Situated on the Quimper Peninsula just 20 minutes from Port Townsend, Anderson Lake is the perfect spot to take the family. This body of water is 70-acres and offers 8,250 feet of freshwater shoreline with 496-acres of land. Biking, hiking, and horseback riding are encouraged as well as boating and fishing.
Anglers, water sport lovers, and nature photographers fancy heading out to Alta Lake State Park. Situated between hills, it’s approximately 2-miles long and is a great spot for fishing, boating, swimming, paddle boarding, and windsurfing. Golfers can enjoy the 18-hole course, and birdwatchers can tick a few species off their lists.
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.
If you are looking for a true adventure, head over the Palouse Falls State Park in the southeast corner of Washington. Home to a 198-foot waterfall, this scenic location is full of geological and cultural history. You can head off on a hike and enjoy the stunning views from the plateau.
Situated on the Kitsap Peninsula, just across the Puget Sound from Seattle, Manchester State Park is an interesting place full of history. Originally built as a fort in the early 1900s to protect the Bremerton Naval Shipyard, this spot features an abandoned torpedo warehouse that has been converted into a picnic shelter.
Just south of the Canadian border rests Birch Bay State Park. Stretching over 194-acres, this shoreline is well-known for being a premier location to harvest hard-shell clams. Visitors are welcome to have a beachside picnic with stunning views of the Cascade Mountains and the Gulf Islands.
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.
Often referred to as Whale Watch Park, Lime Kiln Point is the perfect place to venture if you are looking to spot a few orcas. Situated on the west side of San Juan Island, this majestic seafront offers some of the most scenic views in the state. Stretching over 36-acres, you can enjoy your day hiking, combing the beaches, setting up a picnic, or even going on a tour hosted by the on-site interpretive center.
Spanning 492 acres across the eastern slopes of the Cascades Mountains, Lake Wenatchee is a stunning waterfront that took its form from melting glaciers thousands of year ago. You can get a bird’s eye view of this scenic location by hiking up Dirtyface Peak that overlooks the entire area.
Situated between the northern tip of the Whidbey and Fidalgo Islands, Deception Pass is Washington’s most popular start park. With over 2 million visitors each year, this waterway features an array of recreational activities including fishing, hiking, camping, tidepools, and beaches. If you decide to explore the scenic trails, you may get a glimpse of a pod of orcas during their migration.
