Seattle area aside (since we live here and all), Washington State has so many amazing destinations for families to enjoy a getaway together. Here I’m featuring just 5 of our favorite areas to explore. So many more places await us though (and I’ll have another batch of 5 next month), from spots that we’ve mearly passed through to areas we haven’t even touched.
Of course not everyone lives in the Seattle area, but I also wanted to note that each of these destinations is within a 3 hour drive from the city, so if you’re based here or in one of our surrounding communities, these road trips are very family friendly!
Port Townsend
A small charming town on the Northwest tip of the Olympic Peninsula, Port Townsend has parks to explore, eateries to satisfy your appetite, and maritime culture and history to investigate. Stroll along the bluff to admire beautiful Victorian-style homes, brush up on the past at the Jefferson County Historical Museum, and just wander around the downtown core–a National Historic District.
We also recommend:
Orcas Island
Orcas Island, part of the San Juan archipelago North of Seattle has the perfect balance of activity and quiet. Plenty to see and do, but not completely overrun and bustling. We can’t get enough of Moran State Park, probably the best state park in Washington. We plan our visits around where we’ll eat–Doe Bay for pizza on Thursday night, Roses for breakfast, the Kitchen for lunch, and you can’t leave the island without visiting Kathryn’s for a chocolate or 10!
We’ve always gone the VRBO (Vacation Rental by Owner) route, but camping (+glamping) is available in Moran State Park as well as lodging at Doe Bay.
We also recommend:
- Hiking
- Orcas Island Pottery
- Camp Orkila
Bow-Edison
The towns of Bow and Edison are tiny and tucked away in Skagit Valley, just 1.5 hours north of Seattle. Our lodging of choice is a cozy cabin at Bayview State Park. Beaches, farms, amazing farm to table food from small and unique eateries and possibly my most favorite bakery in the world-BreadFarm-await! Taking the scenic byway, Chuckanut Drive, and a stop at Larabee State Park north of town are also musts.
We also recommend:
- Cabins at Bayview State Park
- Nature Exploration
- Good Eats in Bow-Edison
Long Beach Peninsula
As the name implies, Long Beach is quite a stretch of sand, believed to be the longest in the world. It’s a beautiful destination any time of year. Aside from its length claim to fame, the beach is famous for its Kite Festival, the largest frying pan the world, and Jake, the alligator man. We’ve stayed in a bungalow close to the beach as well as nearby Cape Disappointment State Park. And for a completely unique and funky spot, head south of the town of Long Beach in Seaview and you’ll find the Sou’Western lodge.
We also recommend:
- Digging for Razor Clams
- Camping or Yurting
- Beach fun:
Leavenworth/Lake Wenatchee
The lush green, moss-filled forests make way for the tall pine trees and crystal clear waters as we leave Western Washington behind and enter the Central Cascades region. I appreciate only being a couple of hours away from home, but at the same time feeling so far from the hustle and bustle of the city. For some reason I feel this sense of peacefulness whenever I visit. Leavenworth is popular for its Bavarian themed village, but the natural beauty of the area shines right through and is what I enjoy the most. That and a deliciously refreshing beer from Icicle Brewery.
We also had the chance to visit Lake Wenatchee (25 minutes North) this past spring and it was glorious. Also in the area and not to miss: Peshastin Pinnacles State Park, BBQ at Country Boys in Cashmere, and Smallwood’s Harvest in Peshastin. We’ve been lucky enough to get to stay with friends in the area, but Lake Wenatchee State Park’s south section is a great option for camping families. In addtion to Leavenworth, nearby Wenatchee is Washington’s (if not the entire country’s) Apple Capital, and a lovely place for families to explore. Our Wenatchee guide is chock full of tips on what to do, where to eat, and where to stay.
Traveled to any of our picks? Tell us about your experience! What are your favorite Washington State destinations?
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Great list. The Long Beach Peninsula looks like a good fit for my family. 🙂
Thanks, Lesley! You guys would have a blast in Long Beach!
Great List! Can’t wait to visit Washington State with my family!
Thanks, Sarah! I hope you get to visit someday soon!
All these look lovely, especially Long Beach, though I’m fascinated by the name of the national park (Disappointment!!)
Long Beach is such a great destination. Cape Disappointment is a state park & the name comes from an 18th-century explorer who missed the entrance to the nearby Columbia River & was…you guessed it–disappointed! The park is totally the opposite of disappointing though! 🙂
These are all great ideas! I’d love to visit Orcas Island.
Thanks, Dana! Good choice in Orcas Island–such an amazing place & one of our family’s favorite. One of our visits was in January–cold & rainy as you might imagine, but my husband still considers it one of his best vacations!
We’ve never been to the state of Washington. However, we plan on road tripping the USA in the near future and I’m sure we’ll visit many of these destinations, especially Orca Island.
Yes, you definitely need to include the Pacific Northwest in your USA road trip itinerary! Thanks for your comment, Brenda!
Very cool. Who knew there was so much.
Yes! I feel very lucky to get to live in Washington State!
I’ve yet to visit Washington State but I would love to, it looks beautiful! I particularly like the look of Bow & Edison, hopefully we’ll get there one day.
Hope you get to visit soon, Katja! Ahhh, yes, Bow & Edison are so wonderful–I’m hoping we’ll get up there this summer, even if it’s just for a day trip.
I have friends that go to Orcas Island every year and just rave about it. I personally have never been to any of these destinations though… I would love to travel more on the west coast. I will be pinning this post to remember where to check out in Washington! Thanks!
Awesome! Wish we were going to Orcas this year! When you come to Washington, we’re definitely going to have to meet up!
I’d really like to spend more time in the Pacific Northwest. I’ve been to Seattle quite a few times for work but last summer I took my daughter to Oregon and we had an amazing time. It is such a great place for the outdoor activities that we love.
Nice that you been able to come to Seattle for work–always makes travel for work better when it’s in a nice place! I’ll be doing a follow-up post to this one with 5 more destinations soon & it’ll include a wine region that I think you’ll love! 🙂
Perfect timing! I’m planning a trip with my husband to the Northwest now. I’m not sure how much time we’ll have in Washington but this will give me some ideas.
Awesome! What are your plans so far? Definitely get in touch if you have questions as you plan.
We haven’t been to Washington State yet, but I’ve heard how beautiful it is, and seeing your photos I can tell it’s true. Especially the beaches and the lakes, though I’d love to see Mt. Rainier too!
Such a beautiful state with so many different natural features to explore–we feel very lucky to live here! Yes, Mt. Rainier is an absolute must!
This is a great list! I would so love to go to these places with the family…Been to many places in USA but haven’t made it to Washington State yet..one for the bucketlist 🙂
Washington State should definitely be on your bucketlist! Hope you get to travel here someday. Thanks so much for stopping by the blog & for your comment!