Day Trips in Washington State

1. Leavenworth

• What is Leavenworth?
  • Leavenworth is a lovely central Washington village best known for its unique German-style heritage and cultural attractions.
• What is the history of Leavenworth?
  • Originally developed as a logging community in the beautiful Cascade Mountains, Leavenworth later reinvented itself in the 20th century as a European-themed tourist destination following the departure of the area's railroading industry.
• What attractions can visitors find in Leavenworth?
  • The town is home to a variety of beautiful Bavarian and Alpine-style buildings and German-themed attractions, including:
    • Beer halls
    • German restaurants
    • Shops and cafes along its picturesque Front Street
• What is the Nutcracker Museum?
  • The Nutcracker Museum showcases historic nutcrackers produced in both Europe and the United States, offering a unique look at this traditional craft.
• What annual events take place in Leavenworth?
  • The city hosts a number of German-themed events each year, including:
    • The fall Oktoberfest celebration
    • The holiday Christkindlmarkt

2. The San Juan Islands

• What are the San Juan Islands?
  • The San Juan Islands are a chain of beautiful islands located in Washington State's Puget Sound, near the Haro and Rosario Straits and Vancouver Island.
• What historical sites can be visited on San Juan Island?
  • San Juan Island National Historical Park preserves the American and English Army campsites connected to the 1859 Pig War boundary dispute.
• What cultural attractions are available?
  • Visitors can explore the island's charming art galleries, antique stores, and bookstores, or visit notable attractions such as:
    • The Whale Museum
    • The San Juan Islands Museum of Art
• What can visitors experience in Friday Harbor?
  • Friday Harbor serves as the island's main tourist hub and is home to a spacious marina and several fine dining destinations.
• Where can visitors see orca whales?
  • Lime Kiln Point State Park is a top spot for shore-based orca whale watching. The park also features an interpretive center and a preserved historic lighthouse.
• What unique farms can be visited?
  • Pelindaba Lavender Farm – One of the nation’s largest lavender farms.
  • Krystal Acres Alpaca Farm – Home to a herd of over 50 alpacas.

3. Bainbridge Island

• What is Bainbridge Island?
  • Bainbridge Island is a delightful community in Kitsap County, accessible from the Washington State mainland in downtown Seattle via a daily connector ferry service.
• Why is Bainbridge Island well known?
  • The island has been named one of the United States' best places to live by CNN and Money Magazine. It is a popular bedroom community for Seattle residents and a year-round tourist destination for day trippers and weekend visitors.
• What cultural attractions can visitors explore?
  • Bainbridge Island offers a variety of museums and galleries, including:
    • Bainbridge Island Historical Museum – Showcasing exhibits on the island’s history.
    • Bainbridge Island Museum of Art – Featuring gorgeous artwork on display.
    • Kids Discovery Museum – Providing interactive science and art exhibits for young visitors.
• What outdoor attractions are available?
  • Fay Bainbridge Park – Home to a seasonal beach and scenic waterfront views.
  • Bloedel Reserve – Offering nature trails and gorgeous landscaped garden areas.

4. Bellingham

• What is Bellingham?
  • Bellingham is a lovely coastal Washington city located near the state's Canadian border, known as a major port city for ferries and cruise ships traveling north to Alaska.
• Why is Bellingham known for craft beer?
  • The charming city is one of the Pacific Northwest's best emerging craft beer towns, home to 15 breweries that have won more than four dozen medals at major national and international brewing competitions.
• What is unique about Bellingham's music scene?
  • Its renowned local music scene has launched the careers of major independent artists, including Death Cab for Cutie and the Posies.
• What musical performances can visitors enjoy?
  • Visitors can catch performances by the Whatcom Symphony Orchestra or the North Sound Youth Symphony, attend the internationally-renowned Bellingham Festival of Music, or peruse the exhibits of the lovely Whatcom Museum of History and Art, which sponsors monthly gallery walk events.
• What outdoor activities are available?
  • Outdoor recreational opportunities abound at the 241-acre Whatcom Falls Park and the Mount Baker Ski Area, which holds the world record for most snowfall in one season.

Plan ahead for these Bellingham Events:
- Ski to Sea - May 25, 2025
- Bellingham SeaFeast - October
- Fairhaven Winterfest - from late November to late December
- Whatcom Cultural Arts Festival

5. Carnation

• What is Carnation?
  • Carnation is a charming rural community in western Washington State, located within convenient day trip driving distance from Seattle's downtown district.
• How did Carnation get its name?
  • The city is named in honor of the Carnation Milk Products Company, which was originally founded within its borders as the Tolt Milk Products Company.
• What historical attractions can visitors explore?
  • Visitors can explore the recreated Camlann Medieval Village, which was founded in the 1980s and replicates daily life within the English countryside in the 14th century.
• What family-friendly activities are available?
  • Remlinger Farms offers family-friendly park rides and locally-grown produce, located less than a mile outside of the city's borders.
• What outdoor recreation opportunities exist?
  • Outdoor recreational opportunities abound on the nearby Tolt and Snoqualmie Rivers and within the nearby foothills of the Cascade Mountains.

6. Carson

• What is Carson?
  • Carson is a lovely town along the banks of the Columbia River, located near the cities of Stevenson, Washington and Hood River, Oregon.
• What is Carson best known for?
  • The city is best known as the home of the Carson Hot Springs Resort, which is anchored around natural mineral hot springs and showcases an authentic 1900s bathhouse and the par-71 Elk Ridge Golf Course.
• What is the significance of the Carson National Fish Hatchery?
  • The Carson National Fish Hatchery has been raising salmon and trout populations since the 1930s and has been credited as a major factor in the recovery of Chinook salmon populations on the lower Columbia River.
• What can visitors experience at the fish hatchery?
  • Today, it offers guided tours, showcasing operations and historic buildings constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps.
• What outdoor activities are available nearby?
  • Nearby, Mount Saint Helens National Volcanic Monument offers opportunities for hiking, fishing, kayaking, and camping.

7. Castle Rock

• What is Castle Rock?
  • Castle Rock is a lovely city located at the western base of Mount Saint Helens within the gorgeous Willapa Hills in Cowlitz County.
• Why is Castle Rock named that way?
  • The town is named for its unique volcanic rock outcropping, which rises 190 feet above the Cowlitz River on the city's southern edge and was a major geographic landmark during the region's pioneer era.
• What recreational opportunities does Castle Rock offer?
  • Lovely Rock Community Park is home to hiking trails and day-use picnic sites, located within a beautiful Pacific Northwest temperate rainforest climate.
• What historical landmarks can visitors explore?
  • Visitors can explore the unique Spirit Lake Memorial Highway, commemorating the covering of a previous highway before Mount Saint Helens’ 1980 eruption, and the Hummocks Trail, which offers easy hiking experiences for families.
• What attractions can visitors enjoy downtown?
  • Downtown, visitors can enjoy delicacies from Castle Rock Donuts, or peruse new and used books at Vault Books and Brew.

8. Chehalis

• What is Chehalis?
  • Chehalis is a lovely city in Lewis County, originally established as a pioneer settlement in 1873 connected to the Northern Pacific Railroad.
• How did Chehalis get its name?
  • The city is named in honor of the region's historic indigenous people and preserves its pioneer-era history along its Historic Downtown Walking Tour and at the Lewis County Historical Museum.
• What recreational activities are available in Chehalis?
  • Riverside Golf Club offers public golfing experiences, while the Gail and Carolyn Shaw Aquatics Center is home to a beach-entry pool, water slides, and children’s play areas.
• What notable landmarks are in Chehalis?
  • The Vernetta Smith Chehalis Timberland Library, named in honor of philanthropist Orin Smith, is housed at the site of the city's former 1910 city hall building.
• What annual events take place in Chehalis?
  • Each year, the city hosts the Southwest Washington Fair, which brings rides, games, 4-H attractions, and fair food vendors.

9. Davenport

• What is Davenport?
  • Davenport is known as the official gateway to the lovely Lake Roosevelt Recreation Area, which offers a plethora of year-round water sports and outdoor recreational opportunities less than half an hour from the city's downtown district.
• What is the surrounding landscape like?
  • The charming Columbia Basin city is surrounded by a beautiful landscape of rolling wheat fields, pothole lakes, and basaltic coulees.
• What historical sites can visitors explore?
  • The Lincoln County Historical Museum is home to collections of railroading and farming memorabilia, while Fort Spokane preserves an 1880s-era frontier army post.
• What recreational facilities does Davenport offer?
  • Davenport Water Park operates throughout the summer months, offering water slides and play areas for swimmers of all ages.
• What annual events take place in Davenport?
  • Each year, the city hosts a plethora of special events, including the July Pioneer Days festival and the Lincoln County Fair, held each August.

10. Gig Harbor

• What is Gig Harbor?
  • Gig Harbor is a lovely maritime village located within the shadow of majestic Mount Rainier, known as a popular weekend getaway spot for Seattle and Portland residents.
• What outdoor activities are available in Gig Harbor?
  • The town is a hub for water sports and outdoor activities, including opportunities to rent kayaks, paddle boats, and other watercraft for recreational sailing.
• What family-friendly attractions can visitors enjoy?
  • Family-friendly attractions line the city's downtown district, including the Harbor History Museum, the Ocean 5 laser tag and bowling funplex, and the lovely Waterfront History Walk.
• What activities are available for adults?
  • Adults can sample famed brown sugar bourbon at Heritage Distilling, which offers distillery tours and a cask club, or dine at delicious pubs like Tide’s Tavern, known for its craft burgers and local beer selection.
• Where can visitors shop and dine in Gig Harbor?
  • Harborview Avenue is lined with excellent restaurants and charming shops, while Uptown Gig Harbor is home to an open-air shopping mall.