Taking a trip to Leavenworth is the quickest way to make yourself feel like you’ve left the United States. This quaint Bavarian village is located in the Washington mountains and just a two-hour drive from Seattle.
Whether you’re a fan of the original Twin Peaks series, the remake or both you won’t want to miss out on seeing where it was all filmed. Most of your favorite scenes were shot within a one and a half hour drive from Seattle, with Roslyn being the furthest point.
Located on Olympic Peninsula near the Puget Sound, Sequim Bay State Park is a gorgeous beach area that is perfect for an adventure! Spanning over 92 acres, this small spot overs 4,900 feet of shoreline to explore. With 2.5 miles of hiking trails, you will definitely hit your daily step count.
Photographers of the world rejoice, we have found you the perfect day trip. Snoqualmie Falls is just a 45-minute drive away from Seattle and it one of the most visited tourist attractions in Washington.
Are you up for some seriously awesome outdoor fun, Kirkland and Seattle residents? If so, don’t hesitate to check out Bridle Trails State Park.
Situated on the western shoreline of the Columbia River’s Wanapum Reservoir, the Gingko Petrified Forest is home to one of the most diverse collections of fossilized wood in the country. Discovered in 1930, this area was quickly preserved and turned into a state park. Visitors can get an amazing view of the specimens at the Interpretive Center.
What was once one of the largest geological sites in the world, Sun Lakes-Dry Falls is full of history. Over 15,000 years ago, a 3½-mile-long cliff hosted a waterfall that was four times the size of Niagara. At the end of the last Ice Age, massive floods, stemming from the proglacial Lake Missoula in Montana, devastated the Washington area. It left scars that can still be seen today.
A break is necessary every once in a while; often you don’t realize how much you need it until you arrive and fill your lungs with fresh country air. Cusick, about 19 miles north of Newport, is easily one of the best places to escape to when things get too hectic.
Here we have another case of a deceptive name. Flaming Geyser got its dramatic title back in the early 1900s. While miners were digging out a test well, a mixture of gas and seawater erupted in a 26-foot-high inferno of fire. Methane fumes are still present, but it has since simmered down into the rock-rimmed basin leaving it only a few inches tall.
If you’re searching for a true wilderness experience this holiday season, look no further than the North Cascades National Park in Washington. With grizzly bears, grey wolves, and lynxes, this area is home to some of America’s most deadly (and beautiful) animals. Ross Lake offers fishing and boating activities, while kayakers and rafters can enjoy the thrill of white water rapids on the Skagit and Stehekin Rivers.
