Pumpkins, Pedaling and Pie: A Perfect Fall Day in Snohomish

I first discovered Snohomish’s charm more than 10 years ago, when I pedaled through the town with two friends on a Seattle-to-Bellingham bike ride (ah, those pre-kid days). We browsed the antique stores and cafés in the compact historic district, admired the Snohomish River, which rolled alongside First Street, and ate delish cinnamon rolls at the Snohomish Bakery.

Things have changed since then: I’ve got a husband and son in tow, but the town of Snohomish, just a 40-minute drive from Seattle, still delivers — especially in the fall. Want to pick pumpkins and apples at the same farm? Browse for a vintage typewriter? Bike through fall color? Snohomish is your answer. Here’s a starter itinerary.

1. Fuel up

Pile your crew — and bikes — in the car for the hop to Snohomish and park on First Street in the heart of the historic district (listed on the National Register of Historic Places). First task: Fuel up on your carb of choice. We love the friendly Snohomish Bakery, which sells pastries, ham-and-gruyere croissants, and biscuits and gravy. Just across the street, Looking Glass Coffee welcomes families with plush couches, excellent coffee and a doughnut machine.

Nearby bonus: With pastry in hand, wander the short but scenic pedestrian path alongside the lovely Snohomish River, where you might see boats cruising and fisher-folk throwing a line in. Find stairs down to the river at several points along First Street.

2. Scout some antiques

Need a vintage typewriter, a 1950s-era school desk or a 1970s-era pinball machine? You’ll find these items and much more in one of the many antique shops in downtown Snohomish, such as the Antique Station in Victoria Village. Other fun stops include My Eclectic Home and a host of other boutiques.

Nearby bonus: Just a long block up from the historic district, Uppercase Bookshop on Second Street is a two-story book paradise set in a log-cabin-style building that sells both new and used titles. Don’t miss owner Leah McNatt’s cool collection of clocks from fantastical lands such as Oz and Narnia.

3. Take a spin on the Centennial Trail

While Seattle’s Burke Gilman trail can feel more like a highway than a bike path, the Centennial Trail — a 29-mile rail-trail route that starts in Snohomish and runs north to the Skagit County line — feels enchantingly quiet and scenic. It’s the perfect path for a short family ride. Park at the senior center (this is the official Centennial Trail parking in town) and pedal north. The trail winds at an easy grade through farmland and over bridges. The Pilchuck (2.1 miles) or Machias trailheads (4.8 miles) are potential turnaround spots. Download a trail map for more options.

Nearby bonus: Too drizzly to bike? Swim instead. Just a few blocks from the trail, the Snohomish Aquatic Center is a 52,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility with a lazy river, zero-entry area, splash play, huge water slide and a FlowRider, a surf-simulation machine that is the only one of its kind in the Seattle area. (Note, kids have to be at least 42 inches tall to try it.)

4. Pumpkins, corn mazes and apples, oh my!

The farmland surrounding Snohomish, as you probably know, is abundant with farms that bustle with activity in the fall with a huge array of family attractions. Just outside town, hit Stocker Farms for pumpkins and a corn maze, plus its nighttime haunted attractions, Stalker Farms (get it?). A few miles northwest of town find the kid paradise that is the Swans Trail Farms, complete with tractor rides, U-pick pumpkins and apples, a Washington-themed corn maze and duck races. Craven Farm, a few miles south of Snohomish, is especially good for tots, with a play yard of vintage farm equipment that kids can climb on, as well as a corn maze and more. (Bonus: Craven allows dogs on two special dates; otherwise, like most pumpkin patches, pooches are not allowed.)

Nearby bonus: If you prefer hiking on trails rather than in a corn maze, lace up your boots at Lord Hill Regional Park, a best-kept-secret nature wonderland that’s just a few miles outside of town. Or, if your family would rather bond over mini golf, check out the 18-hole course at Snohomish Valley Golf Center, just outside town.

5. Nosh on

Ready for lunch or dinner? Right in town, Roger’s Riverview Bistro features a children’s menu with some kiddie favorites. Casual Grilla Bites offers tasty and healthy lunch items in a kid-friendly atmosphere. Fred’s Rivertown Alehouse pairs vintage décor your grandma would love with a foodie-worthy menu. And just outside of town, win kid kudos at the Buzz Inn Steakhouse, which sits right next to Harvey Airfield. Watch small aircraft take off and land while you dine. The airfield is also home to a skydiving school.

Nearby bonus: Snohomish Pie Co., also on First Street, dishes out hefty slices of award-winning pie and cookies. Don’t miss it.

Editor’s note: This article was originally published in 2017 and updated for fall 2022.