downtown building
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Spending a Weekend in Ellensburg

ByNicole Klauss

Ellensburg, Washington, is just a two-hour drive from Seattle and is one of the hidden gems of the Pacific Northwest. Located east of the Cascade Mountain Range off Interstate 90, Ellensburg offers outdoor recreation like biking, fishing on the Yakima River, hiking and more. The charming city is home to around 20,000 people, and is…

Hotel de Haro
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5 Historical Haunts Worth a Road Trip

BySarah Prentice

If walls could talk, these Washington state attractions would have a lot to say about their storied pasts. Historical Haunt #1 Oxford Saloon With a facade that looks like it’s straight out of a Western movie, there’s no surprise this Snohomish restaurant and pub is alive with more than just the nightly musical entertainment. Visitors report witnessing…

Spending a day in Steilacoom photo of Rainer St in Steilacoom
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Spending a Day in Steilacoom Washington

ByChris Boone

To say that the town of Steilacoom has historical value to the state of Washington and beyond would be an understatement. This seaside village has been there from the beginning, witnessing European discovery, the settlement of an American military outpost on the brink of war, French-Canadian fur trappers trading and hunting throughout the vast prairies…

The General store in Port Gamble Washington
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Visiting Port Gamble

ByChris Boone

Traveling Northbound on Highway 3 towards the Hood Canal Bridge, a large brown sign stands on the shoulder reading “National Historic Landmark straight ahead.” Passing the bridge exit on my left, Highway 3 becomes Highway 104 East as it quickly narrows and slows to a cautious 25 mph. Entering a large thicket of Evergreens the…

Thorp Mill building and bridge
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Visiting the Historic Thorp Mill and Museum

ByMadeline Wilson

Driving along Interstate-90 through Central Washington yields a myriad of picturesque views. From the barns with unique quilted emblems, to the groves of trees and even the random farm stands, there are many small-town attractions scattered along the road, patiently waiting for visitors to stop by.  If you have ever visited Thorp, you would know…

Fort Spokane ruined foundations
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Spending a Day at Fort Spokane

ByBrent David Atkinson

Many Pacific Northwesterners are unaware of the fascinating history of the state of Washington, particularly on the far-less-populated eastern side of the state. From the production of plutonium during World War II in the Tri-Cities to the agricultural boom of the Palouse region and the Whitman Mission massacre in Walla Walla, a lot has happened…

Cedar Mill
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Visiting Cedar Creek Grist Mill

ByAngela Kennedy

Take a drive, away from the noise of the city and into the Washington country. Not too far lies an ornament of history. 15 minutes from I-5 and only 30 minutes from Vancouver, the roads to Cedar Creek Grist Mill are Sunday-drive perfect — windy, sleepy and nestled in the shadows of hazy hills and mountains….

Northern Pacific Depot Museum
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Spending a Day in Snoqualmie, Washington

ByHilary Walesch

Just a 30-minute drive from Seattle brings you to a small town full of big adventures. And when you visit the cute town of Snoqualmie, you’ll find that it’s just minutes away from beautiful hikes like the Snoqualmie Pass and rivers such as the Snoqualmie river.  But as you dig a little deeper, you’ll find…

Mount Saint Helens
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Remembering the Day the Mountain Blew 

ByTodd Phillips

Where were you when the mountain blew? If you’ve lived in Washington state very long, you have no doubt been asked this question. For those of us who lived here on that day 38 years ago (yes, it’s really been that long) we can answer that one easily. A major volcanic eruption tends to be the…

Foss Waterway Seaport
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Foss Waterway Seaport – A Must See Tacoma Destination!

ByExplore Washington State

If you have traveled into or out of Tacoma, there’s a good chance you’ve seen the Thea Foss Waterway that runs under the 509 bridge just East of downtown. This waterfront has had a central role in the history of Tacoma, with businesses cropping up along its banks for more than 100 years. Foss Waterway…

Northern State Hospital
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Northern State Hospital Farm

ByMacKenzie Passegger

Looking for a quirky but historically rich day trip with some friends? The Northern State Hospital Farm located in Sedro-Woolley, might be what you’re after!  Opened as the third hospital in the state of Washington for the criminally insane, Northern State Hospital was, for its time, very innovative and forward-thinking. In 1912 when they admitted…

Barron Ghost Town
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Barron Ghost Town

ByMacKenzie Passegger

As high school history class taught us, in the late 1800’s there was a gold rush in western America. While most headed out west to California, Canada and Alaska, Washington was perfectly settled in the middle. This meant while gold seekers were heading up to Canada for their chance at glory, they were bound to…