Washington State, dubbed “The Evergreen State,” is located in the United States’ Pacific Northwest region and has a lot to offer visitors. Washington State is a nature lover’s paradise. The state’s natural scenery is some of the most breathtaking and awe-inspiring in the entire country.
Seattle, the state’s largest metropolis, and Olympia, the state capital, are two of Washington’s cities that rival the state’s natural beauty. There are numerous national parks in Washington, some of which are well-known and others which are less so, but all of them are equally beautiful and well worth a visit. Whether it’s nature, city tours, culture, or art, this state has enough to see and do.
One visit to Washington is never enough, and each journey reveals more of what makes the Evergreen State one of the best places to visit in the country. Our list of the best places to visit in Washington State will help you plan your vacation.
Seattle
Bustling and beautiful Weekend visitors to Seattle will have to prioritise their activities in order to make the most of their time. Begin your journey at the Sky View Observatory or the Space Needle, both of which provide breathtaking views of the city and surrounding islands and mountains.
There are museums to suit everyone’s tastes. The Center for Wooden Boats is one of the most interesting museums since it allows you to board an ancient marine ship and learn how to row, sail, and repair it.
The Living Computer Museum, the EMP Museum for modern culture, the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, and the Museum of History and Industry are among the other museums. The Museum of Flight, which houses 160 antique aircraft, including a real Concord and a Space Shuttle Trainer, is maybe the most interesting of all. Make a point of seeing the Seattle Art Museum as well as the Chihuly Garden and Glass Exhibition, all of which are amazing. Foodies are fortunate for choice, with a variety of great cuisine tours to suit almost any pallet.
Olympic National Park
Olympic National Park is brimming with breathtaking landscapes, from seaside beaches to glacier-capped high peaks. The park encompasses the majority of the Olympic Peninsula, yet roads only circumnavigate it with a spectacular drive along US 101, never cutting through the park’s rocky heart. The rough western side of the park is defined by iconic coastal places like Ruby and Rialto Beach, which are only a short drive away from the Hoh Rain Forest’s over-sized trees and rich flora. The snowy peaks of Hurricane Ridge and the warm waters of Sol Duc Hot Springs are two more prominent sights at the park.
Olympic National Park’s hiking paths pass through a variety of environments, including a Hall of Mosses and the family-friendly Marymere Falls. The Hoh River Trail, a 13-mile level road that explores the rain forest and river corridor before ascending to the lateral moraine of Mount Olympus’ Blue Glacier, is a must-do trip for people of all ages.
The campgrounds at Olympic National Park are great places to stay if you want to be close to the awe-inspiring landscape that this untamed western part of Washington has to offer.
Mount Rainier National Park
Mount Rainier National Park, located less than an hour outside of Seattle, is centred on the towering peak of Mount Rainier, Washington’s tallest mountain. This wonderful park is a popular year-round attraction, although snowy weather restricts access to some places. Fields of brilliant wildflowers and excellent hiking trails may be found in the park’s Paradise region.
You may drive to the park’s highest viewpoint point in the Sunrise area for truly amazing views. Mountaineering and glacier climbing are two of the park’s recreation possibilities, but Mount Rainier also has some easy treks. For example, the Green Lake Trail takes just over an hour to complete and takes hikers through old growth forest and waterfalls.
The San Juan Islands
The San Juan Islands, located north of Puget Sound, are the most well-known of Washington’s numerous islands, with the four largest being easily accessible by ferry. San Juan Island National Historic Park, where British and American troops became entangled in the Pig War border dispute, features a mix of galleries, seafood restaurants, and parks.
Friday Harbor, Eastsound, and Moran State Park, which has one of Washington’s greatest campgrounds, are all popular attractions within the San Juan Islands. Sea kayaking, whale viewing, and eating local cuisine are all popular activities on the San Juan Islands.
Spokane
For weekend visitors, Spokane provides a varied range of activities, including various outdoor attractions as well as a small but select number of cultural activities. Riverfront Park, which spans over 100 acres and includes the spectacular Spokane Falls, is located in the heart of Spokane. You may walk around the park and see all of the activities or take the Spokane Falls Skyride for a spectacular aerial view. Nature lovers can visit the John A. Finch Arboretum to see a breathtaking display of trees and shrubs, or Manito Park to see a conservatory packed with tropical plants set within beautiful landscaped gardens. Hikers can explore Riverside State Park’s 40-mile paved Centennial Trail, which runs alongside the gorgeous Spokane River.
Thrill-seekers can try their hand at white-water rafting along an astounding 8-mile section of the Spokane River with Mica Moon Zip Tours or a thrilling zip line adventure with Mica Moon Zip Tours. During the winter, the Mount Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park becomes a hive of activity. The Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture (MAC), which contains five underground galleries and an outdoor amphitheatre, is a stunning museum. Finally, finish your weekend by seeing a Spokane Symphony Orchestra performance in The Fox’s historic Martin Woldson Theater.
Port Angeles
Port Angeles is located on the Olympic Peninsula’s northern coast, across the Juan de Fuca Strait. Hiking, biking, golfing, boating, kayaking, fishing, birdwatching, and a variety of other outdoor activities are popular in the area. It also serves as a gateway to Olympic National Park, as well as neighbouring sites such as Hurricane Ridge. Hiking trails branch out from the visitor centre at this high alpine recreation area, leading to floral meadows in the spring.
The Port Angeles Fine Arts Center, located at sea level in Port Angeles, hosts rotating Northwest exhibits in its semi-circular hilltop gallery. Visitors will encounter a museum without walls with over 100 sculptures along rustic trails on the expansive grounds. Port Angeles is one of Washington’s best small towns to visit, with numerous fantastic hotels, restaurants, and a waterfront downtown centre. Port Angeles is also the departure point for ferries to Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument is located in Southwest Washington and commemorates the 1980 volcanic explosion. Mount St. Helens, a day trip from Seattle but also a great destination to stay for a few nights, has a multitude of interesting and attractive activities for visitors.
Don’t miss the Mount St. Helens Visitor Center at Silver Lake, which offers tours and dining options with a view of the volcano, or the Hoffstadt Bluffs Visitor Center, which offers tours and dining options with a view of the volcano. The Johnston Ridge Observatory offers amazing views of Mount St. Helens’ north side as well as a large visitor centre.
Bellingham
Bellingham, which is surrounded by Puget Sound’s waterways, has earned a reputation as a paddling Mecca, but it also provides a diverse range of cultural and artistic endeavours. Whatcom Falls Park, which is near to the Whatcome Creek Gorge and several stunning waterfalls and where you may swim, fish, or picnic, is a great place to enjoy a range of outdoor activities. Hiking along the rocky shoreline at Larrabee Park combines nature and history, while Mount Baker offers skiing and snowboarding in the winter and cycling and camping in the summer.
When you’re ready to head inside, stop by the Whatcom Museum of History & Art to see the Lightcatcher building, which features a large wall of curved glass that floods the inside with natural light. The Mindport Arts and Sciences Museum is a great place for families to take their kids for some hands-on learning fun.
The Sehome Hill Arboretum is a must-see for nature lovers, while art aficionados should visit the Western Washington University Campus to see the Outdoor Sculpture Collection at the Western Gallery. You may book a whale-watching excursion or take a ferry to the San Juan Islands from the shoreline.
Tacoma
Tacoma is nestled along the Puget Sound’s shores, providing a stunningly gorgeous background to a modern city focused on the arts. In Tacoma, you may visit a variety of excellent museums, beginning with the Fort Nisqually Living History Museum, which will transport you back to life in a British outpost in the 1850s. The Foss Waterway Seaport is a popular family attraction, and motor aficionados may see one of America’s greatest collections of antique vehicles at Lemay – America’s Car Museum and the Lemay Family Collection at Marymount.
Tacoma is known for its glass art, and at the Museum of Glass, you can learn all about it and view the incredible Chihuly Bridge of Glass, which was made by local glass artist Dale Chihuly.
To enjoy the great outdoors, visit Point Defiance Park, which features miles of walking and cycling trails, the magnificent Point Defiance Rose Garden, the Point Defiance Pagoda, and the family-friendly Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium. Other family-friendly attractions include the Explore It Scavenger Hunt and the Children’s Museum of Tacoma, where children can enjoy hours of fun while learning via hands-on activities. Finally, Sixth Avenue offers a diverse range of boutique boutiques, restaurants, and music venues.
Lake Chelan
Lake Chelan, located at the base of Washington’s North Cascades Mountain Range, is a Pacific Northwest hotspot for sightseeing, outdoor activities, and wine sampling. The region’s vineyards are a big draw, and you can spend a day sipping and exploring at destinations like Vin du Lac Winery, Karma Vineyards, and Mellisoni Vineyards.
Take a seaplane flight that takes off and landings in the lake, or go water skiing during the summer months to get a closer look at the beautiful natural terrain. Hiking opportunities abound, and a variety of independent eateries provide farm-to-table cuisine on Historic Main Street.