the best for small children to see, so if your kids are really young, you may want to book your trip for one of the other seasons. Winter is when the newly fertilized eggs begin to hatch. They keep a sample of the eggs out on display so you can watch how these fish break out from their eggs to start their new life. Spring is when the new salmon are released into Issaquah Creek. You will get to watch these young fish be put into the wild for the first time. In the summer, the fish that were spawned in the fall start to get older, so you can watch them being fed. The summer is also the best time to visit the hatchery’s native plant garden and wetlands. There are also rainbow trout on display at the hatchery year-round.
In addition to the salmon and trout, the hatchery has beautiful wetlands, native plant gardens, and exhibits for you to enjoy. These exhibits include Against the Odds, which gives you a look into the harsh odds that salmon face from hatching to being out on their own, the aquarium, where you can get a sneak peek into the underwater life that salmon live in, and the Salmon Life Cycle, which takes you through every stage of a salmon's life.
Cougar Mountain Zoo
A zoo is always an excellent place for a family outing. Not only do you get to spend time together, but you also get to observe and learn about various animals at the same time, and The Cougar Mountain Zoo is the perfect place to do that. Along with the non-profit organization the Zoological Society of Washington, they are dedicated to increasing the understanding and appreciation of the earth’s wildlife and the role we play in nature through education, conservation, propagation, and exhibition.
The zoo was initially founded in 1972 with a specific focus on endangered species and education. It’s home to a variety of animals like cougars, Bengal tigers, gray wolves, Siberian reindeer, lemurs, alpacas, wallabies, cranes, macaws, and emus. Many of the animals were born in captivity, so they don’t have a fear of humans, allowing you an in-depth look into their lives and habitats. They even offer special education programs like Zoo2U and Close Encounters, which give you extra information and behind-the-scenes looks at the animals. Each activity specializes in different animals within the zoo, so you can pick whichever one you and your family are interested in or come back multiple times to learn about them all.
The zoo is open from January to November, Wednesday through Sunday from 9:30 am to 5 pm. You will need to call and ask about their days and times during the month of December. They have a special Reindeer Festival in December with the exception of Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's Eve. From December 1st to December 23rd, the festival will be open from 10:30 am to 4 pm (or until dusk), and from December 26th to December 30th from 10:30 am to 3:30 pm. The zoo is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve, and New Year's Day. Tickets are $15.50 for 13 and up, $14.50 for seniors, and $12.50 for children ages 2 to 12. Children under the age of 2 get in for free. There are also memberships available that cost $75 a year for a single person, $105 a year for two people, and $135 a year for a family of 3, with an additional $25 for each additional family member. You can also get a lifetime membership for a family of 4 for $1,689 with an additional $300 for each additional family member. You can fill out the membership form via their website.
Issaquah Depot Museum
The city’s train depot was built in 1889, when the city was still known as Gilman, as a passenger station for the Seattle, Lake Shore, Eastern Railway, and freight warehouse. It was used as a passenger station up until the 1940s when the building was abandoned. The city bought the station in 1984 and, after spending years restoring it, reopened it as a museum. The Issaquah Depot Museum showcases the history of the railway through exhibits, which explore the Industrial Revolution, travel, communication, and the early economic development of Issaquah. Many of the displays also offer interactive components that will be sure to have your kids excited to learn and explore. The grounds include a restored caboose and an army car with a model train.
Through the museum, you will learn about the rich culture and history of this Washington town and how it evolved throughout the years. You can also request a personal tour for you and your family, where a guide will take you through the museum and provide interesting facts and information you wouldn’t get otherwise. The tours can also be scheduled for a school as a field trip. The Depot also operates the Valley Trolley, which runs from the museum to Gilman Boulevard.
The museum is open Friday through Sunday from 11 am to 3 pm and by appointment Monday through Thursday. You can also request special appointments outside regular hours on Friday and Saturday. Tickets can be booked via Eventbrite. Adult tickets are $5, kids four and over are $3, and kids under three get in for free. You can also choose to purchase a year-round membership. The museum takes about 2 hours to get through, and all tickets are non-refundable. Due to COVID-19, masks are required at all times while inside the building.
If you’re interested in Washington real estate, contact Shannon Campbell to book your appointment today, and while you’re there, make sure to check out some of the places on this list and see all that Issaquah has to offer!