Top Things to do in Washington
Top Hotels in Washington
- 1. Hyatt Regency Seattle
- 2. Staypineapple, The Maxwell Hotel, Seattle Center
- 3. Hyatt At Olive 8
- 4. Cedarbrook Lodge
- 5. The Paramount Hotel
- 6. Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, WA
- 7. Mayflower Park Hotel
- 8. Lotte Hotel Seattle
- 9. Mediterranean Inn
- 10. Coast Gateway Hotel
Countries
Things to do in Washington, United States: The Best Scenic Drives
Discover the best top things to do in Washington, United States including Slate Peak, Hurricane Ridge, Red Rooster Route, Pacific Crest Trail, Elliott Bay Trail, Mount Baker Scenic Byway, Stevens Pass Scenic Byway, Coulee Corridor, Spirit Lake Memorial Highway, Clearwater Overlook.
Restaurants in Washington
1. Slate Peak
2. Hurricane Ridge
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,790 reviews
A 17-mile stretch of winding road through dense forests and alpine ice-covered peaks.
Reviewed By Panda_Bear_Will
My wife and I visited Olympic National Park six years ago on a single day excursion from Seattle; we were able to see Lake Crescent and the Hoh Rain Forest briefly on that trip and I knew I needed to return one day to explore the park more fully. The Hurricane Ridge Road was closed on that previous visit, so returning to see it and hike the entire Hoh River Trail to the Blue Glacier on Mt. Olympus became bucket-list items shortly thereafter. I was able to return to Olympic and spend six full days exploring it as fully as possible. This review will really cover the park as a whole rather than Hurricane Ridge, but the 17 mile road which is easily accessible from Port Angeles is definitely a must-see for any visitor. Olympic is really divided into 3 distinct ecosystems: the mountains, surrounding rain forests, and coastal beaches. In order to get the true Olympic experience, a person should make it a point to dedicate at least a full day to each region. The sheer size of the park requires a good deal of driving to hit each individual region; one will mostly traverse the perimeter the park on Highway 101 and several roads leading deeper into the interior will allow access to areas such as Hoh, Quinault, So Duc, etc. Port Angeles to the north of the park provides the most choices when it comes to food and lodging; the western part of the park is serviced by the small town of Forks and to the extreme southwest, Aberdeen. The eastern edge of the park doesn't have much in the way of points of interest within the park besides some lesser-used trails, but it is a pleasant drive with occasional small towns like Hoodsport worth exploring for a bit. Distances between these points of interest are considerable as you're looking at a several hour drive between them. There are enough gas stations and other services that you're never quite "off the grid" for that long, but having a good idea of the layout of the park will save unneeded driving (though the scenery is usually so lush and inviting that the miles kind of melt after awhile). With that said, the following provides the highlights of the park, IMO, while doing so in a logical counter-clockwise fashion for people driving in from Seattle: 1) Hurricane Ridge. On a clear day, the views of the Olympic Mountain range are pretty amazing from the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center. The key word is "clear". Olympic is famous for its considerable rainfall and chances are you will encounter rain at several points throughout the day even during the summer. I recommend following the weather forecast and allowing for a possible return trip to Hurricane Ridge, if necessary. The first day I visited, clouds and rainfall offered tantalizing glimpses of the mountains beyond but nothing more. I return the next day and was treated to glacier-covered mountains and a lush alpine scene that was delightful to hike just around the parking lot (managed to see a hare, deer, and marmot within 10 minutes of the short hikes adjacent to the parking lot). Unfortunately, the Hurricane Hill trail further beyond the visitor center was closed for restoration. This area is the highlight of Olympic for me. 2) Lake Crescent. Returning to Highway 101 and heading west, the highway will eventually hug the shores of this large lake with mountains surrounding it. A popular short but very steep hike up Mt. Storm King will challenge even the more fit hikers (to reach its true summit, one must use several ropes for assistance). The highest waterfall within the park, Marymere Falls is also a short walk from the lake parking lot. 3) Rialto Beach. With its mountain ranges and lush rain forests, its easy to overlook the third aspect of Olympic NP which is actually very unique within the National Park system: the extended coastline of undeveloped wilderness. There are actually three areas of such coast line which are part of the park: the far northwestern reaches of Washington state which will include Lake Ozette, Rialto Beach which is west of the town of Forks, and the beaches running along Highway 101 in the southwestern portion of the park. I visited Rialto Beach and was treated to a leisurely hike along a beach trail leading to a rock arch (called "Hole in the Wall"), various other rock formations, and tide pools. This is some of the last extended undeveloped wild coast line within the US and is definitely worth a visit for anybody with several days to visit the park. 4) Hoh River Rain Forest: Upon my visit several years ago, I was most bummed to only spend about 30 minutes in this legendary forest which is often described as "enchanted" and "fairy-tale like". The Hoh River Trail extends for 17 miles (actually closer to 20 per several apps and devices I used to judge the distance) to the Blue Glacier on Mt. Olympus. For years, I dreamed of not only returning to the forest, but backpacking the trail all the way to the end. I was able to do so and while it was a very rewarding experience, I can say that the rain forest scenery and vibe does become a bit redundant after several miles. Most visitors will likely go no more than to 5 Mile Island for a day hike (the trail is very flat, so covering such distance is not much of a chore) and I believe that's sufficient. For those looking to backpack beyond, the trail remains flat to the 12.4 mile marker before climbing in elevation to Elk Lake. Beyond that, Glacier Meadows campsite beckons, but not before climbing down an unnerving ladder required to navigate a rock slide which wiped out the old trail. The climb to the Glacier itself is considerable and the distance (especially with a full backpack) makes this quite the workout. However, it was a lifetime experience that I'll cherish forever. For non-backpackers, the Hoh Forest is one of the more easily accessible rain forests within the park, but the scenery is pretty similar for most of them: lots of lush vegetation. 5) Lake Quinault. A scenic lake with some of the few actual lodgings within the park boundaries. This area also provides access to several more trails, both short and long distance, that seemed very enticing. In conclusion, Olympic may not get the headlines of more noted parks like Yosemite, Yellowstone, and the Grand Canyon, but its lush surroundings and highly varied landscapes makes this one of the best parks in America.
3. Red Rooster Route
4. Pacific Crest Trail
5. Elliott Bay Trail
6. Mount Baker Scenic Byway
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 35 reviews
This scenic drive through Washington's Cascades takes you through spectacular scenery that includes many viewpoints, waterfalls and opportunities for short and long hikes along the way.
Reviewed By kalyan_peri - Bridgewater, United States
This summer we spent a week in Washington state covering North Cascades and Mt Rainier National Parks. We stayed for 3 nights in Glacier, Washington and drove through the Mt Baker Scenic Byway for 2 consecutive days. This drive took us through Washington’s Cascade Range had so much to offer with stunning scenery! The drive gets difficult in certain places and you need to very careful negotiating the steep curves, twists and turns - please be very focused and careful. That said, there are multiple spots to stop and enjoy the nature along the way as you get closer towards Artist Point - particularly the Picture Lake location is a sight to watch and enjoy. With Mount Shuksan in the background and the wildflowers in the foreground, Picture lake is, well, as pretty as, a post card picture! Expect the road to be a little busy in summer and the Artist Point parking lot to be a lot more crowded. There are a couple of beautiful hikes at the Artist Point – that offer stunning panoramic views of Mt Baker and Mt Shuksan - - take your time, be patient, respect nature and enjoy! Must do if you are visiting Washington state in summer! Absolutely great for hiking and photography!
7. Stevens Pass Scenic Byway
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 7 reviews
This scenic 105-mile drive winds through the rugged Cascade Mountains alongside the wild Skykomish and Wenatchee rivers, offering year-round recreation opportunities including white-river rafting, hiking and skiing.
Reviewed By TACOB0B
We drove through the Stevens Pass from Wenatchee towards Seattle. Lots of breathtaking scenery. When we first noticed the elevation signs we were over 3000 feet and that was after coming down a ways. Highly recommend.
8. Coulee Corridor
9. Spirit Lake Memorial Highway
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 94 reviews
A broad scenic route stretching from I-5 right through the Mount St. Helens blast area.
Reviewed By csarchibald - San Marcos, United States
From the Mt. St. Helens Visitor center to the Johnston Observatory, you take a scenic drive along the Spirit Lake Highway. The wildflowers were in bloom everywhere and the views were incredible. There are several pullouts (viewpoints) along the way with great views of the mountain and the surroundings.
10. Clearwater Overlook
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2 reviews
An amazing scenic lookout point where a valley was flattened during the eruption of Mt. St. Helens.
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