Day Trip: Snohomish Antique Shops
When my parents were in town we took a day trip from Seattle to Snohomish to do some antiquing and explore the city.
Snohomish is a quaint city situated about 40 minutes north of Seattle amidst farm land, a skiving jump site and the Snohomish River.
This is a darling shopping district full of unique vintage shops, antiques, restaurants, pubs, coffee shops and gift shops. Over 150 shops in buildings up to 150 years old are located next to the Snohomish river and strolling through the streets and shops makes for a perfect day trip experience.
In the Historic Downtown District of Snohomish, First Street is the happening area when it comes to vintage and antique goods. I recommend starting off at the Visitor Center on 1st and Avenue D. There, the volunteer staff provides helpful information about the area, maps and restaurant recommendations.
With more than 175 antique dealers this could be considered the Antique Capital of the Northwest.
If you are looking for a large assortment of goods and multiple dealers, be sure to stop by Antique Station at Victoria Village, and Star Center Mall.
I tend to like more vintage shops than actual antiques because they are more affordable and emphasize the styling and decor of the shop. Some of my favorites are Ruffles and Rust Square (pictured to the right), Sweet Bee, Faded Elegance, and Joy Works.
We stopped for lunch at the Cabbage Patch Restaurant where they were still serving brunch. Since it was nice out we enjoyed our meal on the patio where we could listen to live music playing at a nearby bar. The inside is wonderfully decorated in a Victorian era fashion with each room making you feel right at home. Here, good ol' home cookin' is served by a friendly staff. Must try: Pecan Pie.
There really is something for every "junker's" taste here. Whether you are hunting for furniture, clothing, children's toys or old tools you will find it. There are even several taxidermy sections.
For an afternoon snack, swing by Simply Sweet Cupcakes and try the Maple Bacon cupcake. Yum!
Before we knew it, we were starving again from all the hard shopping. We ended up at Picadilly Circus, a delightful English-style pub. Multiple soccer games were playing on the televisions, and the beer choices were numerous. After stuffing ourselves with bangers and mash and Reubens, we walked back along the river to the packed car and crammed in along next to all of the fun ,"new to us" purchases of the day and headed back to Seattle.
Some of the treasures we discovered included old water skis, a lit metal star and a tiny glass angel.
Things to know: Most of the shops close by 5 each day so arrive early to avoid missing out on a new treasure.
For more information contact Historic Downtown Snohomish: www.historicdowntownsnohomish.org
