Holidays to Washington
Top destinations in Washington
Leavenworth
With quaint Alpine-style buildings surrounded by towering mountain peaks, the Bavarian-themed town of Leavenworth looks like it’s been plucked straight out of a fairy tale.
Seattle
From the Space Needle to Pike Place Market to some of the best coffee on the continent, Seattle paints a pretty picture of the Pacific Northwest. Come sleepless; leave caffeinated.
Spokane
Home to world-class river rafting, indie arts and a beer scene that punches above its weight, Spokane brings together Washington’s greatest hits in one vibrant city.
Yakima
Escape to Yakima for wine, wilderness and rural charm. Discover vineyards and rugged landscapes for the perfect mix of relaxation and adventure in the Pacific Northwest.
Bellingham
Outdoor fun on land, sea and snow awaits in the shadow of Mount Baker. And this university town lures you in with its growing art, craft beer and music scenes too.
Wenatchee
Gear up for great biking, hiking and rafting in Wenatchee. This scenic valley city is also famous for its homegrown cider and antiques shopping.
Washington: fast facts
| Language | English |
|---|---|
| Currency | United States dollar ($) |
| Time zone | Seattle - UTC−8 (PST) and UTC−7 (PDT) |
| High season | June – September |
| Low season | November – March |
Washington holiday highlights
Take a scenic drive
With jaw-dropping views around every turn, road trips are one of the top things to do in Washington. The 710-kilometre Cascade Loop wends past crystal-clear Lake Chelan, through charming small towns and verdant Skagit Valley. White Pass Scenic Byway connects three volcanoes — Mount Rainier, Mount Adams and Mount Saint Helens. Explore river canyons and alpine meadows along the Chinook Scenic Byway, just a three-hour drive.
Spot a whale
Washington’s coastline teems with marine life. Head to the San Juan Islands, an easy day trip from Seattle and your best shot at seeing orcas in the wild. Humpback and grey whales also make appearances. The beaches of Kalaloch, in Olympic National Park, boast tidepools brimming with starfish and sea anemones. And you don’t have to look hard to spot sea otters frolicking in the surf.
Get to know glass art
Washington is famous for its thriving glass art scene. Explore the large-scale sculptures of the world-renowned Dale Chihuly at Chihuly Garden and Glass in Seattle. Head to the Museum of Glass in downtown Tacoma for live glass-blowing demos. Or try it yourself at a workshop at one of the many Seattle-based studios known as ‘hot shops’.
Things to do in Washington
Top attractions
Seattle’s Pike Place Market is best known for its fishmongers tossing salmon through the air, but it’s also a food lover’s paradise of bakeries, produce stands and local eats. Olympic National Park showcases the Pacific Northwest’s beauty with rainforests, mountains and glaciers. Along the Washington–Oregon border, the Columbia River Gorge offers waterfall hikes, Cascade Mountain views and charming small-town stops.
Beaches
Head to the Olympic Peninsula to see some of the most beautiful beaches in Washington. The driftwood-strewn Ruby Beach is famous for its craggy, wind-carved stones that jut from the surf. The picturesque Long Beach Peninsula has 45 kilometres of uninterrupted shoreline — perfect for coastal hikes or horse rides. It’s also known for its abundance of oysters and an annual kite festival held in August.
Nature
Washington shines within three top-tier national parks. Explore glacier-fed rivers and wildflower meadows (as well as the namesake peak) at Mount Rainier National Park. See unspoilt beaches and old-growth rainforests in Olympic National Park. And stroll among sun-dappled valleys and more than 300 glaciers in North Cascades National Park, where you can also hike part of the Pacific Crest Trail.
Cuisine
You’ll find many of Washington’s best restaurants in Seattle, where menus spotlight local salmon, oysters and geoduck. But there are heavyweight food destinations throughout the state. The Walla Walla Valley is famous for its wine, while the Yakima Valley is celebrated for its hop-heavy craft brewery scene. As you travel, look out for homegrown specialities like Rainier cherries.
Culture and museums
A growing creative culture has given rise to some must-see museums in Washington. The Seattle Art Museum houses over 25,000 works in addition to a world-class sculpture park with installations from artists like Alexander Calder. A visit to the Maryhill Museum of Art in Goldendale is worth it for the location alone — a mansion with a gorgeous view of the Columbia River Gorge.
Nightlife
For the best nightlife in Washington, Seattle’s Capitol Hill serves up cocktail lounges, indie music venues and laid-back dives all within a few blocks. In Bellingham, you can sample nearly 20 breweries on foot or join a summer beer cruise. Spokane adds culture to the mix with year-round performances in Art Deco theatres and historic community playhouses.
Find the best time to visit Washington
Weather in Washington through the year
March – May: Spring rains keep Washington lush, though showers taper off as summer approaches. It’s also prime time for whale watching, with the season kicking off in May along the coast.
June – August: Rain eases up — though it never disappears completely — giving way to warm days and clearer skies. Wildfire risk peaks in August, so pay attention to local advisories.
September – November: Early autumn is perfect for hiking, but you’ll want to pack a light jacket. By November, snow is likely, and many campgrounds close.
December – February: Expect plenty of rain and snow during the state’s coldest months. Ski resorts stay busy, while city crowds thin, making this a quieter time to explore.
Events in Washington
Lake Chelan Winterfest (January): This fire-and-ice-themed celebration spans multiple weekends. It features ice-carving demos, a polar bear plunge, lakefront fireworks and a giant beach bonfire.
Skagit Valley Tulip Festival (April): Each spring, Mount Vernon’s tulip fields explode in a riot of rainbow colours. The month-long festival also features an art show, street fair and parade. Check the festival’s website for bloom updates to catch the flowers at their peak.
Bumbershoot (August): One of Washington’s most iconic music festivals, Seattle’s Bumbershoot packs two days with live performances from major acts like Weezer and Janelle Monáe, plus art, fashion shows, pro wrestling and plenty of surprises.
Know before you go
Budget
Much of the state’s allure lies in its free and low-cost outdoor attractions, which makes a cheap holiday to Washington easy to achieve. When it’s time to refuel, an inexpensive meal will cost less than 25 US dollars ($). A domestic beer here goes for around $8, and a short taxi ride will set you back about $9.
Health and safety
If you plan to fish or harvest shellfish in Washington, check state advisories first to be sure what’s safe to eat. When camping, always follow campfire rules to prevent wildfires. And remember, even on warm days, the water stays cold here. Boaters should wear life vests, and swimmers risk hypothermia without precautions.
Free things to do
In Seattle, the Olympic Sculpture Park showcases installations by artists like Ellsworth Kelly and Alexander Calder, all free to enjoy year-round along the Salish Sea. Across the state, the Grand Coulee Dam spans the Columbia River and is one of the world’s largest dams. Visitors can explore the centre, join tours and catch a free laser light show.
Family friendly
Take the family to Spokane’s Riverfront Park to ride a historic carousel, cool off in the splash zone and go on a gondola ride over Spokane Falls. For outdoor adventure, Olympic National Park has easy trails like the Spruce Nature Trail, where kids can spot fallen ‘nurse logs’ sprouting fresh growth.
Getting around Washington
Public transport
Buses: Greyhound and FlixBus operate routes throughout the state, stopping in major cities like Seattle as well as small towns. Most coaches offer air conditioning and Wi-Fi. Regional carriers like Grape Line and Apple Line serve rural communities.
Trains: Amtrak runs three scenic routes in Washington. The Cascades line runs along Puget Sound and north to Vancouver, Canada. The Coast Starlight connects Seattle with Portland, Sacramento and Los Angeles, while the Empire Builder links Seattle and Spokane before continuing east towards the Rocky Mountains and the Midwest.
Boats: Washington operates the largest ferry system in the country, with boats connecting the mainland to nearby islands. Book vehicle reservations ahead of time for popular routes such as those servicing the San Juan Islands.
Domestic flights
Skip the drive and fly instead. Seattle–Tacoma International Airport has daily non-stop service to Spokane and Bellingham. The quick flights make it easy to connect between Washington’s biggest cities without the long road trip.
Driving and car hire
Key interstate routes in Washington include I-5, which runs north–south along the coast through Seattle, and I-90, the main east–west highway linking Seattle and Spokane. Some mountain passes require traction tyres or chains in winter, so be sure your hire car is equipped before setting out.
