Duvall: A growing small town that maintains its early 1900s charm

Officially incorporated in 1913, Duvall, Washington, has roots that reach back to the 1870s when the James and Francis Duvall, brothers, loggers, and homesteaders, settled the hillside where downtown Duvall now stands. A railroad company moved many of the buildings that make up the old downtown from another settlement called Cherry Valley in the early 1900s. Those buildings form the core of a charming old west charm with modern businesses occupying the old buildings.

Start your morning in Duvall with a walk, run or pedal along the Snoqualmie Valley Trail. This former railroad bed trail starts in Duvall and runs approximately thirty miles to Rattlesnake Lake in North Bend, where it junctions with the Palouse to Cascades Trail. Being an old railroad-grade trail, the path is relatively flat and straight with gentle uphill climbs and downhill descents that make for a mellow route to travel. Along the way, you’ll enjoy rustic farm settings, birds and other critter sitings, spectacular river crossings, and views from old railroad tressels.

Choose your mug adventure at Rustic Cabin Coffee.

After your morning exercise, head into downtown Duvall and grab a coffee and a delicious bakery item at one of Duvall’s independent establishments. Grateful Bread is a popular spot to get scones, croissants, egg sandwiches, soups, and more. On sunny days, you can enjoy their outdoor patio and grass seating. Across the street, you can head to Rustic Cabin Coffee and choose your coffee mug off their wall display of coffee cups and enjoy the best gluten-free bakery items around.

The local ice cream shop. 

You can browse the local downtown shops in the afternoon, such as the Rustic Rose or the Country Collections antique store. Get your bike tuned up at Pacific Ski & Bike. Or, on a sunny summer day, head to McCormick Park and enjoy the surprisingly sandy beach on the shore of the Snoqualmie River. Relax in the sun, or cool off in this swimmable section of the river (parents, there is a current, so keep an eye on the kiddos!) After your dip in the water, head back up to the downtown and indulge in an ice cream cone from CC Espresso & Ice Cream, a quaint local shop with a fun and a positively kitschy aesthetic that is a spin on an old-timey ice cream parlor.

Outdoor seating at Valley House Brewing.

For lunch and dinner, downtown Duvall delivers a good number of local options. You can get bar grub at the Duvall Tavern, gastropub-style fare at the Duvall Grill & Taproom,  farm-to-table options at The Grange, or the best fish & chips in the Seattle area at Swift & Savory. Way down at one end of the main street and located at the Snoqualmie Valley Trail’s literal start, Duvall has a top-notch microbrewery called Valley House Brewing, where they serve a variety of fresh dishes and rotating specials sourced from local sources.