A road trip around Washington State
*All work including photos, videos and writing on this page are my own, except the links to tourist sites. freely available on Youtube.
As there is a short summer window to do this trip, hotels fill up fast and I recommend booking 6-9 months in advance to get affordable prices on flights and hotels.
Washington State is my favourite State in the US and this road trip will take you to three Spectacular National Parks, to alluring islands, view 5 majestic volcanoes and enjoy cities full of culture and then you can completely immerse yourself in nature and the wilderness that is still abundant in this area. You will also enjoy local wines, now world renown from local wineries and vineyards and locally grown organic fruit, vegetables and abundant seafood. The Dungeness crab is a must try local speciality which I adore. The best crab cakes are ones from this state.
Washington State is unique in that it has deserts, canyons, rain forests, mountains, lakes, alpine meadows, volcanoes, tundra and dense forest. The western side of the Cascade mountains has a high rainfall in the winter, where as the Eastern side is where you can find canyons and desert in a more arid climate. Humidity though is low in Washington State. On a clear day you can see one of the 5 volcanoes from just about anywhere in Western Washington State!
You only have a short window of time to do this road trip though as the mountain passes are not always open until early June and then wildfires can start by late July/August. I would recommend Early July. Watch the 4th July fireworks over Lake Union in Seattle.
You can stay in the places I recommend or if you are planning your own trip then here are places to avoid and recommendations of places to stay instead. They are not all dangerous, there are just nicer places to stay instead.
Avoid staying in Tacoma, due to high crime, choose Gig Harbor, Olympia, Du Pont or Tumwater instead. Tumwater was the former home of Bing Crosby, a lovely little town.
Avoid staying in Kent, Renton, Burien, Puyallup, Tukwila, Auburn and Fife due to crime, Stay in Issaquah, Kirkland, Woodinville, Redmond, Bothell or Bellevue instead.
Avoid staying in Spokane, stay in Lake Chelan, Winthrop or Walla Walla instead, Although Spokane isn't as dangerous as many US cities, just avoid certain areas.
Avoid Lakewood, Centralia and Chehalis instead stay in DuPont or Tumwater instead.
Avoid Toppenish, Yakima and Richland instead stay in Leavenworth, Cle Elum, Lake Chelan or Walla Walla.
Avoid Burlington, stay in La conner or Anacortes. Burlington isn't particularly dangerous and we went there shopping, but there are nicer alternatives.
None of these are like downtown LA or Detroit, but I have listed some nicer options. It's really only Tacoma that has a high crime rate and I wouldn't stay there unless you know the city well.
If you love paddleboarding and kayaking this is the state for you. Below is a photo of my kids a few years ago on Lake Washington.
I have started this road trip from Seattle's Seatac airport. Upon landing at the airport, collect your hire car and drive to the city of Bellevue. Bellevue at the time of writing is the safest city in the US of it's size. From here take day trips to Seattle and the East side towns of Woodinville and Kirkland.
Chateau Ste Michelle winery, Woodinville ^
Next Drive to Mukilteo Ferry port and head to picturesque Langley for lunch. From here drive to Anacortes for a few nights. Whilst staying in Anacortes you can take a ferry to the San Juan Islands. We took the Ferry to Friday Harbor, which was beautiful and peaceful driving around this island. The ferry crossing was spectacular too, this is where Orca Whales live and you might see some from this ferry. If not take a whale watching trip from Anacortes.
You can also take a trip to Vancouver Canada from here. It's about a 2 hour drive.
Langley ^
Washington State Ferry ^
Next head on State route 20 through breath taking scenery along this highway through the North Cascades National Park. This park really is a hidden gem, not well known to many people. Make sure you stop at Diablo Lake on the way and Washington Pass. This majestic viewpoint at Diablo Lake and Washington Pass below requires no hiking from the car park, it just took our breath away!!! It really is a stunning emerald colour. Continue along highway 20 until you get to the next amazing viewpoint.
I went recently to Washington Pass alone on my solo road trip and that was spectacular too. Washington pass is the highest mountain pass in Washington State, taking you over the Cascade mountains from West to Eastern Washington State. It will start to get drier and hotter as you enter Eastern Washington State. Everything about Eastern Washington is very different to Western Washington and everyone has their favourite side. Eastern Washington is mostly rural villages and farms, so more conservative then Western Washington where most of the population of this state live in a very progressive life style.
After this view continue to the wild west town of Winthrop. Stay here for the night. I recommend The Sun Mountain Lodge Which has great views!!! There are cheaper options though too.
Below is a view from Sun Mountain Lodge near Winthrop Where I tried the most delicious food to eat in this state here, local Dungeness crab and crab cakes. They are like no other crab cakes you have ever tasted! Available everywhere.
Sun Mountain Lodge, 20 minutes drive from Winthrop
Next Continue on to Lake Chelan. I stayed at Lakeside Lodge and suites, which is excellent value for money, but there are posher places available too! Lake Chelan is the third deepest lake in the mainland US. It is 50 miles long, but only 1.3 miles wide. One side is green with wineries in abundance, the other side is a dusty desert landscape. Although not well known to International travellers or even Americans from other states, this Lake is extremely popular with residents of Western Washington State from June- September, so the cheaper accommodation and the best accommodation does get booked up in advance. I would suggest resting here a few nights, but book many months in advance for a summer stay. Below is the view from Benson winery.
Chelan town centre ^
After recharging your batteries for a while, and the car if it's electric! Head on to Leavenworth. We found this town to be a very authentic replica of a Bavarian town. My husband had worked in Munich for a few years and actually really liked it and said they had done a good job reviving this once poor town into a tourist attraction. Even the food tasted authentic. You can stay here a night or more.
There are lots of beautiful hikes from here such as these ones:
-A really beautiful hike near here, not the easiest, probably suited to people that have hiked before, not families is the hike to Colchuck Lake. I haven't done this myself, so google for the photos. It's about 4 miles from the trailhead to the lake and the same back again. Locals recommend doing this in the morning as some tourists start in the afternoon and it takes them longer than they think and run out of daylight before getting back. Do wear appropriate clothing, take survival kits with you and enjoy a spectacular hike. Don't be scared of it as many inexperienced hikers do manage it. Just start in the morning.
-The Enchantments is a very beautiful and very popular hike.
There are also white water rafting companies based here, sky diving and a rollercoaster that goes down the mountains, so plenty to do here!
Leavenworth ^
Next drive to the award wining wine growing region of Washington State Walla Walla. With climate change affecting California, investors have been turning to this region recently, with new vineyards springing up all the time along this area and the Columbia river Gorge. There are several well established wineries already here. My favourite Washington wine is from Chateau Ste Michele. (Their winery is in Woodinville, but it's vineyards are in this location.) Stay here a night and sample some fabulous wine from different wineries. There are lots of farms in this area too where you can buy delicious, organic, fresh fruit. You can also take a day trip from Walla Walla to Palouse Falls in Palouse State park and get a photo at nearby Palouse of the famous rolling hills, best viewed from Steptoe Butte, a an iconic view popular with photographers. I haven't been here yet, but do plan to soon. I highly recommend this day trip from Walla Walla.
Washington State has an abundance of farms and apples, cherries and berries are the main produce here. There are farmers fruit stands on the side of roads everywhere from June onwards and the fresh fruit is delicious.
If you love wine this video will explain a bit more about Walla Walla wine region, A very famous wine region, that you have probably never heard of.
From here head to Forks, Washington in the Olympic National Park. If you or your children were Twilight Fans, you will recognise this name. Stay here a couple of nights and explore the impressive Hoh Rain Forest. It's unlike anywhere else I have ever been. I highly recommend it, so beautiful. This part of the state is the wettest though, so bring a rain jacket even in the summer.
Hoh Rain Forest, Olympic National Park ^
Kalaloch Beach ^
From Forks drive to the town of Issaquah to relax before flying back out of Seatac Airport.
Whilst here take a day trip to my favourite National Park in the entire US!! Mount Rainier National park. The majestic volcano, the largest of 5 in Washington State dominates the skyline for over 80 miles on a clear day. You can see it from Issaquah and Seattle and beyond. Then head back to Seatac Airport for your flight home. Make sure you make time whilst in Issaquah to visit nearby Snoqualmie falls as well and hike down to the bottom. Even I managed that short hike.
Mount Rainier (Tahoma) at Paradise viewpoint ^
Mount Rainier (Tahoma) at Reflection Lake ^
Below are more photos taken on this road trip.
Washington Pass on highway 20 ^
Highway 20 near Washington Pass, North Cascades National Park ^
Deception Pass near the bridge ^
Sea Plane in Friday Harbor ^
If you do this trip in June/July I guarantee you will enjoy it!!!!!
Washington State Tourist Information.
If you do this trip in June/July I guarantee you will enjoy it!!!!!
Washington State Tourist Information.