Before spring of 2013, make this fall into a small detour of a full agenda, instead of a destination. All the trails are under construction and closed. You can only view the fall from the top. I imagined it would have been a wonderful light hike down to the river and the fall would have been even prettier. But I would have to wait for at least a year and half to find out.
The Salish Lodge is right on the rim. It seems like a lovely hotel with a decent restaurant. I bet the view from the dining hall and rooms would be spectacular. This can be a very nice weekend escape for Seattleites, but too light a site for out-of-towners.
Mount Si and Snoqualmie Pass, a ski resort, are only several miles away on the same highway I-90. Both are interesting hiking/skiing destinations. North Bend will be the best rest stop. There are more choice restaurants and a factory outlet nearby. There is really no need to stop by the city of Snoqualmie, even for its Railroad Museum.