Western Washington State
Located in the Pacific Northwest of the United States, Western Washington State holds an abundance of lush greenery and towering mountains. It’s also home to Puget Sound, an expansive body of water that lies between the Olympic Peninsula and more populated cities of Seattle, Tacoma, and Everett. Learn about the best places to travel in Western Washington State.
Best Places to Travel in Western Washington State
Lushy and green, Western Washington State is encircled by the seasonally snow-covered mountains of the Cascades to the east and the Olympic Mountains on the peninsula to the west.
Numerous bodies of water flow throughout Seattle, a waterfront city sitting on the edge of Puget Sound. Flowing north past Whidbey Island in the Salish Sea, you’ll reach the San Juan Islands, an archipelago comprised of islands covered in cedar and fir trees.
In the foothills of the Cascades, fertile Skagit Valley is home to fields of agriculture and seasonal tulip fields.
Keep reading to learn more about these stunning landscapes.
Seattle
Including Downtown Seattle, Belltown, Lower Queen Anne
Known for: Space Needle, Seattle Center, Pike Place Market
Ancestral home of the Duwamish and Suquamish people
The Space Needle and downtown Seattle from Kerry Park on Queen Anne Hill
A Bustling City with a Strong Sense of Nature
Downtown, with its business and shopping districts, restaurants, and nightlife also offers views of the glistening waters of Puget Sound and the snow-capped mountains on the Olympic Peninsula.
Free music and cultural events are staged throughout the city in the summertime. The historic neighborhoods of Pioneer Square and the Chinatown-International District give you a glimpse into the past with their unique architecture and culture.
All of this is watched over by towering Mount Rainier – all 14,411 feet of her – in the background over 60 miles away.
From the best attractions at Seattle Center, to fine dining from award-winning chefs, to nightlife at bars, clubs and music venues, Seattle has a myriad of options for you to experience.
The Cascades
Including Mount Rainier, Mount Baker, and the North Cascades “American Alps”
Known for: Hiking, snowshoeing, and kayaking among snow-capped mountains
Ancestral home of the Coast Salish peoples and the Plateau peoples
Mount Shuksan taken from a kayak on Baker Lake – North Cascades National Park
Boundless Exploring in the Cascade Range
With endless opportunities for adventure and recreation, the Cascade Range spans the length of Western Washington State. It includes several glorious snow-capped peaks over 10,000 feet high that will keep you in awe.
The southern half of Washington is home to Mount St Helens (elevation 8,363 feet after the 1980 eruption), Mount Adams (12,281 feet), and Mount Rainier (14,411 feet). In the north, Mount Baker (10,786 feet) can be admired throughout the region, including visibility by our neighbors to the north in Canada.
In the winter, head up into the mountains for downhill and cross country skiing, snowboarding, and snowshoeing. Check out ski areas at Crystal Mountain near Mount Rainier southeast of Seattle, The Summit at Snoqualmie Pass on Interstate 90 east of Seattle, Stevens Pass on Highway 2 northeast of Seattle, and Mount Baker Ski Area outside of Bellingham near the Canadian border in the north.
With the snow melt-off, summertime opens up more opportunities to get out in the Cascades for unlimited hiking and camping opportunities among the alpine wildflowers. A Bavarian-styled village known as Leavenworth is located on Highway 2. Heading east on Highway 20 will bring you to Baker Lake, Diablo Lake, and Ross Lake with opportunities for canoeing, kayaking, and hiking.
Islands
Including Whidbey Island, San Juan Island, Orcas Island, and Lopez Island
Known for: Cruising ferries to islands filled with fir and cedar trees
Ancestral home of the Coast Salish peoples
Taken from Washington Park Overlook in Anacortes of Burrows Island Marine State Park (right) and Burrows Bay
Ferry to the San Juan Islands, Plus the 180-Foot Tall Steel Bridge to Whidbey Island
An archipelago consisting of 172 named islands, the San Juan Islands largest (and most easily accessible via ferry) are San Juan, Lopez, and Orcas Islands. Set out from Anacortes on the mainland for a leisurely 75-minute cruise on the Salish Sea. Once ashore, savor a bite to eat at a local restaurant, explore the island’s scenic nature, and browse local artisan galleries.
Just south of Anacortes along Highway 20 is another nearby island – Whidbey Island. Deception Pass State Park and and the 180-foot tall steel bridge of the same name are popular sightseeing destinations. You can enjoy camping, hiking trails, kayaking from Bowman Bay, and beautiful sunsets at the beach.
Olympic Peninsula
Including Hoh Rain Forest in Olympic National Park, Port Angeles, Port Townsend
Known for: Hoh Rain Forest in Olympic National Park
Ancestral home of the Makah, Quileute, Hoh, and Quinault tribes
Photo of Hoh Rain Forest by Richard Hedrick on Unsplash
The Remote Olympic Peninsula
Encompassing approximately 3,600 square miles, the Olympic Peninsula is the westernmost area of Washington State. It includes the coastline along the Strait of Juan de Fuca (coming from the Pacific Ocean into Puget Sound) and the northwest coastline along the Pacific Ocean.
Several Native American Tribes are indigenous to the area including the Makah, Quileute, Hoh, and Quinault Tribes.
Access to the Peninsula is possible via Washington State Ferries and Highway 101, which encircles most of the Olympic Peninsula.
Olympic National Park is a huge draw for people visiting the area. The Hoh Rain Forest and Hurricane Ridge are popular destinations in the park.
Port Angeles, Sequim, and Port Townsend are larger communities on the north end of the peninsula.
Skagit Valley
Including Anacortes, La Conner, Mount Vernon
Known for: Annual Tulip Festival, Anacortes Art Festival, La Conner Waterfront
Ancestral home of the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, Samish Indian Nation, Upper Skagit Indian Tribe, and Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe
Skagit Valley tulip field
The Salish Sea, Tulips Fields, and the Gateway to the “American Alps”
You’re just cruising along Interstate 5 and suddenly it’s wide open spaces. Fields of farmland up to the foothills to the east and beyond your gaze to the west.
If it’s early springtime, you’ll likely see fields of golden daffodils or tulips in shades of red, purple, yellow, orange, and pink. The annual Skagit Valley Tulip Festival sees thousands of visitors a year between March and very early May to view the daffodil fields in March and tulip fields in April and possibly very eary May.
A main artery in Skagit County is Highway 20, which runs east-west intersecting Interstate 5. It can carry you east into the North Cascades National Park and the awe-inspiring “American Alps”. Heading west will take you towards Anacortes, where the ferry terminal to the San Juan Islands is. Turning south on Highway 20 before you get to Anacortes will take you over Deception Pass Bridge and onto Whidbey Island into Island County.
Larger cities in Skagit County are Mount Vernon, Burlington, and Sedro-Woolley, all mostly to the east of I-5. There’s also the tiny town of Bow-Edison out in the farmland. Side note: Edward R. Murrow moved to Blanchard, Washington near the base of the Chuckanut Mountains at the north end of Skagit County when he was six.
Whatcom County
Including: Bellingham, Chuckanut Drive, Mount Baker, North Cascades National Park
Known for: Mount Baker and Bellingham
Ancestral home of Lummi Nation and the Nooksack Indian Tribe
Whatcom Falls Park with stone bridge in Bellingham, Washington. Built by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) 1939 – 1940 part of the New Deal during the Great Depression.
From Bellingham Bay to Chuckanut Drive and Mount Baker Highway
Along the border to Canada, Whatcom County is home to an incredible amount of wilderness. Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest and North Cascades National Park encompass the central and eastern portion of Whatcom County.
Points of interest in the western portion of Whatcom County include the City of Bellingham, Fairhaven, Chuckanut Drive, Larrabee State Park, Whatcom Falls Park, Lake Whatcom, Lummi Nation (local native tribe), Birch Bay State Park, Blaine, and the Peach Arch Border Crossing.
