Day trips, local favorites, and the stories behind the places that make this state worth exploring. Written by the people who live here.

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Join today and we will send you The Washington Weekend Planner free: 52 day trips across seven regions, printable, with a map and a checklist.

What lands every Thursday

Every Thursday morning you get a short letter from Scott: three places worth knowing about that week, a Washington trivia question that is harder than it looks, and a podcast episode for the drive. Two minutes to read, a weekend to use.

Who writes this

Explore Washington State has covered the Evergreen State for 15 years through long form articles, a weekly newsletter, a podcast with 340 episodes, and one of the most complete state parks directories in the country. The writers are Washington locals: park rangers, chefs, farmers, and everyday residents who write about places they actually know. Over 50,000 readers a month use it to plan their weekends.

Join over 6,500 Washington explorers who already start their weekend on Thursday morning.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How often will you email me?

Once a week, Thursday mornings, plus a welcome email with your Weekend Planner. That is it.

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No. The newsletter and the planner are free.

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  • About the Author
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Explore Washington State has been covering the real Washington for more than a decade. State parks, small towns, back roads, rest stops, and the people who make this place worth exploring. What started as a hyperlocal project covering individual communities grew into a full media project with more than 340 podcast episodes, a weekly newsletter with over  6,500 subscribers, and coverage of more than 140 Washington state parks. The content here comes from people who have actually been to these places: locals, regulars, and lifelong Washington residents who care more about getting it right than getting clicks.