Your Ideal Weekend in Monroe
Let the adventures begin!
Monroe, Washington is your jumping-off point for weekend adventures along Highway 2 and surrounding areas.
Lodge in Monroe and you have access to it all: river, farmland, forested hills, mountains, and a walkable downtown.
Here are your best bets for a weekend in Monroe.
![](https://snohomish.imgix.net/images/archive/210303_Choose_Monroe_6164.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=ea323b021cbe31b42109f95850fb9fbe 320w, https://snohomish.imgix.net/images/archive/210303_Choose_Monroe_6164.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=2b14008ccf708898cd3ac347726d331c 540w, https://snohomish.imgix.net/images/archive/210303_Choose_Monroe_6164.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=932dfb3efb913d8ca282d5487eb11e65 768w, https://snohomish.imgix.net/images/archive/210303_Choose_Monroe_6164.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=653a3522535a090d1c8daa90f673b3a9 1024w, https://snohomish.imgix.net/images/archive/210303_Choose_Monroe_6164.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=b4dfedabe884f249f39f76455fa05bb1 1200w, https://snohomish.imgix.net/images/archive/210303_Choose_Monroe_6164.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=057220e8a77debd3640bc4772313461b 1440w, https://snohomish.imgix.net/images/archive/210303_Choose_Monroe_6164.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=f94bf342124dcc5a54a7a28d84eb82bd 1920w, https://snohomish.imgix.net/images/archive/210303_Choose_Monroe_6164.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=2560&s=98987563fc527e0c2a2f6bef72b0d9c6 2560w, https://snohomish.imgix.net/images/archive/210303_Choose_Monroe_6164.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=3840&s=36e89554ab6f231246ef1e144679fa4c 3840w)
Hiking
Lord Hill Regional Park is just southeast of Monroe and offers 1,300 acres of woodlands, ponds, and hiking paths. Heybrook Lookout, located about twenty minutes east on State Route 2, is a short hike through subalpine forest to a historic fire lookout with views of the Cascade Mountains. The Sultan River Basin is a casual hike nearby, which takes walkers to scenic Spada Lake Reservoir.
Shopping in Historic Downtown Monroe
Downtown Monroe has what you’re looking for. If you love upcycled, vintage, or boutique-y handmade goods, Black Barrel Vintage has got you covered. Main Street Books is a beacon to the bookish, with shelves of lovely pre-loved tomes ripe for perusing.
![](https://snohomish.imgix.net/images/archive/Monroe-Downtown-City-FB-cropped-need-permission-1920-x-1080-px.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=30c6396156a4eaa6724feb690c85218c 320w, https://snohomish.imgix.net/images/archive/Monroe-Downtown-City-FB-cropped-need-permission-1920-x-1080-px.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=b41a73c983391de0cac1aa39db652b82 540w, https://snohomish.imgix.net/images/archive/Monroe-Downtown-City-FB-cropped-need-permission-1920-x-1080-px.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=c36bb7a1cc4d19cdfb3383068ecc1f1d 768w, https://snohomish.imgix.net/images/archive/Monroe-Downtown-City-FB-cropped-need-permission-1920-x-1080-px.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=412d0b3828a922acd610a1ccfe3aa337 1024w, https://snohomish.imgix.net/images/archive/Monroe-Downtown-City-FB-cropped-need-permission-1920-x-1080-px.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=ce96d2d0bc5637c51f1cbe0990f3e5ca 1200w, https://snohomish.imgix.net/images/archive/Monroe-Downtown-City-FB-cropped-need-permission-1920-x-1080-px.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=2ad62a98bf3f67f774d19297c53a1874 1440w, https://snohomish.imgix.net/images/archive/Monroe-Downtown-City-FB-cropped-need-permission-1920-x-1080-px.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=6fc4359fa2f9918af456f8657a22453e 1920w)
Dining recommendations
After a day of hiking and shopping, you’ll likely have worked up an appetite.
Thai on Main serves up hot curries and spicy dishes. Las Tres Marias specializes in Mexican comfort food in a brightly painted and decorated setting. Try the fresh horchata and catch a game of soccer on the TV. For sophisticated diners, Lewis and Main Restaurant dishes up farm-informed local foods like steak, seafood, salads, and craft brews.
![](https://snohomish.imgix.net/images/archive/MONROE_Thai-on-Mainstreet_3303-large.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=165456fc0890afd15124ef8901985578 320w, https://snohomish.imgix.net/images/archive/MONROE_Thai-on-Mainstreet_3303-large.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=17a99d43ef18c38a69340f311b862c45 540w, https://snohomish.imgix.net/images/archive/MONROE_Thai-on-Mainstreet_3303-large.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=392695c8880fc2e8eebcf858e4570d5e 768w, https://snohomish.imgix.net/images/archive/MONROE_Thai-on-Mainstreet_3303-large.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=d6b25d5d775f4a665801623817625230 1024w, https://snohomish.imgix.net/images/archive/MONROE_Thai-on-Mainstreet_3303-large.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=eb5ade1ccb846f903f5ae069de967ae7 1200w, https://snohomish.imgix.net/images/archive/MONROE_Thai-on-Mainstreet_3303-large.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=7af2e0c38aed90b127a34eb1c6c5a5db 1440w, https://snohomish.imgix.net/images/archive/MONROE_Thai-on-Mainstreet_3303-large.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=4ec88a4d453a17dcfa56bd32bdd7af72 1920w)
River and lake recreation
The foothills of the Cascades are full of ideal swimming holes and fishing spots. The Skykomish River at Al Borlin Park is a favorite dipping spot in summer and a place to cast a line when the fish are running. Flowing Lake is an ideal setting for boating, camping, and a dip. Lake Tye is a large recreational manmade lake on the west side of town that’s perfect for paddleboarding and kayaking.. Lake Tye is surrounded by a walking/jogging path and has an adjoining park with picnic tables, tennis and basketball courts, a skate park, and baseball fields.
A small guide to public art
A walk through downtown Monroe will reveal some of the art that the city prides itself on. The Wagner Swifts statue on Main Street is comprised of metal birds in flight. It’s a tribute to the flocks of migratory birds that annually flock to the chimney of the Wagner Auditorium in town. Guardian of the Pass, located on the corner of Main and Lewis Streets, is a metal and rock tribute to the town’s montane surroundings. And you don’t have to walk far to see one of several vivid murals by local artist David Hose.
![](https://snohomish.imgix.net/images/archive/Choose-Monroe-David-Hose-Mural-FB.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=d815ecb36107047de1425738da3f710f 320w, https://snohomish.imgix.net/images/archive/Choose-Monroe-David-Hose-Mural-FB.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=71a44771e2f1411395fe2a15f511db96 540w, https://snohomish.imgix.net/images/archive/Choose-Monroe-David-Hose-Mural-FB.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=4be8ac063000117f547dbdac2c95846d 768w, https://snohomish.imgix.net/images/archive/Choose-Monroe-David-Hose-Mural-FB.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=f8f53e19ff829779ed0ffa50c1f8d988 1024w, https://snohomish.imgix.net/images/archive/Choose-Monroe-David-Hose-Mural-FB.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=1ddc581779f7a5a976c053f96e818a95 1200w, https://snohomish.imgix.net/images/archive/Choose-Monroe-David-Hose-Mural-FB.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=fcfe8a2195266c3fef3f3bbe90c2c327 1440w, https://snohomish.imgix.net/images/archive/Choose-Monroe-David-Hose-Mural-FB.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=096457996293881db6c38a5b6c574d04 1920w, https://snohomish.imgix.net/images/archive/Choose-Monroe-David-Hose-Mural-FB.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=2560&s=c6fe961e5e79dbc501812f304ac05a03 2048w)
Best bets for coffee
But before you go anywhere, you’re going to need coffee. Monroe Coffe Co. is a community hub where locals gather to talk over freshly-brewed coffee roasted in town. Paesano’s Coffee near Lake Tye also has the sit-down experience but also offers a drive-through window, so you can grab a local coffee shop cup of joe before you head out on your adventures in Monroe -- or beyond.
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