This Pacific Northwest metropolis is a dream for day-trippers; Seattle is about subsequent to the Olympic Peninsula and located on Puget Sound. When visiting Seattle, you’re surrounded by water and rainforest. And whenever you enterprise out of the town limits, you could have the Canadian border, many nationwide park decisions, and islands galore you possibly can entry by ferry. Day journeys from Seattle are adventurous by default. So outside journey lovers, put together for the intense temptation to go away Downtown Seattle.
Prime Day Journeys from Seattle
On this information, we’ve bought absolutely the creme de la creme of day journeys from Seattle. We’re speaking Olympic National Park classics like Hoh Rain Forest and ferry journey Seattle day journeys to locations just like the San Juan Islands. You possibly can hop on a ship, seize climbing boots and climbing gear, guide an tour, or lease a automobile. These day journeys from Seattle are all value pushing your self.
Planning Your Journey To Seattle Proper Now?
Under are a few of the high day journey excursions from Seattle. Don’t overlook to plan forward when visiting Washington!
Prime Day Journey Actions and Excursions from Seattle:
This little metropolis park may sound unassuming, nevertheless it is among the greatest day journeys for waterfall climbing trails and ornate gardens. You stroll alongside tiny paved climbing trails by way of closely mossed forests – sometimes navigating stone bridges that appear like one thing from a fairytale.
The entire park is atmospheric, and you’ll’t go fallacious for a serene climbing expertise. We added it to this information as a lesser-considered possibility than the ‘main Seattle day journeys’ like Mount Rainier. Whatcom Falls Park is a beautiful day journey from Seattle, involving a 1.5-hour drive or a 2.5-hour Greyhound journey. By automobile, it is a perfect distance from Seattle, and as a superb bonus, it’s free to enter.
On the best way, you possibly can incorporate stops at Samish Park, which has a chosen swimming space, and northern Seattle sights like Unhealthy Canine Brewery and Stillaguamish Valley Pioneer Museum. Bellingham is a lovely coastal metropolis and has loads extra to supply when you’ve visited Whatcom Falls Park. As a winter day journey detour, you can even go snowboarding on the close by Mount Baker. Whatcom Falls is simply a place to begin.
2. Columbia River Gorge Nationwide Scenic Space
Columbia River Gorge Nationwide Scenic Space is the place to go for a dramatic waterfall. Whatcom Falls is ideal for cutesy forest waterfalls, however Columbia River Gorge has a collection of colossal falls. The protect is about round an 80-mile-long canyon as much as 4000 ft deep. The Columbia River crashes by way of the canyon, and you’ll select from varied climbing trails to embrace the surroundings.
Visiting Columbia River Gorge Nationwide Scenic Space is kind of an enterprise, almost 4 hours in distance from Seattle. However it’s positively undertakable when you have a number of drivers to rotate between driving shifts. Moreover, you possibly can even stopover in Portland en route.
For us, Columbia River Gorge Nationwide Scenic Space stood out for its mighty waterfalls, that are essentially the most spectacular (force-wise) within the area. In the event you fancy some extra adventurous waterfall hikes, it’s the better of the day journeys from Seattle.
3. Level Defiance Park
Level Defiance Park is to not be skimmed over. This 760-acre monster of a park is about within the close by metropolis of Tacoma and is the basic nod to an ‘city oasis’ that many city-dwellers crave. Level Defiance Park juts into Puget Sound, with viewpoints sprinkled round its edge.
Vashon Viewpoint and Dalco Passage Viewpoint – these views all deserve a glance in, particularly in the event you coincide your go to with dawn or sundown. Other than the scenic strolls, Level Defiance Park has loads of main sights. When you can enter the park totally free, you possibly can pay to go to sights like Fort Nisqually Dwelling Historical past Museum and the Level Defiance Aquarium.
Level Defiance Park is barely any distance from Seattle. You’re speaking 45 minutes by automobile, and by public transport, about 2 hours. To be trustworthy, Level Defiance most caught our eye as a result of it entails bypassing Tacoma and getting a contemporary metropolis perspective. After a couple of days in Seattle, shaking off one metropolis and refreshingly embracing one other for a day is nice. This park is essentially the most lovely place to take action, incorporating a little bit of inexperienced area.
4. Whale Watching
Whereas we’re on the subject of marine life, it will be a criminal offense to go with out mentioning whale watching. Whale watching is among the greatest day journeys from Seattle, and between Might and October, you’re in for a deal with. Seattle’s surrounding waters have all the pieces from grey and humpback whales to the beloved orca. Guide a whale-watching tour and take a look at your luck with sightings; Seattle is a whale hotspot.
Your journey distance from Seattle relies on your boat journey alternative. Many boats supply a half-day expertise, like this 4-hour afternoon zodiac cruise. You will need to observe that what boat kind you select additionally massively impacts your day journey expertise. Zodiacs are a lot nearer to the water’s floor, so you will get a way more intimate expertise, however wrap up heat since you’ll be uncovered to all the weather.
Coated boats supply a extra snug, heat expertise, however you’re a lot additional away from the whales. We’d suggest the zodiacs for optimum expertise, that are additionally deemed barely extra moral and fewer intrusive than the massive boats, the place whales can injure themselves on big propellers.
5. Boeing Way forward for Flight
Boeing Way forward for Flight is one among our shortest day journeys from Seattle. The truth is, it’s only a 30-minute distance from Seattle metropolis middle by automobile. Flight fanatics searching for a fast addition to your itinerary, that is it. The museum is a ridiculously informative immersion into the world of economic jets. You wander by way of corridor after corridor of detailed displays. However, maybe most excitingly, additionally get up-close and private with jets-in-the-making on the industrial jet meeting plant. Boeing Way forward for Flight is the closest you will get to industrial aviation motion within the US – if not the world. For that purpose, we simply had so as to add it to this information.
Time-wise, we’d permit a couple of hours to get to the museum, go searching, seize a espresso, and return to Seattle. It truly is a bitesize day journey.
6. Skagit Valley Tulip Competition
Let’s preface this by saying that Skagit Valley is all the time a lovely day journey from Seattle. The valley is minimize in half by 150 miles of river and has beautiful, sweeping inexperienced grasslands. Nevertheless, it actually comes into its personal through the Skagit Valley Tulip Competition – which runs from March to Might yearly. Through the tulip competition, there are seas (and we imply seas) of bobbing tulips in oranges, pinks, yellows, whites, and extra. The flowers are painstakingly organized in color-coordinated rows and are a shocking place to go to from Seattle. You possibly can simply spend a number of hours strolling between the completely different tulip fields.
The valley is an hour and 10 minutes from Seattle metropolis middle by automobile. You can too take a number of guided excursions to see the tulip shows, like this one on Viator. In the event you don’t drive, a guided tour is the best choice.
7. Victoria, BC
Victoria, BC, is situated throughout the Canadian border and is a famously old-world vacation spot. Sat on the sleepy, grizzly bear and leaping salmon-filled Vancouver Island, Victoria is happy with its early ancestry and never but able to shake off the previous structure and even transport strategies like horse-drawn carriages. The British affect in Victoria can be closely leaned into, with tearooms and double-decker buses all through the town. As a day journey, it’s nice enjoyable.
By land, Victoria is a substantial distance from Seattle. However by high-speed clipper ferry, the journey takes lower than 3 hours. Should-visit sights in Victoria embrace visiting the brightly-colored floating pier of outlets at Fisherman’s Wharf Pier, Hatley Citadel, and Craigdarroch Citadel. Don’t overlook the Malahat SkyWalk both; this attraction is a 10-story tower that brings you to a 600-meter elevated walkway amidst Arbutus and Douglas Fir forests. It is among the greatest outside sights the town has to supply.
8. Mount St Helens
Mount St Helens is an energetic stratovolcano simply south of Seattle. Scary? Maybe just a little. Its final explosion was in 1980, and this disaster marked the deadliest volcanic eruption ever in US historical past. And whereas it hasn’t erupted since, it’s nonetheless probably the most adrenaline-junkie day journeys from Seattle. You possibly can go to any of its surrounding viewpoints, together with Johnston Ridge Observatory and Windy Ridge Viewpoint. However solely superior climbers and mountaineers can sort out the climb-only path to the summit. Non-climbers get the views, whereas climbers get the problem of summiting an energetic volcano.
Mount St Helens could also be one of many longest day journeys from Seattle, taking 3.5 hours by automobile from Seattle’s metropolis middle. Don’t let that section you although, particularly when you have drivers to rotate driving shifts between. Mount St Helens is an enchanting and difficult place on your subsequent hang-out in case you are a sophisticated climber and mountaineer. You’ll go by way of Olympia in your technique to the volcano, which makes an ideal midway stopping level. You possibly can all the time cease for some political historical past and well-earned espresso after getting face-to-face with one of many US’ most feared volcanoes.
9. La Push Seashores
Twilight followers will most likely be acquainted with La Push Seaside. It’s that moody-aesthetic, angsty teen-style seaside with battered black sprinkled sand, crashing waves, and washed-up driftwood. Essentially the most spectacular factor about driftwood is that generally it may be nearly full tree trunks. Out of all of the day journeys from Seattle, La Push seashores actually have the environment all the way down to a tee. You possibly can go to (creatively named) First Seaside, Second Seaside, Third Seaside, or Rialto Seaside.
The space from Seattle is fairly excessive; you’ll catch a ferry journey along with your automobile throughout Puget Sound earlier than driving by way of the Olympic Nationwide Park if you wish to go the adventurous route. In any other case, drive by way of Tacoma and over the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, throughout the highest finish of the Olympic Peninsula – passing Port Angeles. The entire drive takes underneath 4 hours, with an 8-hour return journey. Due to this fact, you’ll want a number of drivers or an in a single day keep and a few flexibility over the time period ‘day journey.’
10. Port Angeles
Port Angeles is excess of a metropolis squeezed onto the shoreline by the looming presence of Olympic Nationwide Park. The tiny metropolis is true on the high of the Olympic Peninsula and, for many, merely a bolt-hole to discover the close by nationwide park and forest. Don’t be that individual, although; Port Angeles is a day journey in its personal proper. The town is an actual cultural hotspot – extremely celebratory of its heritage and humanities. You possibly can go to the Port Angeles Positive Arts Heart, Elwha Klallam Museum on the Carnegie, and the Port Angeles Underground & Heritage Tour.
Port Angeles is among the most underrated day journeys from Seattle. The Port Angeles distance from Seattle is simply 2.5 hours; you’ll want a automobile and shall be crossing the Puget Sound by automobile ferry (which even sounds thrilling). If in case you have a day or two to spare, you can keep in a single day in Port Angeles and use it as a base to catch the ferry to Victoria the next day as a second-day journey. There’s a direct ferry line between the 2 that’s simply too tempting to not use when you have the time.
11. Olympia
There’s all the time pure magnificence and a climbing path to be discovered inside straightforward distance from Seattle. However this present day journey affords one thing barely completely different. Olympia is the state capitol of Washington, DC. This title implies that the town, which is humbly situated on the southern finish of Puget Sound, simply an hour’s drive from Seattle, homes an important buildings in Washington.
The Washington State Capitol Campus, Legislative Constructing, and a 1909-built Governor’s Mansion are in Olympia. Relating to political historical past and American tradition, Olympia affords far more in-depth perception than Seattle. So day journey all the way down to Olympia and get all of it discovered.
It’s free to enter the Washington State Capitol Constructing and Campus. You possibly can simply spend an hour or two wandering round this political attraction. Then you possibly can see extra of the issues to do in Olympia. Positively permit a complete day for the go to, particularly in the event you attain the town by 1.5-hour practice. Olympia is understandably in style for its political and American historical past. And if these are issues that float your boat, then Olympia has your title written throughout it.
12. North Bend
North Bend is a perfect day journey for railroad historical past and delightful pure surroundings. The city has Northwest Railway Museum and its conventional practice line. Plus, the beautiful Three Forks Pure Space. It’s a excellent spot to go to for a couple of hours of wandering and enjoyable. North Bend can be the one day journey on this information that may be accomplished by a single, short-distance bus journey. You possibly can catch the Trailhead Direct Mt. Si for 35 minutes and arrive straight in North Bend – which positively beats navigating the Seattle metropolis middle in a rental automobile.
North Bend is a cute allrounder, primarily suited to these with an curiosity in railway heritage or useless set towards driving to go on a day journey from Seattle. We’ve added this present day journey as it’s a simple bus journey possibility for non-drivers visiting Seattle. Oh, and we’ll drop within the enjoyable incontrovertible fact that the city was additionally used as a set for Twin Peaks, a big film; be ready to identify all of the acquainted backdrops.
13. Go Wine Tasting
Going wine tasting is a enjoyable day journey from Seattle – and you’re positively by no means wanting guided wine-tasting tours from Seattle. Woodinville is among the hotspots for wine-tasting day journeys from Seattle. Woodinville Wine Nation is famed for its reds; cabernet sauvignon, syrah, and merlot are all on the tasting menus. And with over 130+ wineries within the area, visiting all of them in a day is unattainable. Choose your tasting expertise properly. In the event you go for this present day journey, you’re in for an thrilling time.
Most wine-tasting excursions final roughly 7 hours and embrace 4-6 wineries. Tempo your self, as you’ll be making an attempt round 5 glasses of wine at every cease, and it’s hilariously straightforward to get too tipsy. Woodinville is simply a 25-minute drive from Seattle metropolis middle, so most of your time shall be spent within the tasting experiences. It’s straightforward to see why wine tasting is so prevalent in Seattle. Woodinville Wine Nation is shut, well-run with a number of tour choices, and famend for tasty reds.
14. Gig Harbor
Gig Harbor is a blink-and-you-miss-it city in dimension, however in character, it’s value a go to. The city is related to its previous and has a powerful sense of maritime neighborhood. Gig Harbor is easy and stuffed with candy native sights for a healthful escape for a day. The Harbor Historical past Museum is an absolute should, with an immersive historical past that features an 1893 schoolhouse and a 65-foot fishing vessel.
Climbing Finholm View provides you a shocking view of the city and water, and catching a Gig Harbor gondola is a should in order for you lovely views from the water. Even simply strolling by way of Gig Harbor is worth it; recognizing the homes with overwater verandas and making an attempt the contemporary catch dishes is a deal with.
The Gig Harbor distance from Seattle is subsequent to nothing, taking simply 45 minutes by automobile or 2.5 hours by public transport. It’s a in style day journey that additionally bypasses Tacoma – win, win.
15. Snoqualmie Falls
Snoqualmie Falls is one other lovely waterfall, this time located alongside the Snoqualmie River inside strolling distance of its namesake city Snoqualmie. That’s loads of ‘Snoqualmies’. In additional sensible phrases, although, the waterfall is only a 30-minute drive from Seattle, making it one of many shortest Seattle day trips. It’s in style as a sundown attraction, because the falls are superbly illuminated at the moment with a pastel backdrop. Between the billowing waterfall spray and the sheer energy of the crashing water, it is among the most impactful falls you possibly can go to inside a brief distance from Seattle.
For us, we love how shut this waterfall is. It’s the kind of day journey you can nonetheless wrangle after a busy day in Downtown Seattle – zipping throughout to catch the sundown at Snoqualmie Falls is the proper late-afternoon journey.
16. Tiger Mountain State Forest
Tiger Mountain State Forest spans 13,745 acres. And we’d recommend experiencing it on horseback or by bike if you wish to cowl some floor. You possibly can lease bikes and arrange horseback path rides on-line beforehand. In any other case, embrace the handfuls of climbing trails Tiger Mountain State Forest affords.
Essentially the most spectacular is Chirico Path to Poo-Poo Level, which is 6.4km out and again and takes round 3 hours to finish. You possibly can normally spot dangle gliders and paragliders having fun with the valley, and this path additionally provides you lovely views of Mount Rainier within the distance. Tiger Mountain State Forest is good for limitless hours on forest tracks.
The space from Seattle is minimal, taking solely half-hour by automobile. You possibly can add Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park to your day journey whenever you drive to Tiger Mountain State Forest. The park has tons of climbing trails and is situated midway alongside the precise driving route you’ll be utilizing.
17. Wallace Falls State Park
Wallace Falls State Park is jam-packed and stuffed with old-growth forests, spreading over an enormous space of 1,380 acres. However its profitable issue is its 265-foot waterfall, which you’ll be able to rise up near on the Wallace Falls Center Falls Overlook. The waterfall plunges dramatically towards a thick backdrop of coniferous bushes – visually actually hanging. The overlook is a 5-mile hike however value each sweaty step for the ultimate view.
Wallace Falls State Park is the proper place to exhaust your self for essentially the most untouched pure views. The park is someplace to go for an final waterfall hike. In fact, there are prolonged trails alongside the riverbank, too, together with the close by lovely Wallace Lake. So you could have loads of climbing choices.
The Wallace Falls State Park distance from Seattle is an hour by automobile or 3 hours by a sketchy public transport mixture. For apparent causes, we’d recommend driving. If in case you have time to remain at Wallace Falls State Park in a single day, do, because it affords campgrounds that make for an pleasing in a single day base.
18. Portland
When mentioning our different day journeys from Seattle, Portland has popped up a couple of instances. So what precisely does this powerhouse of Oregon supply to visiting vacationers? In brief, eco-friendly recreation, microbreweries, and extra coffeehouses than you can ever depend. Portland is inherently fashionable, and Oregon’s largest metropolis is overdue a fame makeover. Visiting Hoyt Arboretum, Worldwide Rose Check Gardens, and Witch’s Citadel are all good outside things to do in Portland to attach with nature. Then simply head to the microbreweries or seize a caffeine repair.
You possibly can drive to Portland in simply over 3 hours from Seattle. However we’d truly recommend catching the Amtrak Cascade. The practice takes 3.5 hours however means you keep away from driving by way of the congested metropolis middle or worrying about having to park and journey in on public transport. Catch the primary practice from Seattle to Portland with the intention to arrive at round 10 am, catching the 7 pm service again to Seattle. You’ll be again in Seattle by 11 pm and get a full day of 9 hours to sightsee Portland.
19. Diablo Lake
Diablo Lake is a shocking alpine attraction and delightful addition to our day journeys from Seattle. We’d recommend pinpointing the Diablo Lake Vista Level, aka the Diablo Lake Overlook, which has essentially the most spectacular view of the electrical blue lake. As a result of Diablo Lake is full of glacial water, its waters seem nearly cloudy in colour.
And the brightness is an actual draw, too, making the lake probably the most photogenic day journeys from Seattle. You can begin on the viewpoint after which embark on one of many many hikes across the lake’s perimeter; a digicam is important.
When it comes to distance from Seattle, Diablo Lake is 2.5 hours by automobile and requires you to drive – it’s in the course of nowhere. It’s sandwiched between the rest of Ross Lake Nationwide Recreation Space and North Cascades Nationwide Park. Be ready for a desolate wilderness expertise of pure magnificence.
20. Vancouver
Vancouver is among the most unbelievable day journeys from Seattle, and it’ll take little to persuade you to agree with us. You possibly can zip over from Seattle to Vancouver in simply 2.5 hours by automobile. Vancouver is the darling of the Pacific Northwest coast of Canada. It has shut ties to its First Nations historical past, unequalled orca-watching alternatives, and a superb cultural scene. It truly seems like you possibly can museum-hop eternally in Vancouver. Or you possibly can head simply exterior the town to hikes and outside recreation sights like Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, which snakes by way of the treetops of a 30-acre park.
It doesn’t take a genius to see why Vancouver is so in style – there are such a lot of things to do. And for anybody eager to sneak Canada into their US journey, it’s a good technique to mix two nations in a restricted time. Vancouver is so iconic that we simply needed to embrace it amongst the most effective Seattle day journeys. How may you miss it when you find yourself so shut?
21. Whidbey Island
Whidbey Island is one other of the most effective Seattle day journeys – famously appearing because the boundary for the northern finish of the Puget Sound. The island is large, enjoying house to over 70,000 everlasting residents. It’s beloved for its shoreline and small coastal communities. It’s such a lovely instance of coastal residing that it has been utilized in movies comparable to Free Willy 2, The Warfare of the Roses, and Prime Gun: Maverick. Whidbey Island has all the pieces from seashores to lakes and farmland. You go to this kind of place since you need to discover farm-to-table eating places and have a healthful, off-the-grid weekend.
Deception Move Bridge
With solely a day journey, although, it’s essential to assume virtually. You need to positively drive Deception Move Bridge, go to Deception Move State Park, cease by arty Langley, get some historical past at Fort Casey, and, with youthful youngsters, go to Value Sculpture Forest for some family-tailored enjoyable.
Whidbey Island is a surprisingly quick distance from Seattle. The Whidbey Island distance varies by practice and automobile, however each choices take round 1.5 hours. The practice takes 1.5 hours whereas driving takes an hour. Its proximity to Seattle partly makes it a preferred getaway and day journey.
22. Bainbridge Island
Keep in mind Bainbridge Island from earlier? This time, we’ll give attention to the entire island, not simply Fort Ward’s scuba diving alternatives. The island is reached by ferry from Seattle, taking solely an hour. You possibly can deliver a automobile (which we extremely suggest as a result of the island is a nightmare on foot or public transport), and ticket value varies primarily based on automobile dimension. With regards to outside recreation, whenever you arrive, you’re spoiled for alternative, and that extra cash to deliver a automobile shall be tremendously appreciated.
On a day journey from Seattle, you possibly can plan just a little street journey round Bainbridge Island to hop between its completely different sights. The Bainbridge Island distance by ferry is so quick that you just barely burn up any power on the ferry part. So, a couple of hours of driving is completely nothing and a possible possibility. Bainbridge Island has the attractive Bloedel Reserve, a nature protect 150 acres in dimension. The reserve has manicured paths to go to the forests, ornate backyard, and reflection pool inside its limits. The island additionally has the Grand Forest West and Gazzam Lake reserves. Whereas for tradition, there’s the Bainbridge Island Historic Museum and Museum of Artwork.
23. San Juan Island
San Juan Island is just a little animal-watching hotspot simply off the coast of Seattle. You possibly can meet its resident alpacas, take a kayaking tour to identify its common orca guests, or simply embrace fowl watching from a scenic lavender area. The ferry journey drops you in Friday Harbor, the place you possibly can museum hop and reap the benefits of quite a few wildlife-themed excursions across the island.
When it comes to distance from Seattle, this present day journey is prolonged. Whereas it’s best visited on a multi-day journey, essentially the most formidable and rigid-scheduled of you possibly can sort out this as a day journey from Seattle. San Juan Island is reached by a 3-hour 45-minute ferry that departs from Seattle Harbor.
Deal with this ferry journey as your first wildlife-watching expertise. You possibly can see whales, orcas, dolphins, seals, and lots of sea birds. So don’t waste this ferry journey – pack binoculars and a digicam with lens. You’ll have few hours on the island earlier than catching a return ferry.
24. North Cascades Nationwide Park
Banff has everybody flashing coronary heart eyes however North Cascades Nationwide Park is your greatest wager in order for you a Banff-style expertise with out crossing the Canadian border. And as a super mid-length journey North Cascades Nationwide Park is simply 2 hours away from Seattle by automobile.
It’s most spectacular when it has snow-capped peaks in full glory, however its vivid blue and inexperienced alpine lakes are beautiful year-round. North Cascades has that alpine attract whereas being means much less busy than a few of the different nationwide park decisions close to Seattle. These within the know adore it for its quieter trails and alpine surroundings – particularly these electric-colored lakes.
North Cascades is an absolute given in an inventory of the most effective day journeys from Seattle. It has greater than 300 glaciers and dozens of mountains, primarily a photographer’s paradise. You will have many trails to select from, and even simply driving by way of ensures lovely views. Permit a full day in North Cascades to embrace the expertise totally.
25. Olympic Nationwide Park
Olympic Nationwide Park is an unbelievable addition to your Seattle expertise, and you’re seemingly already planning a visit or, on the very least, acquainted with it. Olympic Nationwide Park staggeringly covers a close to million acres. Predominantly, this encompasses old-growth rainforests, waterfalls, and some multi-day hiking trails that depart you in any other case minimize off from the surface world.
In a super world, you’d have greater than a day to go to the park, particularly with its proximity to Rialto Seaside and the Twilight-famed black sand shoreline. There are simply so many things to do in Olympic National Park. However in a day, you possibly can a minimum of cowl its highlights – Hoh Rain Forest and its Corridor of Mosses Path, Hurricane Ridge, and trail-lined shores of Lake Crescent.
The Olympic Nationwide Park’s distance from Seattle varies relying on the place you propose to go to (it’s nearly 1,000,000 acres in dimension, keep in mind). Nevertheless, to get to the primary customer middle is a 2.5-hour drive. We suggest renting a automobile for this journey. You possibly can book guided tours, however they’re extortionate in value and really restricted in your itinerary. As an alternative, rent a car and get exploring independently.
26. Mount Rainier Nationwide Park
Mount Rainier Nationwide Park is clustered round an energetic volcano with a glaciated peak – Mount Rainier itself. The mountain basks in each glory and a focus, with fantastic hiking trails zig-zagging its slopes and surrounding space. And whereas it’s beautiful in spring with all of the mountain flowers, Mount Rainier Nationwide Park is unquestionably extra of a winter day journey from Seattle. You possibly can ski or snowmobile.
When you may even take guided snowshoe walks in the event you fancy one thing with a bit extra of a sightseeing angle. In the event you go to Seattle in winter, Mount Rainier Nationwide Park is the place you need to be. It has a fame for being a snow lover’s heaven.
When it comes to distance from Seattle, the Mount Rainier Nationwide Park distance varies barely relying on the place you go to. As a basic rule although, permit simply over 2 hours to succeed in the park by automobile, with further time in case of poor circumstances. In the event you guide a guided tour with transport from Seattle (you’ll need a automobile to entry the nationwide park), anticipate to be driving for a couple of hours to permit for potential pick-ups and stop-offs.
27. Fort Ward Park
Relating to waterfront parks, Fort Ward Park will not be one to overlook. The park is simply an hour’s drive or a 1.5-hour bus and ferry journey from Seattle, nevertheless it provides you a completely completely different impression of the area. However it’s most well-known for its underwater park for scuba divers. For anybody PADI certified, there are tons of corals and marine life to work together with. Exhausting to not love, proper? Fort Ward Park is a hidden gem for a lot of, so think about it the darkish horse of this information on the most effective day journeys from Seattle.
Fort Ward Park is about on Bainbridge Island, which we’ll cowl as a day journey attraction later. Nevertheless, we wished to first spotlight Fort Ward Park as a standalone attraction – primarily because of its large scuba diving potential. It is among the greatest dive spots in miles round. And whereas a PADI is required to scuba dive at Fort Ward Park, you possibly can nonetheless benefit from the 4,300 ft of shoreline with a scenic footpath with out getting your ft moist.
Day Journeys from Seattle: FAQs
It’s so straightforward to really feel impressed by these day journeys from Seattle; pure magnificence is a assure, which we love. Earlier than you go, although, be aware of these further snippets of information. These are our Seattle day journeys FAQs.
What to go to exterior of Seattle?
Positively squeeze in some nationwide park visits when visiting Seattle. Olympic Nationwide Park and Mount Rainer Nationwide Park are the 2 large ones. You also needs to make time to go whale watching as nicely.
What cities are one hour from Seattle?
Olympia, Bremerton, and Tacoma are all inside an hour of Seattle. With three hours, you possibly can attain cities like Portland and Vancouver.
Is Bainbridge Island value visiting?
Bainbridge Island is famend for its nature and has the forested Bloedel Reserve to go to. It additionally has some cultural sights just like the Bainbridge Island Museum. It’s a good allrounder in terms of day journeys from Seattle.
What’s 5 hours away from Seattle?
Siuslaw Nationwide Forest and lots of different main Oregon sights are 5 hours away from Seattle. You can too enterprise throughout the Canadian border and into the agricultural areas round Vancouver and Vancouver Island.
To Conclude
Day journeys from Seattle are thrilling – however you don’t want us to let you know that. Now you recognize the complete extent of the town’s day journey potential for your self. In the event you fancy tradition, there’s Port Angeles, rainforest hikes, Olympic Nationwide Park, and snowboarding, Mount Rainier. Oh, and you’ll see humpback whales and generally even orcas from Might to October. Seattle is someplace the place it’s essential to permit further days simply to make use of the town as a base.
Wait, have you ever bought lodging already? If not, selecting a Seattle neighborhood is simply as necessary as planning a Seattle day journey or two. Which neighborhood you select will massively affect your expertise, so be sure to tell apart your Fremont out of your West Seattle. You’ll additionally need to pay shut consideration to your neighborhood of alternative and the way it impacts your distance to sure day journey sights.
Have a superb time visiting Seattle. Whether or not you go to Mount Rainier or Whatcom Falls, you’ll have a spectacular time embracing all its thrilling environment.
