How to Plan a Fall Getaway in Snohomish County
When you think about fall in Washington, you probably picture colorful leaves, pumpkin patches, and a cozy weekend somewhere outside the city. But what if you could add historic towns, good food, wine tasting, a stay inside a former school, AND whale watching?
Beautiful people, that’s the kind of trip we had exploring Snohomish County!
We spent a few days visiting different communities throughout the county, and every stop gave us something different. One minute, we were browsing antiques. The next, we were getting competitive at a farm. And somehow, we ended up seeing both orcas and gray whales on the same boat trip.
If you’re looking for a fall getaway near Seattle, here’s how we explored Snohomish County and the experiences we’d recommend adding to your own trip.
About Snohomish County
Located just north of Seattle, Snohomish County stretches from the shores of Puget Sound toward the Cascade Mountains. That variety is part of what makes it so fun to explore.
You’re visiting a collection of cities, towns, and communities, each with its own personality. You can enjoy a historic downtown, spend time along the waterfront, or find a cozy place to settle in for the weekend.
For this visit, we explored Snohomish, Bothell, Everett, and Edmonds, with a little detour into neighboring Woodinville. More on that later!
Historic Snohomish: Antique Shopping and a Good Sandwich
Our exploration included the city that shares the county’s name: Snohomish.
Snohomish was once the county seat before Everett took over that role. Today, walking through downtown still gives you a feel for the city’s early history. Its historic district, established in 1973, helps preserve the buildings that give the area so much character.
Those historic storefronts also house something Snohomish has become particularly well known for: antiques.
A LOT of antiques.
Known as the “Antique Capital of the Northwest,” downtown Snohomish has shops filled with vintage furniture, collectibles, and unexpected finds. Even if you don’t have anything specific on your shopping list, browsing is part of the experience.
And once you’ve worked up an appetite, we recommend stopping at Heidi’s Sandwichboard on First Street.
The restaurant is owned by Snohomish locals with extensive culinary experience, and its menu features savory dishes made with locally sourced ingredients. But we’re going to simplify all of that for you: the sandwiches were really GOOD.
Historic buildings, antique shopping, and a delicious lunch made downtown Snohomish an enjoyable stop on our fall trip.
Where to Stay: McMenamins Anderson School in Bothell
Have you ever stayed overnight inside a former school?
We have now, and McMenamins Anderson School in Bothell was one of the most memorable parts of this trip.
The original Bothell junior high opened in 1931. Today, the property has been transformed into a hotel with 72 guest rooms, restaurants, bars, a movie theater, a swimming pool, and gathering spaces throughout the grounds.
And they kept plenty of the school’s personality. You’ll find spaces with names like the Principal’s Office and Woodshop, artwork throughout the property, and reminders of the building’s past around almost every corner.
After spending a few days here, we came to one conclusion: this place feels like a resort.
You could check in for a weekend and barely leave the property. Between the food, entertainment, and places to hang out, there’s plenty to enjoy without getting back in your car.
BUT, you should leave at least long enough to explore more of Bothell. Especially when there’s good food nearby.
Where to Eat in Bothell: The Cottage
One of our favorite meals in Bothell was at The Cottage, a downtown café, bistro, and cocktail bar.
The restaurant focuses on scratch-made food and seasonal ingredients, and its cozy atmosphere fit our fall getaway perfectly.
Good food, a comfortable place to settle in, and fall in Washington? You see where we’re going with this.
If you’re staying at Anderson School, The Cottage is a great reason to venture beyond the property and spend some time downtown.
Exploring Everett: Art and Waterfront Dining
Everett is Snohomish County’s current county seat, and it’s a city we’ve explored before on TWB.
For this trip, we returned to APEX Everett, home to the DogTown Collection, an extensive collection of original graffiti art on canvas. There had been changes since our previous visit, which gave us another reason to stop by and see what was new.
If you enjoy art, APEX is worth including in your Everett plans. It gives you a different kind of experience from the historic storefronts, farms, and waterfront stops elsewhere on this trip.
When it’s time to eat, we also recommend The Net Shed at the Port of Everett waterfront.
Think Pacific Northwest seafood, including fish and chips, lobster rolls, seafood tacos, and clam chowder. It’s a good stop to pair with some time exploring the waterfront.
Three Experiences to Add to Your Fall Trip
The cities gave us plenty to explore, but we came during fall for a reason. These three experiences helped make the trip especially memorable.
1. Wine Tasting at Chateau Ste. Michelle
Okay, we’re cheating a little with this recommendation.
Chateau Ste. Michelle is in Woodinville, in neighboring King County. So yes, we stepped outside Snohomish County for this stop. But it was part of our trip, and we enjoyed it enough to include it as a nearby addition to your getaway.
The estate combines wine tasting, beautiful grounds, and Washington wine history. We also took a class to learn how you’re SUPPOSED to taste wine.
Apparently, there’s more to it than taking a sip and saying, “Yep. That’s good.”
We learned to look at the wine, smell it, and pay closer attention to what we were tasting. Did Anthony leave convinced he was a sommelier? Possibly.
Did Marlie agree? Absolutely not.
Whether you already enjoy wine or want to learn more about it, a tasting class adds something different to a fall weekend.
2. Pumpkin Patches, Apples, and Games at Swans Trail Farms
Now, back into Snohomish County proper.
Because what would a fall getaway be without a pumpkin patch?
Swans Trail Farms gave us the classic Washington fall experience. The Krause family has owned and operated the farm since 1984, and its Harvest Festival brings together pumpkins, apples, a corn maze, hayrides, animals, food, and games.
Highlights from our visit included:
A 50-acre pumpkin patch.
A five-acre U-pick apple orchard.
A Washington State corn maze.
Hayrides and farm animals.
Food and games that brought out our competitive side.
And by “our competitive side,” Marlie would probably say Anthony’s.
There was plenty here to turn us into children again. Whether you’re visiting as a couple, with friends, or with family, this is a stop where you’ll want to give yourself time to enjoy the activities.
3. Whale Watching from Edmonds
Our final fall recommendation might surprise you. It certainly surprised us.
We headed out from Edmonds with Puget Sound Express for a whale-watching trip through the Salish Sea. Our approximately four-and-a-half-hour outing included indoor seating, outdoor viewing decks, lunch, and a naturalist who helped us understand what we were seeing.
Within minutes of leaving Edmonds, we spotted orcas.
A whole pod.
Watching them move through the water was already enough to make this one of our favorite experiences of the trip. But later, we heard that two gray whales had been spotted, so we headed out to look for them.
And we found them.
Seeing orcas AND gray whales on the same outing was something we weren’t expecting. That was our experience, and wildlife sightings will vary, but we loved the chance to get out on the water and learn more about the animals of the Salish Sea.
Spend More Time in Edmonds: Downtown and Fire & The Feast
Once you’re back on land, don’t rush out of Edmonds.
We’ve visited before on TWB, and its walkable downtown is filled with shops, art, and restaurants. Edmonds is also Washington’s first Certified Creative District, making it a great place to leave time for exploring.
For dinner, we recommend Fire & The Feast.
The Italian and Mediterranean restaurant combines seasonal Pacific Northwest ingredients with pastas, pizzas, salads, and rotating dishes. After spending the day on the water, sitting down to a delicious dinner was a great way to wrap up our Edmonds visit.
You definitely have to try this food for yourself!
Final Tips for a Fall Getaway in Snohomish County
Here are a few takeaways from our trip to help you plan your own:
Explore more than one community. Snohomish, Bothell, Everett, and Edmonds each gave us a different experience.
Choose a stay you’ll enjoy spending time at. McMenamins Anderson School had enough on-site activities to be part of the trip itself.
Give the farm its own time. Between pumpkins, apples, the maze, and games, Swans Trail Farms offered plenty to keep us busy.
Check seasonal schedules and booking details. Farm activities, wine classes, and whale-watching departures may require advance planning.
Leave room for the food. Heidi’s Sandwichboard, The Cottage, The Net Shed, and Fire & The Feast were all part of what made this getaway so enjoyable.
What surprised us most was how many different experiences we could have in one trip. Historic downtowns, art, cozy restaurants, a former school turned hotel, classic fall activities, and whales out in the Salish Sea all gave us reasons to recommend visiting.
So yes, beautiful people, Snohomish County makes a strong case for a fall getaway.
When you go, tell ’em TWB sent ya! And let us know which experience you’d try first, or whether you’d be interested in TWB putting together a tour here.
Until next time, stay up, stay true, and do you!
