If you like mountains and the sea --- and really, who doesn't --- then Washington State is hard to beat as a vacation destination. Its mountains and island-studded waters would be gorgeous on their own, but the way they act as backdrops to each other takes the state's scenery to a higher level. Washington's mountains are big, inspiring and make for great hiking and sightseeing. They are often snowcapped, but are surprisingly lush at lower elevations since the state is one of the few in the country that have rainforests. Washington's Salish Sea, an inlet of the Pacific Ocean which includes Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands, is rich in marine life such as whales, sealions, salmon and halibut. It is the perfect playground for kayakers, anglers and wildlife enthusiasts. Washington is definitely the perfect surf and turf destination.
Seattle has flights to all major cities and is relatively close to all of the best destinations in Washington. The state also has a ferry system that lets you load your car onto boats, making for a very scenic and novel road trip. See what Washington State has to offer in the sample itinerary below then contact us to customize your private driving tour.
Seattle has flights to all major cities and is relatively close to all of the best destinations in Washington. The state also has a ferry system that lets you load your car onto boats, making for a very scenic and novel road trip. See what Washington State has to offer in the sample itinerary below then contact us to customize your private driving tour.
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Washington's Wonders: Mount Rainier, Olympic National Park, San Juan Islands and North Cascades - 8 days from Seattle
Washington State is one of the best nature trip destinations in the United States because its attractions are diverse, close to each other, and stunningly beautiful. In Washington you can kayak Pacific islands with orcas (a.k.a. killer whales) in the water while admiring the glaciated peak of Mt. Baker. In Olympic National Park you can hike amidst fluffy white mountain goats at just under 8,000 feet of elevation, enjoy sandy beaches at sea level, and explore lush rainforests all in the same park. Mount Rainer and the North Cascades are National Parks within two hours of Seattle that have gorgeous waterfalls, rivers and lakes. Washington’s mountainous topography, abundant water and proximity to the Pacific Ocean combine for a truly special area that no nature-lover should miss.
Day 1: Visit Mount Rainier National Park
Mount Rainier is Washington State’s tallest mountain and dominates the Seattle skyline. No Washington vacation would be complete without a visit to this state icon and conveniently you can enjoy Mount Rainier National Park’s best attractions in a day trip from Seattle. The drive from the city to the entrance of the National Park takes about 2 hours and you can do the trip on your own or on a guided tour. If you are looking for an easy day then you can simply visit the park’s various viewpoints and let your eyes feast on Rainer’s scenery. Waterfalls, a river rushing through slot canyon, and subalpine lakes that reflect Mount Rainier can be seen with little to no hiking. For those looking for a more active day, several wonderful hikes take people through forests with thousand year old Douglas-fir and red cedar trees, beautiful subalpine meadows, and to hot springs.
Overnight in Seattle.
Day 2: Hike along Olympic National Park’s Hurricane Ridge
Olympic National Park is in a peninsula in the Pacific and is home to a diverse set of environments including temperate rainforests, sandy coastlines and glaciated mountains. Hurricane Ridge is the highest area of the peninsula that is easily accessible and is the ideal place to start your exploration of the park. The ridge is covered in snow from winter into summer and can be hammered by winds exceeding 75 miles per hour. It is the best place to see the majestic Olympic Mountains. Several trails in the area take you through meadows and forested hillsides and let you see mountain goats and spectacular views of the Olympic Peninsula. In the winter Hurricane Ridge is open for skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing from Friday through Sunday.
Hurricane Ridge is a 3 to 3.5 hour drive from Seattle and 40 minutes from the seaside town of Port Angeles where you spend the night.
Day 3: Take scenic walks around Lake Crescent, Rialto Beach and Hoh Rain Forest
Today you visit three very different but equally beautiful areas of Olympic National Park. Lake Crescent was formed when a landslide thousands of years ago created a natural dam in Indian Creek, a deep valley carved by glaciers. The moon-shaped lake is the second deepest lake in Washington and has crystalline blue water. It is a great place for picnicking, kayaking, fishing and canoeing. The area also has several trails, the most popular of which follows Barnes Creek through the forest and takes you to Marymere Falls.
Rialto Beach is a stark but dramatically scenic landscape where Pacific Ocean waves crash onto a dark coastline of black rock and grey sand. Just offshore towering rock islands called sea stacks jut out from the water. On the beach giant pieces of driftwood lie in a “tree graveyard” where storms deposit tree trunks that are left to bleach in the sun. Rialto beach is a fantastic place for taking photos and admiring nature’s rugged beauty.
The Hoh Rain Forest is one of the biggest and most lush temperate rainforests in the United States. Walking into Hoh feels like entering a mythical forest with elves, dwarves and fairies ready to pop out from behind the dense ferns and giant moss-covered trees. While fairytale creatures aren’t really there, you may spot some of the many animals that call the Hoh Rainforest home like elk, black bears, river otters, owls and the famous banana slug. Several trails take you through the rainforest and along the Hoh River for a truly magical hike.
After a full day enjoying the incredibly varied environments of Olympic National Park you drive back to Port Angeles where you spend the night.
Day 4: Take a ferry to Orcas Island and visit Obstruction Pass State Park
The horseshoe shaped Orcas Island is the biggest of the San Juan Islands, an archipelago off the coast of Washington just within the United States’ sea border with Canada. The island is famous for its scenery, laid back island vibe, and the presence of whales in its waters for much of the year (surprisingly, the island gets its name from a Spanish viceroy named Horcasitas and not from the killer whales that it is most known for).
From Port Angeles it is a 47 mile ocean side drive to Port Townsend where you load your car onto a ferry and take a 30 minute ride to Coupeville. Then it’s an especially scenic 32 mile drive that takes you from Coupeville through Deception Pass State Park to Anacortes. In Anacortes you drive onto another ferry for a 1 hour ride to Orcas Island. Total travel time is about 5 to 6 hours including time spent at the ports waiting to get on and off the ferries, but the drive and ferry rides are feasts for the eyes and the journey is a highlight in itself.
Obstruction Pass State Park is a great first place to visit once you get to Orcas Island. It is on the other end of the island from the ferry terminal so you’ll get the full 30 minute drive through of Orcas. At the park take a short hike through a seaside forest to the longest beach on Orcas Island composed of smooth pebbles of various colors.
Overnight on Orcas Island.
Day 5: Go kayaking or fishing around Orcas Island Kayaking and visit Moran State Park
There’s no better way to enjoy Orcas Island than to be out on the water. You can spend the morning kayaking in the island’s bays and along its shores, taking in views of adjacent islands and keeping an eye out for harbor seals, eagles, porpoises and other wildlife. Several routes with various difficulty levels are available, and you can choose to go on a guided kayaking tour or paddle on your own.
If you’d rather exert effort towards catching dinner, fishing is another fun way to enjoy the waters and coastline of Orcas island. Bottom fishing for flounder and other bottom feeders is the best option for novice anglers, with fish plentiful and easy to catch all year round. Salmon, halibut, ling cod and even Dungeness crab can also be caught depending on the season but require more experience and patience.
In the afternoon visit Moran State Park, home of Mount Constitution which is the highest point on Orcas Island. At the top of Mount Constitution is a stone watchtower where you can get a fantastic 360 degree view of Orcas Island and its surroundings which include Mount Baker, the North Cascades and the other San Juan Islands. Moran State Park also has over 30 miles of hiking trails that take you to waterfalls and around beautiful lakes.
Overnight on Orcas Island.
Day 6: Go whale watching in the San Juan Islands and visit Orcas Island's local industries
Orcas --- also known as killer whales --- live in the waters of the San Juan Islands year-round and it is the best area in the world to see them. You can also see minke, humpback and grey whales around the islands as well as a variety of other sea mammals and birds. A whale watching cruise will take you not just around Orcas Island but to the other San Juan Islands --- even as far as the Canadian border --- in search of whales and wildlife. It is a magnificent way to take in the beauty of the islands and marvel at its natural inhabitants.
After your whale cruise in the morning spend the afternoon visiting the various local industries of Orcas Island. Take a stroll through the scenic grounds of OrcaSong Farm and check out their botanical products. Eat oysters, clams and other ultra-fresh seafood at the Buck Bay Shellfish Farm. Cap of the day by tasting local wines in an outdoor picnic setting at the Orcas Island Winery. Or, if you’re more of a beer person, you can have a pint or a taster flight at the the Island Hoppin’ Brewery, the first and only microbrewery on Orcas Island.
Last night on Orcas Island.
Day 7: Drive to North Cascades National Park and enjoy its spectacular views
Today you say goodbye to Orcas Island and take the ferry back to Anacortes on the mainland. From there it’s a 70 mile drive to the North Cascades National Park west entrance. Along the way stop by the Cascadian Farm home farm in Skagit Valley to check out the original base of the well-known cereal producer and pick up some snacks. Once inside North Cascades National Park take a short walk on the Sterling Munro Boardwalk. This short trail goes through a thick forest before opening up to a spectacular view of the Picket Mountains. The boardwalk also lets you see Terror Glacier and observe various birds in the forest. Next, head to Gorge Creek Falls to admire the 240 foot cascade, Gorge Lake, and Gorge Dam. In the evening visit Ladder Creek Falls and enjoy a light show of multicolored lights accentuating the water.
Overnight in Marblemount or Rockport.
Day 8: Hike in the North Cascades and visit Diablo Lake
The best way to explore North Cascades National Park is on foot and the park has a multitude of trails that take you to beautiful mountain lakes, passes, forests and waterfalls. We’ll recommend hikes for you according to your interest and fitness level. No matter how long or little you want to hike you are sure to get amazing scenery and a healthy dose of nature. No matter what trail you choose to do, however, Diablo Lake should be on your list for today. The lake’s opaque, icy blue water comes from glacial melt and combined with the surrounding mountains and forests makes for a stunning place. You can hike to Diablo Lake or view it from a roadside overlook. You can also take a boat tour from July through most of September.
At the end of the day finish off your Washington adventure with a scenic 120 mile drive back to Seattle.
Day 1: Visit Mount Rainier National Park
Mount Rainier is Washington State’s tallest mountain and dominates the Seattle skyline. No Washington vacation would be complete without a visit to this state icon and conveniently you can enjoy Mount Rainier National Park’s best attractions in a day trip from Seattle. The drive from the city to the entrance of the National Park takes about 2 hours and you can do the trip on your own or on a guided tour. If you are looking for an easy day then you can simply visit the park’s various viewpoints and let your eyes feast on Rainer’s scenery. Waterfalls, a river rushing through slot canyon, and subalpine lakes that reflect Mount Rainier can be seen with little to no hiking. For those looking for a more active day, several wonderful hikes take people through forests with thousand year old Douglas-fir and red cedar trees, beautiful subalpine meadows, and to hot springs.
Overnight in Seattle.
Day 2: Hike along Olympic National Park’s Hurricane Ridge
Olympic National Park is in a peninsula in the Pacific and is home to a diverse set of environments including temperate rainforests, sandy coastlines and glaciated mountains. Hurricane Ridge is the highest area of the peninsula that is easily accessible and is the ideal place to start your exploration of the park. The ridge is covered in snow from winter into summer and can be hammered by winds exceeding 75 miles per hour. It is the best place to see the majestic Olympic Mountains. Several trails in the area take you through meadows and forested hillsides and let you see mountain goats and spectacular views of the Olympic Peninsula. In the winter Hurricane Ridge is open for skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing from Friday through Sunday.
Hurricane Ridge is a 3 to 3.5 hour drive from Seattle and 40 minutes from the seaside town of Port Angeles where you spend the night.
Day 3: Take scenic walks around Lake Crescent, Rialto Beach and Hoh Rain Forest
Today you visit three very different but equally beautiful areas of Olympic National Park. Lake Crescent was formed when a landslide thousands of years ago created a natural dam in Indian Creek, a deep valley carved by glaciers. The moon-shaped lake is the second deepest lake in Washington and has crystalline blue water. It is a great place for picnicking, kayaking, fishing and canoeing. The area also has several trails, the most popular of which follows Barnes Creek through the forest and takes you to Marymere Falls.
Rialto Beach is a stark but dramatically scenic landscape where Pacific Ocean waves crash onto a dark coastline of black rock and grey sand. Just offshore towering rock islands called sea stacks jut out from the water. On the beach giant pieces of driftwood lie in a “tree graveyard” where storms deposit tree trunks that are left to bleach in the sun. Rialto beach is a fantastic place for taking photos and admiring nature’s rugged beauty.
The Hoh Rain Forest is one of the biggest and most lush temperate rainforests in the United States. Walking into Hoh feels like entering a mythical forest with elves, dwarves and fairies ready to pop out from behind the dense ferns and giant moss-covered trees. While fairytale creatures aren’t really there, you may spot some of the many animals that call the Hoh Rainforest home like elk, black bears, river otters, owls and the famous banana slug. Several trails take you through the rainforest and along the Hoh River for a truly magical hike.
After a full day enjoying the incredibly varied environments of Olympic National Park you drive back to Port Angeles where you spend the night.
Day 4: Take a ferry to Orcas Island and visit Obstruction Pass State Park
The horseshoe shaped Orcas Island is the biggest of the San Juan Islands, an archipelago off the coast of Washington just within the United States’ sea border with Canada. The island is famous for its scenery, laid back island vibe, and the presence of whales in its waters for much of the year (surprisingly, the island gets its name from a Spanish viceroy named Horcasitas and not from the killer whales that it is most known for).
From Port Angeles it is a 47 mile ocean side drive to Port Townsend where you load your car onto a ferry and take a 30 minute ride to Coupeville. Then it’s an especially scenic 32 mile drive that takes you from Coupeville through Deception Pass State Park to Anacortes. In Anacortes you drive onto another ferry for a 1 hour ride to Orcas Island. Total travel time is about 5 to 6 hours including time spent at the ports waiting to get on and off the ferries, but the drive and ferry rides are feasts for the eyes and the journey is a highlight in itself.
Obstruction Pass State Park is a great first place to visit once you get to Orcas Island. It is on the other end of the island from the ferry terminal so you’ll get the full 30 minute drive through of Orcas. At the park take a short hike through a seaside forest to the longest beach on Orcas Island composed of smooth pebbles of various colors.
Overnight on Orcas Island.
Day 5: Go kayaking or fishing around Orcas Island Kayaking and visit Moran State Park
There’s no better way to enjoy Orcas Island than to be out on the water. You can spend the morning kayaking in the island’s bays and along its shores, taking in views of adjacent islands and keeping an eye out for harbor seals, eagles, porpoises and other wildlife. Several routes with various difficulty levels are available, and you can choose to go on a guided kayaking tour or paddle on your own.
If you’d rather exert effort towards catching dinner, fishing is another fun way to enjoy the waters and coastline of Orcas island. Bottom fishing for flounder and other bottom feeders is the best option for novice anglers, with fish plentiful and easy to catch all year round. Salmon, halibut, ling cod and even Dungeness crab can also be caught depending on the season but require more experience and patience.
In the afternoon visit Moran State Park, home of Mount Constitution which is the highest point on Orcas Island. At the top of Mount Constitution is a stone watchtower where you can get a fantastic 360 degree view of Orcas Island and its surroundings which include Mount Baker, the North Cascades and the other San Juan Islands. Moran State Park also has over 30 miles of hiking trails that take you to waterfalls and around beautiful lakes.
Overnight on Orcas Island.
Day 6: Go whale watching in the San Juan Islands and visit Orcas Island's local industries
Orcas --- also known as killer whales --- live in the waters of the San Juan Islands year-round and it is the best area in the world to see them. You can also see minke, humpback and grey whales around the islands as well as a variety of other sea mammals and birds. A whale watching cruise will take you not just around Orcas Island but to the other San Juan Islands --- even as far as the Canadian border --- in search of whales and wildlife. It is a magnificent way to take in the beauty of the islands and marvel at its natural inhabitants.
After your whale cruise in the morning spend the afternoon visiting the various local industries of Orcas Island. Take a stroll through the scenic grounds of OrcaSong Farm and check out their botanical products. Eat oysters, clams and other ultra-fresh seafood at the Buck Bay Shellfish Farm. Cap of the day by tasting local wines in an outdoor picnic setting at the Orcas Island Winery. Or, if you’re more of a beer person, you can have a pint or a taster flight at the the Island Hoppin’ Brewery, the first and only microbrewery on Orcas Island.
Last night on Orcas Island.
Day 7: Drive to North Cascades National Park and enjoy its spectacular views
Today you say goodbye to Orcas Island and take the ferry back to Anacortes on the mainland. From there it’s a 70 mile drive to the North Cascades National Park west entrance. Along the way stop by the Cascadian Farm home farm in Skagit Valley to check out the original base of the well-known cereal producer and pick up some snacks. Once inside North Cascades National Park take a short walk on the Sterling Munro Boardwalk. This short trail goes through a thick forest before opening up to a spectacular view of the Picket Mountains. The boardwalk also lets you see Terror Glacier and observe various birds in the forest. Next, head to Gorge Creek Falls to admire the 240 foot cascade, Gorge Lake, and Gorge Dam. In the evening visit Ladder Creek Falls and enjoy a light show of multicolored lights accentuating the water.
Overnight in Marblemount or Rockport.
Day 8: Hike in the North Cascades and visit Diablo Lake
The best way to explore North Cascades National Park is on foot and the park has a multitude of trails that take you to beautiful mountain lakes, passes, forests and waterfalls. We’ll recommend hikes for you according to your interest and fitness level. No matter how long or little you want to hike you are sure to get amazing scenery and a healthy dose of nature. No matter what trail you choose to do, however, Diablo Lake should be on your list for today. The lake’s opaque, icy blue water comes from glacial melt and combined with the surrounding mountains and forests makes for a stunning place. You can hike to Diablo Lake or view it from a roadside overlook. You can also take a boat tour from July through most of September.
At the end of the day finish off your Washington adventure with a scenic 120 mile drive back to Seattle.