Explore Washington State
Washington State Destinations
Washington State packs more geographic variety into one state than almost anywhere else in the country. In a single weekend, you can wake up to ocean fog on the Pacific coast, drive through old growth rainforest, and fall asleep under the stars in the high desert east of the Cascades. That kind of range makes trip planning exciting, though it can occasionally feel overwhelming.
This section is where we have gathered every destination guide, weekend escape, day trip, and local find we have published across the state. Every post is written by someone who actually made the drive, not a sponsored itinerary or filler content. Real trips, real opinions, real Washington.
We cover all corners of the state: the wild beaches and rainforests of the Olympic Peninsula, the ferry accessible islands of Puget Sound, mountain towns like Leavenworth and Winthrop in the Cascades, the wine country and wide open spaces of Eastern Washington, and the day trip destinations within easy reach of Seattle. Whether you are planning a family vacation, a solo road trip, or a quick weekend getaway, you will find something worth bookmarking here.
Browse recent posts below, or use the county and city tags on any post to find more content from a specific area. Washington rewards the curious traveler and there is always another destination worth discovering.
Manito Park on Spokane’s South Hill is known throughout our community as the crown jewel of Spokane. It boasts five meticulously cultivated gardens, a pond, hiking trails and soft hills of grass and pine trees. The Friends of Manito non-profit organization will be adding to that with the first-ever Art Festival to be held in...
With so many trail options available to the greater Seattle area, it can be tough to choose one. Whether you’re visiting Seattle, new to hiking, or anxiously planning a mountain adventure, the internet can offer a wealth of information that can quickly become overwhelming. To narrow down the search, start by deciding how far you...
Have you ever visited a city for the first time and instantly fell in love? That’s how I felt when visiting Walla Walla for the first time recently. Walking the streets and visiting the shops, I had completely forgotten that I’ve never been here before, but still felt peaceful and at home. Walla Walla is...
Tucked up in the Northeastern part of the state, roughly 18 miles east of Colville is a little set of lakes accompanied by a campground that gives the potential for adventure for all seekers of the wild. It may offer quiet solitude for someone making the trek solo, as a couple, or even as a...
Every year the Skagit Valley attracts swarms of Washingtonians who celebrate the coming of spring by visiting the annual tulip festival. The city is often abbreviated as Mt. Vernon, WA by locals and visitors alike. Many pass through the town of Mount Vernon, but rarely stop to discover the unique treasures the town offers. Mount...
If you’re looking for a quiet weekend getaway with gorgeous waterfront views, rolling farmlands and forested trails, Lopez Island is the place for you. Lopez Island, the third largest of the San Juan Islands is about an hour and a half drive and short ferry ride from Seattle. You won’t find a glamorous nightlife here,...
Spring has sprung and tulips are once again blossoming in the Skagit Valley, thus drawing in visitors ranging from families enjoying a day out together to Instagrammers hoping for a great photo op. One of the most iconic tulip farms to visit in the area is Tulip Town in Mt. Vernon. When the original owners...
Mount Storm King in the Port Angeles area of Olympic National Park boasts one of the most incredible views in Washington. Climbing 2,000 feet above Lake Crescent, you can see almost the entire pristine blue lake, northern views of the Olympic Mountains, the San Juan Islands and Vancouver Island. My husband and I first tackled...
If you are a long-time Washington resident or a new visitor just passing through, you know the appeal of taking the time to spend a day in the mountains. Spring in the Pacific Northwest is the perfect time to get out and explore. Clean, crisp air and sunny mountaintops can be found in the town...
“300 days of sunshine” is a promise worth traveling for — especially in the winter. So after spending much of the season in hibernation, my partner and I hit the road for a destination just three hours from the Seattle area: Lake Chelan. This massive, glacially-carved lake runs over 50 miles from the Cascade Mountains...
As a 90’s kid, Warner Bros’ “Free Willy” was my introduction to Orcas. I imagined myself as Jesse, fist high in the air screaming “Yeah!” as Willy leapt into the Pacific and swam to freedom. As cheesy as the film may seem now, fictional Willy tells a not-so-fictional story. Many of these animals spend their...
We all need a vacation. Nay, we all deserve a vacation at this point. I’m not even going to explain beyond that, because I can already see you nodding your head in agreement. Here is my (not) extensive list of hideaway stays that I am day dreaming of for this summer. 1. The Heron Cabin...
