If you’re looking for fun things to do in Washington State, there will be no shortage of options, with everything from popular city attractions to outdoor adventure opportunities and everything in between. So, without wasting any more words on introduction let the attractions tell the story.
Explore Seattle
Seattle, the largest city in the Pacific Northwest, not only offers stunning cultural attractions and a thriving food, arts and music scene, but is surrounded by breathtaking natural beauty. Take part in the iconic delights of Emerald City such as visiting the top of the Space Needle for a 360 degree view, visiting the famous Pike Place market where you can enjoy the sounds and sights of the street performers, watch the fishmongers throwing their fresh catch of the day while making jokes and buy local fresh fish, produce and flowers.
Whale Tour and Wine Tasting
Langley is a seaside village that sits atop a cliff on Whidbey Island, overlooking the shimmering waters of Saratoga Passage and the Cascade Mountains. Often referred to as one of the “best getaways in the Northwest,” it offers a charming atmosphere, with its streets lined with historic buildings housing antique shops, bookstores, cafes and restaurants. A variety of activities are also available, including whale watching trips and the chance to meet local winemakers.
Take a kayaking tour from San Juan Island
It is the tour that should not be missing from your list of top weekend getaways in Washington State. San Juan Island is the most populous of the San Juan archipelago, accessible by ferry from the mainland. Getting there is a magnificent adventure in itself, with the ferry snaking through small forest islands. Once you arrive, you can expect a quiet retreat and the pretty, historic port town of Friday Harbor, which is home to museums, art galleries, eclectic shops and a virtually endless array of restaurants boasting menus based on local ingredients, including seafood.
Hike Mount Rainier National Park
Mount Rainier, 14,411 feet high, dominates the region and can be seen from many viewpoints, but heading to Mount Rainier National Park you can enjoy experiences on this iconic mountain such as hiking. Not only does the snow-capped peak of the mountain await you, but the trails wind their way through alpine meadows dotted with wildflowers, passing huge glaciers and cascading waterfalls. Some of the best views can be found by hiking around Tipsoo Lake.
Picnic at Snoqualmie Falls
Washington is famous for its many waterfalls and Snoqualmie Falls is truly one of the best. Just a 40-minute drive east of Seattle, the fast-moving white water plunges nearly 300 feet from the Snoqualmie River into a 65-foot-deep pool below. The falls are surrounded by a picturesque park that includes a gift shop, small coffee shop and observation deck, as well as a large grassy area, perfect for an afternoon picnic.
History tour in Port Townsend
Located on the northern tip of the Olympic Peninsula, Port Townsend’s Victorian seaport is surrounded by water and mountains, while its main street is lined with interesting local shops, galleries and cafes, while you can listen to street performers strum their guitars or pluck a violin. Kayaks can be rented at Fort Worden State Park, which is also home to numerous hiking trails, historic sites and a lighthouse.
New Dungeness Lighthouse
The Dungeness Spit is the nation’s longest natural sand spit, stretching 5.5 miles into the Juan de Fuca Strait near the town of Sequim. Part of the Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge, it is home to over 250 bird species, including the snowy owl, as well as 41 land mammal species and eight different marine mammal species. If you walk the full length of the Spit, you will reach the New Dungeness Lighthouse, one of the oldest in the Pacific Northwest.