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Explore Washington State

Destinations

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.

Recent Destinations Articles

Showing 169 to 180 of 224 articles
Riverfront Park Spokane in Washington
Molly Lindquist · September 9, 2019

Have you visited Riverfront Park in Spokane WA? If you haven’t made it to the Riverfront Park yet, this is a must-see tourist destination in Lilac City. Riverfront Park boasts stunning waterfall views, great family recreational activities, and plenty of other adventures to hit within just a few blocks. You can spend hours walking the...

Spending a Day in Pullman, Washington
Molly Lindquist · August 6, 2019

If you haven’t made a day trip to Pullman, Washington, now’s the time to add it to your list. The Palouse grasslands are well known for their sweeping wheat fields and soft yet profound rolling hills. Photographers and travelers alike come from all over the nation for a chance to experience the beauty of the...

Passing Through SODO
Ines Tucakovic · June 18, 2019

“Where exactly IS SODO?” My friend asked me a few weeks ago as we were walking through Ballard, trying not to think about the sheer number of calories we had just consumed through lunch, lattes and ice cream. I took a second to process the question and the best answer I had was, “you know,...

Exploring Port Angeles
Explore Washington State · October 3, 2018

Port Angeles is tucked off in between the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains, and the strait of Juan De Fuca in Callam County. Just a two-hour drive and a ferry boat ride from Seattle, with Olympic National Park towering overhead as its backyard, Port Angeles offers a true maritime small town feel. Planning a...

Sammamish and Issaquah Nature Spots
Explore Washington State · September 24, 2018

This guest post was written by Mercedes Benedict. A toddler mom and lover of the outdoors, you can find her & her toddlers adventures at: @maxwellandbeatrix When you have two high-energy toddlers getting outside to explore is a must. Luckily this is where the Sammamish/Issaquah excels. Located east of Seattle this busy suburb is situated near Cougar...

Fun ideas for a day in Seattle with kids
Explore Washington State · September 9, 2018

This guest post was written by Terumi Pong from “An Emerald City Life.” Follow her on Instagram. I don’t know about you, but I often find myself retracing my favorite steps in Seattle over and over again. Like every time I visit Pike Place Market at breakfast time, I eat at Lowell’s, I wave a hello to...

Pit Stop in Ellensburg
MacKenzie Passegger · August 26, 2018

While Ellensburg is perhaps best known for the Ellensburg Rodeo (yee-haw) and for Central Washington University, this small town more to offer to visitors. Here are some place to check out next time you’re in Ellensburg. Visit the Kittitas County Historical Museum This free museum offers a hands-on learning approach to the county’s history. Walking through...

Camille Takes Us to Long Beach
Explore Washington State · August 18, 2018

Hola, my name is Camille. Viewpoints are my ultimate weakness, oddities are my thing, street art/murals give me life and I am firm believer that nature is truly one of the best medicines when it comes to curing a stressed soul. I was raised in the beautiful state of Washington, lucky, I know! Being born on...