1. Hike Up A Mountain And Look At A Bunch Of Other Mountains
On a clear day, the peak of Silver Star Mountain, just outside Vancouver, offers a view of Mount Rainier, Hood, Jefferson, Adams, and St. Helens. That makes it well worth the work it takes to get to the top.
2. Rock Out… Very Very Quietly
Olympia Acoustic Fest is the perfect event for those who like to rock hard… but not too hard. The festival features some of the best local acoustic acts from the Pacific Northwest.
3. Check Out Stonehenge Without A Trip Across The Pond
The Stonehenge Memorial in Maryhill was built as a tribute to the soldiers of Klickitat Country in World War I. It’s also a full-scale replica of the original, so you can save yourself the long flight.
4. Ride The Ferry To The San Juan Islands
The San Juan Islands are the perfect place for a hike along the water and orca whale watching, but while you’re on your way there, it’s best to conserve your energy. So just sit back and enjoy the absolutely incredible scenery.
5. Stay At The “Twin Peaks” Great Northern Hotel
The Salish Lodge & Spa in Snoqualmie may look familiar to anyone who has been using their Netflix account correctly. The hotel served as a film location for the cult classic television series “Twin Peaks.” Perched over the Snoqualmie Falls, it’s the perfect spot to hang up your hat (or your FBI badge) at the end of the day.
6. Then Grab Some Coffee And Cherry Pie At The Double R Diner
The Double R, located in North Bend, may be called Twede’s Cafe in real life, but they’re still home to “Twin Peaks” cherry pie and a fine cup of coffee that would pass the Dale Cooper test.
7. Geek Out Hard At The EMP
The wacky and wonderful collection of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame at the EMP Museum in Seattle is sure to transport you to a galaxy far far away.
8. Descend Into The Ape Caves Lava Tubes
The Ape Caves are some of the longest lava tubes in North America and run roughly parallel to the ground of Mount St. Helens. If you can overcome your fears of a volcano suddenly becoming active and swallowing you whole, it’s totally worth the trip.
9. Catch A Double Feature At The Blue Fox Drive-In
Oak Harbor’s Blue Fox Drive-In plays double features every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night, making it the basically the most adorable spot ever to snuggle up in your car with a cutie on the weekend.
10. Stand In The Center Of The The McMillin Mausoleum
Nestled in a Friday Harbor cemetery on the San Juan Islands, this massive memorial, sometimes called Afterglow Vista, is an appropriately peaceful spot… if maybe a little creepy.
11. Tap Into Your Artsy Side
The Seattle Art Museum, affectionately known as SAM, has one of the best permanent collections in the country, and their touring exhibits make the trip totally unique every time you go.
12. Then Enjoy Some Really Terrible Art
The Official Bad Museum of Bad Art (yes, that’s OBAMA for short), is housed in Seattle’s Cafe Racer and is dedicated to all terrible, horrible, and truly awful art, which is almost kind of beautiful.
13. Get Squeaky Clean At Soap Lake
Soap Lake is a naturally occurring soda lake. The mineral-rich water has a soapy appearance and feel, and it’s said to have healing properties.
14. Stuff Your Face At Pike Place Market
Seattle’s Pike Place Market is the perfect spot to sample tons of food from local vendors and grab a microbrew. If you’re in town for Chocofest, it’s all you can eat and drink chocolate and beer for just twenty-five bucks (and you have the best excuse to get your money’s worth).
15. Try Really Super Hard Not To Break Anything At The Museum Of Glass
Tacoma’s Museum of Glass has some seriously gorgeous glass sculptures and objects that take the art of glass blowing to a whole new level. Just don’t trip. Seriously. Do. Not. Trip.
16. Ski Down Mount Baker
With so many mountains to choose from, it’s tough to pick the best spot to ski. But when in doubt, go where the locals do. Mt. Baker is said to have the best slopes in the state.
17. Smooch Someone Special By The Kissing Couple Statue
Nothing quite beats a grand romantic gesture. Taking the one you adore to the Richard Beyer statue in Olympia for some smooches of your own is the perfect way to show you care (and also to show how much you love kissing).
18. Have A Christmas Season That’s Straight Out Of The Past
Nestled in the mountains, the small Bavarian village of Leavenworth, Washington totally sparkles around the most wonderful time of the year. Between the architecture, the lights, and the backdrop of the mountains, this town feels super quaint and cinematic during the holiday season.
19. Relive Your Childhood At Archie McPhee
This Seattle toy store is for more than just kids. In fact, it’s mostly for adults. They sell everything from handerpants (underpants for your hands, of course) to Edgar Allan Poe action figures—for all your young-at-heart needs.
20. Indulge Your Inner Wino In Walla Walla
If you want to find out exactly why Walla Walla Valley is nicknamed “the next Napa Valley,” you’ll have to put the nickname to the test. A Bella Fortuna wine tour should get you started.
21. Make New Friends At The Enchantment Lakes
Friends, of course, meaning mountain goats. Why? Because mountain goats are adorable. And the view isn’t bad either.
22. How Ya Like Them Apples?
A whole heck of a lot is the only right answer. Washington state grows the best apples in the nation. For the freshest tasting apples, pick your own at an orchard like Apple Creek Orchards.
23. Get Your Fill Of Awesome Craft Beer
From Elysian Brewing in Seattle, to No-Li Brewhouse in Spokane, to Fish Brewing in Olympia, there’s plenty of tasty craft beer to be had all across the state of Washington.
24. Fulfill Your Rebellious High School Dreams
Recreation marijuana has been legal for awhile now in Washington, but that doesn’t mean there’s not still some amount of thrill that comes from attending Seattle Hempfest. Especially if you’re from one of the many states where you could still get totally busted.
25. Eat Oysters In South Bend
If you’re in the Oyster Capital of the World, what else would you ever want to eat? There are plenty of fancy oyster bars in Washington, but The Oyster Shack in South Bend is one delicious hidden gem.
26. Visit Hurricane Ridge And Never Leave Again
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rarvesen/9614663991
Okay, so you’ll have to leave this awesome part of Olympic National Park eventually. But when the sun starts going down after a long day of hiking through one of the most beautiful places in the world, you’ll seriously wish you could stay forever.
27. Find A Double Rainbow
Or at least give it your best shot. Washington’s numerous waterfalls and rivers, not to mention the generally drizzly weather, make it the perfect place to spot one.
28. Order A Seattle Style Hotdog From Mad Dawg’s
Ask for a little extra cream cheese from this local hot dog joint for a truly Washington hot dog experience.
29. Have A Picnic At Twin Falls
One of the most beautiful waterfalls in Washington is also the easiest to hike to year round. The three mile round trip is just enough to build up your appetite.
30. Stop And Smell The Roses
The Manito Park and Botanical Gardens in Spokane has everything from desert plants, to tropical plants, to a big rose test garden. Which is basically just a longer and more complicated way of saying it’s really super pretty.
31. Indulge In A Good Old Fashioned Burger At Miner’s
Miner’s Drive-In Restaurant is the perfect place to grab a burger, fries, and milkshake. It’s simple, it’s good, and it’s made to order.
32. Spend The Night Dreaming That You’re Royalty
Who hasn’t wanted to spend the night at a century old castle that looks like it’s straight out of your favorite period drama (read: “Downton Abbey”)? At the Manresa Castle Hotel & Restaurant in Port Townsend, you can do just that.
33. Go The Top Of The Space Needle
Sure, it’s kind of touristy, but the 360-degree view from the top is seriously breathtaking, and not just because you’re secretly terrified of heights.
Where’s your favorite place in Washington? Tell us in the comments below!
