Though they’re spreading fast, Seattle’s suburbs haven’t yet reached the tidy Victorian town of Snohomish (pop. 8,535), a century-old former logging center that lines the north bank of the Snohomish River, 25 miles upstream from Puget Sound. Six blocks of well-preserved warehouses and commercial buildings stand along First Street, across the river from a whining old sawmill, while the blocks above hold dozens of charming homes and quite a few impressively steepled churches. One of these old homes has been restored and now houses the Blackman Museum (daily in summer, weekends only in winter; $1; 360/568-5235). Located at 118 Avenue B, the museum features period-style furnishings and displays on the town’s early history. The range of antique shops, taverns, and cafés in the historic center has made Snohomish a popular day-trip from Seattle, but the town has maintained an admirable balance of history and commerce, and is well worth a short stop if you’re passing by.
Around Snohomish, the old US-2 road has been replaced by a four-lane freeway that loops around to the north, so follow signs for the “historic center.”
