Explore Washington State
Things To Do in Washington State
Washington State gives you an almost unreasonable number of options for how to spend your time. Whether you are looking for something to do on a rainy afternoon in Seattle, a full week of outdoor adventure on the Peninsula, or a low key weekend in a small town you have never heard of, this state rewards people who are willing to explore beyond the obvious.
This section is where we collect everything that falls under the category of actually doing something in Washington. You will find activity guides, local recommendations, seasonal ideas, things to do with kids, hidden gems worth the detour, and honest assessments of whether something is actually worth your time. Every post is written by someone who has been there.
We cover the full range: outdoor activities like hiking, kayaking, and skiing alongside arts, food, history, and local culture. Washington is one of those states where the things worth doing in a small coastal town are just as compelling as what you will find in its major cities. There is genuinely a lot here that most people never get around to.
Browse by scrolling through recent posts below, or use the county and city tags on any post to find activities in a specific area. If you are looking for somewhere to start, the county guides are a good way to get oriented.
The Tri-Cities is blessed with 300 days of glorious sunshine and an average of less than eight inches of precipitation each year. Located in the southeastern heart of Washington State, the Tri-Cities landscape is vast and open, mottled with curved hillsides, dramatic cliff-fronts, endless miles of rippling rivers and sweeping vineyards and farmlands. Amongst the...
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....
Wallaby Ranch in Fall City is easily one of the most surprisingly outstanding experiences I’ve had on my day trips in Washington state. It’s not every day, month or even year that you get the opportunity to have such an intimate encounter with an animal so traditionally thought of as exotic in our region of...
Do you believe in ghosts? I do. Though, I’m not the type to go seeking them out on purpose. And as far as believing a hike could be haunted? For me, that is a stretch. Though I will use any excuse — even ghost hunting — if it means a walk in the woods. The...
Springtime in Washington means an abundance of blooms. Daffodils and crocus flowers begin to bloom, along with the hundreds of fruits and vegetables that begin to emerge from the ground after a chilly winter. But there’s one floral staple that begins to bloom in mid-March, catching the attention of thousands of Washington residents and travelers...
Being new to Washington state, my family and I are always trying to explore and learn about our new home… basically spending our free time seeing where the road takes us. Venturing just 15 miles outside of downtown Vancouver, we recently spent the day in Camas. On the way there, as we traveled east along...
Point Ruston and the surrounding waterfront have come a long way from a place of mills, boatyards, warehouses and an infamous copper smelting plant. As a child I’d beg my mom to drive under the looming smelter tower via a 325-foot tunnel that had such a curve before the north entrance, drivers were directed to...
It’s no secret that Seattle has a thriving international district. With hubs like Uwajimaya centrally located downtown, and a teriyaki stand or sushi joint on nearly every corner, the city is a haven for those with an appreciation for Asian cuisine. But while the hotspots downtown are relatively well-known, where should you go to get...
Winter at Mount Baker Located 52 miles east of Bellingham, the Mount Baker Ski Area is a dream destination for snow lovers. A far cry from flashy northwest resort towns like Whistler Blackcomb, this rustic and undeveloped ski area is all about the powder. Case in point: Mount Baker set the world snowfall record during...
Hey there, Explore Washington State reader! Hilary and Roscoe here. It’s another rainy day in Seattle, so in other words, it’s a perfect time to write about one of our favorite local adventures! Roscoe, my dog, is my go-to partner whenever I want to explore a new place in the area. We recently checked out...
It’s impossible to talk about Spokane’s thriving coffee scene without mentioning one of the best local roasters in town, Roast House Coffee. When owner Deborah Di Bernardo started the company, she implemented a literal open-door policy to encourage a passerby to stop in and learn about the roastery. The warehouse doors were open to the...
If you live in the Pacific Northwest, you know we pride ourselves on our coffee. With months of gloomy, cloudy weather, that little caffeine boost is usually necessary to keep everyone powering through until the sun comes out again in the summer. Whether you’re a caffeine addict, a tea aficionado or just a fan of...
