Travel ideas for "Things to do", Trips, Weekend Breaks in Oregon & WA

The beach itself is striking for its stark beauty, with a rugged windswept landscape that is great for walks and exploring. There is little in the way of amenities nearby, so bring your goodies with you!

Owen beach has it all: it is a great place to swim, play on the beach or just relax and take in views of Mount Rainier. It is also located in beautiful Point Defiance park, a great destination in its own right, with nice gardens and walks.

Bloedel Reserve Garden is a must stop if you enjoy beautiful gardens. Be sure to stop by Harbour Public House for a nice pub lunch overlooking the water.

One of the better Washington sky resorts. Lots of different runs to choose from. You won't be disappointed.

Spectacular tours and great nearby fishing and swimming.

La Conner is one of the most scenic of Washington state towns, with a wide choice of shops and plenty of great restaurants to choose from, some of which are along the waterfront. Many beautiful B&Bs are located in or near this area.

We would recommend staying at the Fort Flagler military post, which has spectacular views and a wide range of cabins (old converted military buildings) to rent for overnight trips.

Considered one of the prettiest small town in America. There aren't many amenities in Union but if you stay for lunch or dinner you MUST stop at the Robin Hood. Don't let the outside fool you, it is one of the coziest romantic restaurants we have ever eaten at!

It deserves 6 stars. Hands-down one of the best gardens in the Pacific Northwest. Beautiful and enchanting. Put this on your "must-see" list.

My rating is solely based on having been to the Dungeness Spit and Wildlife Reserve. The Spit is a thin arc of land that juts out into the ocean and has to be seen to be believed. You can walk the entire length of the Spit (4.5-5 miles) and end up at the lighthouse at the far end of the Spit. I would recommend starting earlier in the day as it can get chilly during afternoon walks.

Gorgeous lake and awesome lodge make this a great weekend getaway. I recommend staying at the lodge or cabins and trying the nice restaurant there. Nice place to kayak.

One of the most popular destinations in the San Juan Islands. Has a small, but nice town area near the Ferry.

Very small town. Stop by the Brick for a drink. Great atmosphere on a Saturday night.

Good indoor course. A mini-golf game will only take you about an hour, so combine it with another activity in the area.

One of the best places to go for water sport recreation in Washington. The town is a nice place to check out.

One of the most awesome sites in Washington state.

Thoroughly enjoyable, and a completely different experience for kids. One of the great railroad experiences in WA.

No trip in Washington state is complete without visiting the falls. If you stay at the Salish lodge, have a drink at the bar while taking in the falls. The best place to stop for food is the Woodman Lodge, especially if you like steaks.

Some of the most spectacular scenery you will ever see! Be sure to walk across the bridge for better views and explore the trails at the end of the bridge, which lead to rocky beaches that are great for fishing, swimming or just relaxing,

This area contains two beautiful wineries across the street from each other (Chateau and Columbia), both of which have lush grounds great for picnics or just relaxing after you have sampled some of the wonderful wines there. I recommend eating at the Barking Frog, which is one of the best meals I have ever eaten.

Beautiful secluded area with a number of accommodations and outdoor activities to choose from.

Spectacular views from highway 101 of coastline and mountain areas.The Hoh Rainforest is a must visit. The branches of the many varieties of trees in this forest are laden with moss and impart quite an eerie experience to the visitor

Truth be told, Fairhaven is really the place to go in Bellingham. Charming old buildings, pottery shops, Pacific Chef cooking store, and of course, Village Books. It's a fantastic day trip, regardless of the season! Still looking for the perfect restaurant. Boundary Bay Brewery is nice, but pub food only goes so far.

One of the best places in Washington for skiing and cycling and the views are spectacular.

Camano Island State Park is one of my favorite beach spots. A nice drive out of Seattle traffic-chaos, beautiful houses, and quiet beaches. Be sure to stop at QFC in Stanwood to pick up a deli sandwich and eat on the beach.

Good, friendly place for cycling.

Very underrated town with a great waterfront. The best part of Olympia though is the downtown area, with interesting restaurants and shops.

This is one of the best places to visit for a weekend away. We stayed at a fantastic B&B, English Inn, and recommend checking out any of the many great restaurants around the area. Don't miss out on a couple of great bookstores along the main street either.

You have to check out spectacular Cape Flattery! This place has a number other great beaches.

Tacoma has definitely become one of the up and coming places in Washington state. Check out the revitalized downtown area with numerous museums, restaurants and shops. Tacoma has some of the best turn-of-the-century and mid-century architecture the state has to offer and that is worth the trip alone.

One of the most spectacular views I have ever seen! The drive to Mount Rainier is amazing in its own right. Paradise has its own lodge, where you can relax in the beautiful rustic lobby or enjoy the scenic vistas while having lunch.

More of a family destination. If you're looking for a couples getaway or more spectacular coastline - try Cannon Beach.

Huge selection of places to stay here. Great for a wine weekend. Long drive from Seattle.

The resort is built in the typical northwest style, and has an attractive location. Don't forget to visit nearby Roslyn if you're looking for more things to do.

We enjoyed this picturesque town, with a cozy main street filled with shops and a few restaurants. Stop by Jerisich dock and Skansie park, which are great for picnics. We also loved Java and Clay coffee, where you can sip on your latte while doing arts and crafts.

This is a magnificent museum, with a wealth of information about a little known aspect of nautical history. Five stars all the way!!!!

Charming little town with a Bavarian theme. Many people say this is a great place to visit around Christmas. Be sure to explore the side streets of this town and the park down by the river or you will miss some of the best the town has to offer.

Not a whole lot to see in Forks. I would probably just drive though.

Nice waterfront area, with a downtown area that has plenty of bars, restaurants and shops to occupy your time during a weekend away.

Great little town with an abundance of restaurants, pubs, bakeries and shops. The place has a Norwegian style, as many of the original descendants hailed from Norway. A great place for families and couples.

Liked this township more than Leavenworth because I thought it had greater authenticity.

Very interesting museum and exceeded my expectations. I would highly recommend this. Good for both kids and adults.

One of the BEST museums in this area. Very modern museum with lots of interactive exhibits.

The best parts of Snohomish are the historic downtown area (on First avenue) which has numerous shops and restaurants and the nearby river walk.

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The real highlight is the Bonsai Garden. It's beautifully laid out and some of the Bonsai creations are amazing.

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Convenient ski field near Seattle. Can get VERY busy on the weekends, so try a weekday.

The drive up to the volcano is awesome! The views from the Johnston Observatory enable you to look right into the crater. There's an unexpected surprise at the end of the short movie at the Johnston Observatory, but you'll have to visit to find out!

This place is AMAZING!! Don't know too many places in the world where you can get so close to Kodiak Bears and Black Bears. The elk and bison will just walk right up to your car!

See wolves up close!! The absolutely best part is the "howl-in" when all the wolves howl in unison. Everyone should experience this once in their lives.

My wife and I spent the semumr of 2009 volunteering at the North Head Lighthouse. This park and the surrounding areas are the most beautiful we have ever visited. If you have the opportunity to visit or want to volunteer at one of the many sites that are available give them a call. You will not find a nicer and more people friendly person to talk to than Steven Woods the volunteer co-ordinator. If you are looking to spend one of the best semumrs at a great location, go to Cape Disappointment .

The part I enjoyed the most was the Factory Floor Tour, where you could get a close-up look at the assembly line. The guide was very knowledgeable and the factory itself is awe-inspiring.

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Port Gamble is a beautifully preserved historic town. It's much smaller than nearby Port Townsend, but still lots to see including the museum, historic houses and lunch at the General Store.

This place is worth the five stars for Owens beach alone. The beach is one of the best in Washington state. The Port Defiance Zoo is also not to be missed and a great place to take the kids. If you find yourself hungry, be sure to stop at the Antique Sandwich Co. on Pearl street.

Wander and get lost in these beautiful gardens just south of Seattle. Great place for relaxation.

The architecture is as much of a treat as the glass art works. On Wednesdays you can visit all 3 Tacoma Museums for one fixed price.

Stunning views of Mt Rainier, and packed with gorgeous hiking trails. Don't miss visiting some of the fantastic lakes that are strewn all around this park!

Great little town to stop by. The main street has a few shops and retaurants and the town has a nice marina area.

Waterfront Sculpture Park is very impressive, although fountains don't run during winter. Everything is within easy walking distance of the Ferry Terminal. The Naval Museum is free, but need to pay a fee for the Warship.

Fort Worden is very unique, and the grounds are absolutely beautiful. You can spend hours exploring the old military buildings and fortresses.

Hurricane Ridge provides the best views of the Olympic Mountains, and the free film at the Visitor Center was great. The only thing to keep in mind is that if you want to go hiking, the trails are snowed over for most of the year.

Beautiful gardens, although the grounds were much smaller than I expected. Nice place for a wedding.