Sea to Sky: River Valleys in Autumn

Fall foliage explodes up and down the Highway 2 corridor, igniting the foothills of the Cascades with autumnal hues. Boom! Deciduous trees and blue-green conifers.

Autumn is arguably the best time of year to explore the small towns of the Skykomish and Snohomish River Valleys. Tiny coffee shops, breweries, and old-timey buildings all framed by autumn leaves is just what you need to feel the season right.

Snohomish

Start your day with coffee at Looking Glass Coffee. The interior decor will immediately give you an idea of what Snohomish is all about: vintage decor, quality brew, and a slower pace with larger booths making an atmosphere for lingering and chatting.

Once you’re fully caffeinated, spend the day walking First Street to peruse boutiques. Thrifting in this town is an epic treasure-hunting experience as you search for vintage finds and antiques to squirrel home in your luggage.

While in town you must absolutely visit the Centennial Trail for walking, bicycling, and leaf viewing. This is a 40-mile trail that follows the route of an old railroad bed. Treat yourself as you stroll past parks, leaves, and horse farms.

A man with glasses and a hat is intently looking at vinyl records, immersed in the joy of discovering music.

Monroe

Eat lunch or catch dinner at Lewis & Main. Their seasonal farm to table menu is always in flux, but you’re likely to find fall treats like mushrooms, orchard-fresh apples, and squash prepared in ways that will delight and dazzle. BTW, their honey-glazed fried cornbread will ruin all future cornbread for you by virtue its sheer deliciousness.

Walk down Lewis Street to check out Al Borlin Park for leaf walk along the river. Towering big leaf maples create a canopy of fall hues. The experience feels like you stepped right into an oversaturated 35mm film photograph from 1973. Did we mention the colors?

The colors!

Overview and Additional Days of the Itinerary