Washington State

We don’t know how you’ll choose - there are so many amazing things to do and places to go!

National Parks

Olympic National Park and the Olympic Peninsula- The park is vast and cannot be seen all in one day.  Hurricane ridge is accessible in a day trip and has lots of good hiking. The Hoh rainforest is incredible, and lush. Lots of places to see tide pools.  Port Angeles and the neighboring areas can be visited in a day trip for good tide pools. Ruby Beach, First Beach is accessible by car, Second Beach and Third Beach are amazing but require a hike down to the beach.  It is worth it.   

Rainier National Park - Majestic and definitely worth a visit; fall foliage should be at it’s best in mid-September.  You can drive around and get out for short walks, view points or tackle a bigger, longer hike and get up into glacial fields (maybe have a snowball fight) if you drive to Sunrise and start hiking from there.

Activities

Whale watching - Take a tour to see the Orcas!  most boats leave from San Juan Islands.  To get there from Seattle, you can drive to Anacortes (1.5-2 hours) and take a ferry to Orcas Island.  There is also a boat that leaves from Seattle to take you to Anacortes..but it is a long boat ride..  Peak whale watching runs through October.  Ferry lines are long so plan to arrive early, or look into buying tickets in advance.  Reservations are available beginning in April.  We HIGHLY recommend reservations.

Local hikes - if you want the Olympic National Park hike experience but don’t have time, you can have very similar experiences with some of the hikes below.  One or both of us have been to all of these below; there are many, many more.  Many others we have also visited.  If you have any questions please let us know - we’d be happy to weigh in. Note, many need a WA State Park Pass (Discover Pass) or a Northwest Forest Pass. A national park pass can be substituted for the Northwest Forest pass. 

  • Lake 22 5.4 miles, 1350 feet elevation gain.  The hike to the lake combines the best of mountain rainforests, old-growth, wetlands and mountain views, yet it is readily accessible.

  • Heather Lake 5 miles, 100 feet elevation gain.  A little more remote but still accessible and doable in a day trip.  Hike to a lake with residual snow the mountains and a serene lake.  Quintessential northwest hike

  • Lake Serene 8.2 miles, 2000 feet elevation gain.  Similar to Heather Lake.  Stunningly beautiful

  • Twin Falls State Park - Beautiful hike along a river, through a wild fern grove, and up to see beautiful waterfalls.  2.4 miles, 500 feet elevation gain.  A great hike with kids.  Alison has done this more times that she can count.

  • Mt Si - Iconic hike 1 hour outside the city.  8 miles roundtrip, 3150 feet elevation gain.  One of the most popular hikes in Seattle but incredible views.

  • Little Si Also 1 hour outside the city, but less strenuous.  3.7 miles roundrip, 1300 feet elevation gain.  Solid hike and a frequent place Alison has taken out of town visitors.

  • Wallace Falls 5.6 miles, 1300 feet elevation gain.  A little farther outside Seattle but definitely a day trip.  Waterfalls and old growth.  Excellent hike

  • Denny Creek 2 miles, 400 feet elevation gain to get to the waterslide area. You can keep going for 6 miles, for an elevation gain of 1345.  A very popular, but accessible from Seattle. Fun for smaller kids who can ride down slippery rocks in the river for a waterslide experience.  Bring a swimsuit and water shoes.  Be prepared for crowds if it’s a hot sunny day.

  • Mt. Pilchuck 5.4 miles, 2300 feet elevation gain. This is a more intermediate hike, but includes a historic restored fire lookout with grand panoramic views of Mount Baker, Mount Rainier and the Olympics. 

  • Mt Dickerman 8.2 miles, 3900 feet elevation gain.  From the website “If the best views come to those who earn them, Mount Dickerman offers the fairest vantage along the Mountain Loop. You’ll huff and puff through 4,000 feet of elevation on your way to the summit; in return, you’ll get a superb panorama of nearly every peak in the Mountain Loop. In late summer, it also rewards the intrepid with a bounty of mountain blueberries” .This is one of the most strenuous hikes Alison has done near Seattle, it is also known as “Death by Switchbacks”  or “thigh-us fry-us”.  You’ll need all day for this one; make a yummy plan for dinner when you’re done. You’ll have earned it.