Today we reach the final region of Washington before heading to the north towards Alaska! We end with the magnificent North Cascades.

Bellingham

• Larrabee State Park: Forested park with many trails and a beach area that offers views of the sunset over the San Juan Islands.
• Spark Museum of Electrical Invention: Interactive exhibits about how electricity experimentation has changed over time.

Deming

• Artist Point: Offers views of glacier-encased Mount Baker.
• Nooksack Falls: Dramatic 88 foot cascade.

Marblemount

• Ladder Creek Falls: Take an evening walk when it is illuminated.

Mt. Vernon

• Padilla Bay National Estuarine Reserve: Walk along the shore trail for a chance to see seals and falcons.
• RoozenGaarde: One of the world’s largest flower farms.

Rockport

• Diablo Lake Vista Point: View the dazzling lake and mountain peaks.
• Gorge Powerhouse: Take a tour of this 1930’s hydroelectric station.

Sedro-Woolley

• North Cascades National Park: Home to many waterfalls and 1/3 of the glaciers in the lower 48.

All attractions found in the 2019 Washington State Visitor Guide.

Off the coast of Washington is an archipelago of 172 islands. Here are just a few things I’d like to explore in that area.

Anacortes

• Deception Pass State Park: Explore the wonder of the cantilevered bridge.

Camano

• Cama Beach Historical State Park: Take in views of the Olympic Mountains from this park.

Friday Harbor

• Lime Kiln Point State Park: Also known as “Whale Watch Park.”
• Whale Museum: Promotes and protects the orca whale population.

Langley

• Earth Sanctuary: Unique area to explore and unwind.
• Langley Whale Center: Learn about the resident orca and gray whales.

All attractions found in the 2019 Washington State Visitor Guide.

One of the most visited areas in Washington state is the Seattle area, so naturally, this list is a bit longer than some of the others I’ve had in the Washington Bucket List series.

Bainbridge Island

• Bainbridge Island: Hop on the ferry to explore the island and city of Bainbridge Island.

Everett

• The Future of Flight Aviation Center and Boeing Tour: Tour the jet assembly line.
• Funko Headquarters: We love these little figurines and if you visit their headquarters you can make your own customized figure!

Issaquah

• West Tiger Mountain 3: Trek to the mountain top for great views of Mount Rainier.

North Bend

• Twin Falls Trail: Take this easy trail to view the falls.

Redmond

• Microsoft Visitor Center: Learn about the history of the company at Microsoft headquarters.

Renton

• Harvey Manning Trailhead: Take this easy trail through the Cascades and view a former anti-aircraft missile installation from the 1950’s.

Seattle

• Amazon’s Spheres: Indoor Gardens at Amazon headquarters.
• The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Discovery Center: Provides a glimpse at how modern innovations are bettering the lives of many.
• Columbia’s Tower: Take in the skyline views from the Sky View Observatory.
• Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park: Learn about this event that helped to shape Seattle.
• Museum of Flight: One of the largest air and space collections in the U.S.
• Museum of History and Industry: Uses interactive exhibits to explore the industries that shaped Seattle.
• Museum of Popular Culture: Learn about the region’s musical history at this museum.
• Pike Place Market: Of course you can’t visit Seattle without visiting the famous fish market.
• Space Needle: Of course a visit to this icon is in order when in town.
• Starbucks Reserve Roastery: While I’m not a huge coffee fan, I do love my Fraps from Starbucks and would love to visit this giant establishment in the town where it all began.
• Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience: Learn about the people and history that shaped this area.

Snoqualmie

• Snoqualmie Falls: Take a short hike to see these stunning falls.

All attractions can be found in the 2019 Washington State Visitor Guide.

 

Today we head to a region of Washington filled with some fun hiking possibilities.

Chelan

• Lake Chelan State Park: Explore the area around the nation’s third deepest lake.

Coulee City

• Sun Lakes-Dry Falls State Park: Look out over the cliff of what was once the planet’s largest waterfall.

Grand Coulee

• Grand Coulee Dam: Take a tour of this mighty dam.
• North Dam Park: Explore the works of art in the Gehrke Windmill Garden.

Leavenworth

• The Enchantments: Explore this crowning glory of the area.
• Icicle Creek Trail: Take in a beautiful hike in the area.

Moses Lake

• Potholes State Park: Popular park for birding.

Stehekin

• Rainbow Falls State Park: Walk, bike, or take a vintage bus to this state park.

Tonasket

• McLaughlin Canyon Trail: This route was once used by the Hudson Bay Company.

Wenatchee

• Apple Capital Recreation Loop Trail: 88 pieces of art dot this 11 mile trail.
• Pybus Public Market: One stop spot for all sorts of food and treats.

All attractions found in the 2019 Washington State Visitors Guide.

We’ve got a very short list today in the northeast corner of the state!

Cheney

• Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge: Provides opportunities to see lots of native wildlife like beaver, elk, and trumpeter swans.

Spokane

• Riverfront Park: Take in the views from the SkyRide Gondolas and visit the town’s namesake falls.

All attractions found in the 2019 Washington State Visitor Guide.

Moving into the southeast corner of Washington today! Sorry that I forgot to write this yesterday as promised, but better late than never right?

Asotin

• Nez Perce National Historical Park: Study the lives of some of the earliest residents of this area.

Colfax

• Steptoe Butte State Park: Offers panoramic views of the Palouse Hills.

LaCrosse

• Palouse Falls State Park: This park features the towering Palouse Falls.

Palouse

• Roy M. Chatters Newspaper and Printing Museum: This sounds like an interesting museum.

Rosalia

• Steptoe Battlefield State Park Heritage Site: Location of the last Native American victory over the U.S. Army in 1858.

All attractions found in the 2019 Washington State Visitors Guide.

Today we move into Washington’s Wine Country, which seems to have a lot of decent hiking and historical areas as well!

Pasco

• Sacajawea Historical State Park: Location of the river confluence were the Lewis and Clark Expedition arrived in 1805.

Richland

• World War II B Reactor Site- Manhattan Project National Park: Take a tour of this site that played a role in the atomic age.

Touchet

• Twin Sisters Rock: Take a mile long hike to view this two basalt towers.

Union Gap

• Central Washington Agricultural Museum: Hidden gem with a large array of antique farm equipment.

Walla Walla

• Whitman College’s Sculpture Garden: Explore large sculptural projects.
• Whitman Mission National Historic Site: Site of an 1847 massacre that broke down relations between the U.S. Government and Native Americans.

Yakima

• Cowiche Canyon Trail: Hike through the canyon and then ascend to a winery.

All attractions found in the 2019 Washington State Visitor Guide.

 

I think this area on the Oregon side looked absolutely beautiful so I have high hopes for Washington as well.

Carson

• Carson Hot Springs Resort: Enjoy time in the 1930’s bathhouse and mineral springs.

Maryhill

• Maryhill Stonehenge: Part of the Maryhill Museum of Art, this is a replica of England’s Stonehenge.

North Bonneville

• Bonnevillle Dam: Take a tour and learn how hydroelectric power works.

Stevenson

• Beacon Rock: Found within a state park this helps remind of the region’s volcanic history.

Vancouver

• Vancouver Waterfront Park: Visit the city’s brand new waterfront park filled with green space, restaurants, bars and more.

Washougal

• Cape Horn: Stop for a photo of this awe inspiring spot.
• Pendleton Woolen Mills: Take a tour of the weaving mill.

All attractions found in the 2019 Washington State Visitor Guide.

Today we move into one of the regions Washington is best known for, its infamous volcanoes! This is one area I’m very eager to explore!

Castle Rock

• Mount St Helen’s Visitor Center: Begin your time exploring this infamous volcano at it’s visitor center.

Centralia

• Seminary Hill Natural Area: Includes a network of trails through a forested area.

Cougar

• Ape Caves: Explore this cave trail located within a national forest.

Eatonville

• Northwest Trek Wildlife Park: Take a 40 minute tram through the park to view the wildlife.

Enumclaw

• Mt. Rainier Gondola: Take a scenic ride for some great views.

Tacoma

• Mount Rainier National Park: This park has a lot to offer, but I especially want to check out Silver and Nareda Falls.

Toutle

• Coldwater Lake: Take in the lake that was created by the eruption of Mount St. Helens.
• Forest Learning Center: Learn more about the Mount St Helens area.
• Johnston Ridge Observatory: Check out this area in the heart of the blast zone for Mount St. Helens.

All attractions found in the 2019 Washington Visitors Guide.

Well guys, I slacked. I forgot to come on here yesterday and make a post! To make it up to you I’ll do a bonus one on Saturday since I normally take weekends off from writing. But let’s be honest, what even is a weekend anymore?

Today we head into the state of Washington. I was surprised that I’m finding less to do in Washington than Oregon, but Washington is also home to a lot larger National Parks that take up more time to explore. It could also be that they maybe just aren’t as specific in their travel guide. Either way, here’s a much shorter list than I anticipated in our first region of the Peninsulas and Coast.

Clallam

• Rialto Beach: Located adjacent to part of Olympic National Park, this beach is renowned for its top notch tide pools.

Ilwaco

• Cape Disappointment: Located in the very southwestern corner of the state, this is one of the foggiest places in the United States.

Port Angeles

• Olympic National Parks: This national park is one of the top parks I want to visit in my lifetime. It has a little bit of everything, from rain forests to the coast to hot springs.
• Shipwreck Point: Explore a rocky nature reserve.

All attractions found in the 2019 Washington Visitor’s Guide.