Top Things to do in Washington
Top Hotels in Washington
- 1. Hyatt Regency Seattle
- 2. Staypineapple, The Maxwell Hotel, Seattle Center
- 3. Hyatt At Olive 8
- 4. Cedarbrook Lodge
- 5. The Paramount Hotel
- 6. Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, WA
- 7. Mayflower Park Hotel
- 8. Lotte Hotel Seattle
- 9. Mediterranean Inn
- 10. Coast Gateway Hotel
10 Things to do Good for Adrenaline Seekers in Washington That You Shouldn't Miss
Discover the best top things to do in Washington, United States including Mount St. Helens, Moran State Park, Hurricane Ridge, Olympic National Forest, Mount Rainier, Heliotrope Ridge Trail, Maple Pass Loop, Methow Valley, Chain Lakes Loop, Mount Baker Scenic Byway.
Restaurants in Washington
1. Mount St. Helens
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 475 reviews
While access to the still-steaming crater is forbidden, tourists flock to see what remains of this famous volcano.
Reviewed By SuperTed19 - Madison, United States
We spent the better part of a day making the drive to Johnston Ridge Observatory. Along the way, the road winds among the hills and trees and we were treated to so many amazing views that we thought we would run out of film for our camera (wink). Having seen the 1980 eruption on television, it was a shock to see how widespread the devastation (and new growth!) had was. Standing at Johnston Ridge and seeing the north side of the volcano that had been the location of the bulge that blew, one gets a true sense of how powerful Mother Nature truly is.
2. Moran State Park
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 582 reviews
Reviewed By debsimmonds
Thus is an awesome park with great hiking options. Some trails have beautiful views of the San Juan Islands others take you through old growth forests next to streams,lakes and waterfalls. Really beautiful. Plenty of deer on the island in including an unusual pure white buck we saw on the Little Summit hike.
3. Hurricane Ridge
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,790 reviews
A 17-mile stretch of winding road through dense forests and alpine ice-covered peaks.
Reviewed By Panda_Bear_Will
My wife and I visited Olympic National Park six years ago on a single day excursion from Seattle; we were able to see Lake Crescent and the Hoh Rain Forest briefly on that trip and I knew I needed to return one day to explore the park more fully. The Hurricane Ridge Road was closed on that previous visit, so returning to see it and hike the entire Hoh River Trail to the Blue Glacier on Mt. Olympus became bucket-list items shortly thereafter. I was able to return to Olympic and spend six full days exploring it as fully as possible. This review will really cover the park as a whole rather than Hurricane Ridge, but the 17 mile road which is easily accessible from Port Angeles is definitely a must-see for any visitor. Olympic is really divided into 3 distinct ecosystems: the mountains, surrounding rain forests, and coastal beaches. In order to get the true Olympic experience, a person should make it a point to dedicate at least a full day to each region. The sheer size of the park requires a good deal of driving to hit each individual region; one will mostly traverse the perimeter the park on Highway 101 and several roads leading deeper into the interior will allow access to areas such as Hoh, Quinault, So Duc, etc. Port Angeles to the north of the park provides the most choices when it comes to food and lodging; the western part of the park is serviced by the small town of Forks and to the extreme southwest, Aberdeen. The eastern edge of the park doesn't have much in the way of points of interest within the park besides some lesser-used trails, but it is a pleasant drive with occasional small towns like Hoodsport worth exploring for a bit. Distances between these points of interest are considerable as you're looking at a several hour drive between them. There are enough gas stations and other services that you're never quite "off the grid" for that long, but having a good idea of the layout of the park will save unneeded driving (though the scenery is usually so lush and inviting that the miles kind of melt after awhile). With that said, the following provides the highlights of the park, IMO, while doing so in a logical counter-clockwise fashion for people driving in from Seattle: 1) Hurricane Ridge. On a clear day, the views of the Olympic Mountain range are pretty amazing from the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center. The key word is "clear". Olympic is famous for its considerable rainfall and chances are you will encounter rain at several points throughout the day even during the summer. I recommend following the weather forecast and allowing for a possible return trip to Hurricane Ridge, if necessary. The first day I visited, clouds and rainfall offered tantalizing glimpses of the mountains beyond but nothing more. I return the next day and was treated to glacier-covered mountains and a lush alpine scene that was delightful to hike just around the parking lot (managed to see a hare, deer, and marmot within 10 minutes of the short hikes adjacent to the parking lot). Unfortunately, the Hurricane Hill trail further beyond the visitor center was closed for restoration. This area is the highlight of Olympic for me. 2) Lake Crescent. Returning to Highway 101 and heading west, the highway will eventually hug the shores of this large lake with mountains surrounding it. A popular short but very steep hike up Mt. Storm King will challenge even the more fit hikers (to reach its true summit, one must use several ropes for assistance). The highest waterfall within the park, Marymere Falls is also a short walk from the lake parking lot. 3) Rialto Beach. With its mountain ranges and lush rain forests, its easy to overlook the third aspect of Olympic NP which is actually very unique within the National Park system: the extended coastline of undeveloped wilderness. There are actually three areas of such coast line which are part of the park: the far northwestern reaches of Washington state which will include Lake Ozette, Rialto Beach which is west of the town of Forks, and the beaches running along Highway 101 in the southwestern portion of the park. I visited Rialto Beach and was treated to a leisurely hike along a beach trail leading to a rock arch (called "Hole in the Wall"), various other rock formations, and tide pools. This is some of the last extended undeveloped wild coast line within the US and is definitely worth a visit for anybody with several days to visit the park. 4) Hoh River Rain Forest: Upon my visit several years ago, I was most bummed to only spend about 30 minutes in this legendary forest which is often described as "enchanted" and "fairy-tale like". The Hoh River Trail extends for 17 miles (actually closer to 20 per several apps and devices I used to judge the distance) to the Blue Glacier on Mt. Olympus. For years, I dreamed of not only returning to the forest, but backpacking the trail all the way to the end. I was able to do so and while it was a very rewarding experience, I can say that the rain forest scenery and vibe does become a bit redundant after several miles. Most visitors will likely go no more than to 5 Mile Island for a day hike (the trail is very flat, so covering such distance is not much of a chore) and I believe that's sufficient. For those looking to backpack beyond, the trail remains flat to the 12.4 mile marker before climbing in elevation to Elk Lake. Beyond that, Glacier Meadows campsite beckons, but not before climbing down an unnerving ladder required to navigate a rock slide which wiped out the old trail. The climb to the Glacier itself is considerable and the distance (especially with a full backpack) makes this quite the workout. However, it was a lifetime experience that I'll cherish forever. For non-backpackers, the Hoh Forest is one of the more easily accessible rain forests within the park, but the scenery is pretty similar for most of them: lots of lush vegetation. 5) Lake Quinault. A scenic lake with some of the few actual lodgings within the park boundaries. This area also provides access to several more trails, both short and long distance, that seemed very enticing. In conclusion, Olympic may not get the headlines of more noted parks like Yosemite, Yellowstone, and the Grand Canyon, but its lush surroundings and highly varied landscapes makes this one of the best parks in America.
4. Olympic National Forest
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 603 reviews
Pristine forest surrounding the Olympic Mountain range.
Reviewed By PatriciaK815 - Haymarket, United States
This is a beautiful forest that is definitely a place to visit. If you like to hike, this is perfect and has a number of trails through the forest, over creeks, with mushrooms, soft underbrush and ferns, and sun shining through the trees.
5. Mount Rainier
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,754 reviews
At 14,410 feet, Mount Rainier is the fifth highest mountain in the continental 48 states.
Reviewed By WanderingRoseTravels - Charlotte, United States
Mt. Rainier National Park rises out of the Cascade Mountain Range 14,411 feet and dominates the weather and scenery in the Pacific Northwest, just a short drive from Seattle, WA. The park contains a great trail system taking trekkers to meadows, waterfalls, mountain streams, wildlife, 25 major glaciers and iconic alpine settings such as the morning view of Rainier from Reflection Lake. We love the four-mile, round-trip hike up to Comet Falls, which you can extend to a seven-mile round-tripper to Van Trump Park.
6. Heliotrope Ridge Trail
7. Maple Pass Loop
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 53 reviews
A scenic trail passing by lakes and meadows.
Reviewed By 718kristens - Tennessee, United States
Best hike! I couldn’t stop taking pictures because the views were amazing. Hiking sticks were very helpful. We went counter clockwise. It was a gradual incline to the top and not too steep back down. Most hikers were wearing masks or put them on when we passed. We started around 8am. Took us about 6 hours total with lunch at the top and lots of breaks for my 12 year old. Take plenty of water. I never felt unsafe. Well marked path once you’re on it. Weather was much cooler and easier in the early morning hours. Bugs were not a problem (october). Parking was available. Don’t forget to pay your $5 fee at the box or display your pass.
8. Methow Valley
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 179 reviews
Washington's premier cross-country ski area.
Reviewed By pattyjos2021
Fatbiking in this area is amazing. Nordic skiing is stellar. The grocery store people are wonderful and beautiful scenery.
9. Chain Lakes Loop
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 36 reviews
Reviewed By Danimarie8731 - Bellingham, United States
Easy access. I’ve been here in the winter spring and summer. All 3 times were fantastic. I’m not an expert hiker and I had an excellent time. Such stunning views. If you have the right boots or sandals (for me anything with Vibram technology) you will be able go far on this trail. It was iced over in December so we needed spike traction cleats for our shoes. If you are new to hiking this is an excellent place to start.
10. Mount Baker Scenic Byway
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 35 reviews
This scenic drive through Washington's Cascades takes you through spectacular scenery that includes many viewpoints, waterfalls and opportunities for short and long hikes along the way.
Reviewed By kalyan_peri - Bridgewater, United States
This summer we spent a week in Washington state covering North Cascades and Mt Rainier National Parks. We stayed for 3 nights in Glacier, Washington and drove through the Mt Baker Scenic Byway for 2 consecutive days. This drive took us through Washington’s Cascade Range had so much to offer with stunning scenery! The drive gets difficult in certain places and you need to very careful negotiating the steep curves, twists and turns - please be very focused and careful. That said, there are multiple spots to stop and enjoy the nature along the way as you get closer towards Artist Point - particularly the Picture Lake location is a sight to watch and enjoy. With Mount Shuksan in the background and the wildflowers in the foreground, Picture lake is, well, as pretty as, a post card picture! Expect the road to be a little busy in summer and the Artist Point parking lot to be a lot more crowded. There are a couple of beautiful hikes at the Artist Point – that offer stunning panoramic views of Mt Baker and Mt Shuksan - - take your time, be patient, respect nature and enjoy! Must do if you are visiting Washington state in summer! Absolutely great for hiking and photography!
