Washington State is in the middle of the Pacific Northwest. It is between two beautiful states, British Columbia and Oregon, which is known for its outdoor activities. The Pacific Northwest is known for its beautiful scenery and many things to do outside.
In Washington, you will never run out of things to do if you like the outdoors or like to try new things. But Washington also has a lot to offer people who don’t like the outdoors. There are fun and lively cities, charming towns, a great wine region, and foods that any foodie will love.
After living and exploring this part of the west coast of North America for most of my life, I could talk about its beauty for days. But for this post, I’ve chosen my seven favorite places to visit in Washington.
Best Places to Go in Washington
Seattle
The most well-known place to visit in Washington is probably Seattle, a beautiful city. It’s a beautiful city, surrounded by mountains and the sea, but the views are only the beginning. The “Emerald City” also has a young, lively feel and a passion for the visual and performing arts.
Seattle Center, home to the famous Space Needle, has monthly festivals and events. Bumbershoot and Bite of Seattle are two of my favorite events. Seattle is also great for foodies because it has many restaurants serving food worldwide.
Plus, you must go to Pike Place Market to see the amazing displays of every food you can think of. Make certain to sample the fresh fish and clam chowder. It’s a city with lots of fun places to check out. Pioneer Square is unique because it was the first neighborhood built in Seattle.
Fremont, known as The Center of the Universe, has a cool, bohemian feel. The nightlife and live music in Belltown are great. Capitol Hill is a colorful center for LGBTQ people. And many of the best things to see and do in the city are in the Downtown, Queen Anne, and Waterfront communities.
Olympic National Park
Olympic National Park is among the greatest attractions in Washington State. It is on the lovely Olympic Peninsula. It’s a big park that’s almost a million acres in size. This area has many ecosystems, from rainforests to beaches to mountain peaks with glaciers.
With its moss-covered, old-growth trees, the Hoh Valley Rainforest is always a magical place. It’s a beautiful place to go hiking. Regarding hiking, this National Park has trails for people of all skill levels. The most popular is Hurricane Ridge, which has some of the most beautiful views.
More than 650 lakes and 15 rivers run through the park, so if you like water and all the actions that go with it, you’ll be spoiled for choice. The biggest lakes are Lake Ozette and Lake Crescent, but the small alpine lakes will blow your mind. There are also several waterfalls and two hot springs. Sol Duc Falls is a favorite, and a beautiful trail makes it easy to get there.
Marymere Falls is near Lake Crescent and can be seen on several platforms. The park also has 73 miles of natural, untouched coastline, which makes it one of the best in the United States. It would be helpful if you walked to many beaches in Olympic National Park, but the beautiful views at the trail’s end are so worth it.
You can drive to Rialto and Kalaloch Beaches if you don’t require a hike. Camping in a park is ideal for enjoying nature’s beauty. You can even camp on the beach with a Wilderness Camping Permit. Second Beach is one of my favorite places to camp, but it can get crowded in the summer.
Leavenworth
Imagine going about 2.5 hours east from Seattle and ending up in Bavaria. Leavenworth, which looks like Bavaria, is one of my favorite places to visit in Washington. The charming village is at the base of the snow-covered Cascade Mountains and is surrounded by nature typical of the Pacific Northwest.
But it stands out because the buildings look like they belong in a Bavarian town. The shops, restaurants, and hotels downtown have themes inside and out that make it feel like you’re in Europe. Walking around town, you’ll find typical western US food and German food, beer, clothes, and souvenirs.
Stop by the Munchen Haus for a traditional beer garden with bratwurst and a pint of ale. Festivals are also a big deal in the town of Leavenworth. It’s a place to go all year, with an event or festival almost every month. From early December until Valentine’s Day, the whole town is lit up, which makes Christmas even more magical.
Every weekend in December, a light festival with music, food, and activities will get you in the holiday spirit. In keeping with the theme, there is also a great Oktoberfest in Leavenworth. You’ll be completely immersed in the German way of life as you eat, drink, and listen to Oompah bands.
Lake Chelan
Washington is called the Evergreen State due to its abundance of evergreen trees and the rain that keeps everything green and lush. Well, that doesn’t apply to Lake Chelan in north-central Washington. There isn’t much rain around Lake Chelan and four clear seasons.
This, along with the average of 300 sunny days a year, makes it popular for people who like to be outside. The lake is 50 miles long, and in the summer, people from Washington go there to do water sports, go camping, and relax in the sun. On Lake Chelan, there are also some great places to clamp to enjoy nature in comfort.
Lake Chelan is the busiest in the summer but can get very hot. Spring and fall are the best moments to go hiking, biking, golfing, and other outdoor activities. Better when it’s not too hot. These are also good times to visit Chelan’s wineries and try their wines.
Walla Walla
Walla Walla, Washington, is a great place to stop on a road trip through Washington if you want to slow down and taste wine in a beautiful setting. Walla Walla Valley is around 300 miles southeast of Seattle, on the border between Washington and Oregon. It’s another of my favorite places to visit in Washington.
Due to the different climates in the area, this fertile valley grows a wide range of crops. Relying on the time of year, you might see golden fields of wheat, apple orchards filled with apples, rows of strawberries, onions, asparagus, and acres of vineyards.
At the last count, there were over 120 wineries and 3,000 acres of vineyards in Walla Walla. This makes it an impressive wine region. Most of the wines are red, with Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon being the most popular. Walla Walla is too far away on a short trip from anywhere, so it’s best to stay at least two nights.
Full-service hotels, modest guesthouses, and one-of-a-kind boutique stays are all available. Besides great places to taste wine, downtown Walla Walla is a foodie’s paradise with numerous excellent eateries and coffee shops lining the cute streets. It’s fun to walk around the cute little town, which has over 30 tasting rooms and cute little shops to look in.
