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
Things to do in Washington, United States: The Best Sights & Landmarks
Discover the best top things to do in Washington, United States including Hurricane Ridge, Washington State University, Mount Baker Scenic Byway, Hanford Nuclear Reservation, Wild Horse Renewable Energy Center, B&B Family Farm, Diablo Lake Overlook, Quileute Indian Reservation, Fort Worden State Park, Fort Vancouver National Historic Site.
Restaurants in Washington
1. 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.
2. Washington State University
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 140 reviews
This large university is one of the country's leading research institutions.
Reviewed By CleopatraBunny - Flagstaff, United States
It’s a bit surreal to be on campus without the normal student traffic but it also let me focus on the beauty of the buildings without distraction. The Bookie bookstore is open with limited hours, as is Ferdinand’s for ice cream.
3. 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!
4. Hanford Nuclear Reservation
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 189 reviews
Reviewed By cindyo927 - West Richland, United States
This is a very informative tour, and full of history. Learned a few things that I had never realized from living around here, that I thought were odd..........the tour explained :-)
5. Wild Horse Renewable Energy Center
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 132 reviews
Due to the heightened level of caution regarding Coronavirus, the Renewable Energy Center will remain closed for the duration of 2020, however visitors can continue to explore the outdoor exhibits. Recreation at Wild Horse with a current Recreation Access Permit will be allowed starting May 5th. Permits can be filled out online. With the safety of our staff and visitors in mind, we have made the difficult decision to keep the Wild Horse Renewable Energy Center closed for the remainder of 2020. Visitors can still explore the exhibits outside of the visitor center, or fill out a free access permit on our website, if they want to recreate on the property.
Reviewed By annh867 - Shoreline, United States
You've seen the Wild Horse monument and may even have stopped when driving along I-90. You've seen the wind turbines from afar. But this visitor center is a chance to see them up close and learn about our great state taking advantage of wind and solar energy. I went for a conference at the visitor center (free for groups and centrally located for a state meeting!) but was able to take breaks to tour the facility, view the grandiose turbines up close, and view Mt. Rainier and Mt. St. Helens from a distance If you have a spare hour between eastern and western Washington, I highly recommend this free informative visitor center stop.
6. B&B Family Farm
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 209 reviews
We are now closed for the season. Our seasonal hours are 9-5 daily from May-September. Our family of three generations loves to share our 12-acre lavender farm. The 100-year old barn provides the northern backdrop to thousands of lavender plants with a breathtaking view of the Olympic Mountains to the south. We offer free tours all summer, which include information about growing, processing, cleaning and distilling lavender. Our Shoppe is filled with quality, hand-made lavender products and our one-of-a-kind bud-cleaning machine (aka the ‘jitterbud’) will be shakin’ all summer so stop by for a unique, free, educational farm experience.
Reviewed By SmithClanKMAA - Sequim, United States
This is a family owned farm that is beautiful.You will be greeted by one of the family(&treated like family too) and can explore the plants, barn or gift shop. A must see in Sequim!
7. Diablo Lake Overlook
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 126 reviews
Reviewed By 273triciaa - Louisville, United States
picnic tables and a great view...great stopping spot on your drive through NCNP...but it can get busy.
8. Quileute Indian Reservation
9. Fort Worden State Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,024 reviews
Stroll along beautiful beaches and explore rows of Victorian-style houses: this park has something for everyone.
Reviewed By 007pandas - Packwood, United States
This is a great location for walking and learning about the history of the area. The significant historical implications of the former military base coupled with its transformation to become an excellent destination for a picnic, meal, walking, wedding photography, and romantic moments to reflect.
10. Fort Vancouver National Historic Site
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 748 reviews
Explore the lands and structures at the center of fur trade and military history in the Pacific Northwest. Learn about the diverse cultures who lived and worked here. Enjoy relaxing trails along the Columbia River and Village. Experience costumed programs, hands-on education activities, engaging living history events, creative media and a world-class archaeology collection. Connect to the past.
Reviewed By DeCaye2
Great historical site! Loved how well the buildings were rebuilt! THis is an awesome historic landmark!
