• Skip to main content

Seattle Diary

Learn The Beauty Of Seattle Here

Seattle Tourism – Sightseeing Outside Seattle

September 22, 2008 by SeattleDiary

Enjoy Seattle!
Seattle Tourism – Day-trips from Seattle
Exploring the Puget Sound area from Seattle

One of the many benefits of visiting Seattle, is the wealth of travel experiences located so close by, a bounty for nature lovers, hikers, photographers, and explorers.  The beauty of the northwest is just beyond the city with majestic mountains, woodland trails, waterfalls and rapids, and islands with smaller towns, not to mention the close proximity of Seattle to British Columbia, Canada.

*Note: This page contains quite a few photos, please allow time to load.

snoqsmmtn-3843758
tlp-closepnk-5909514

passrapids-9856351
orcasferry-7095106

Brought to you by:

wfseattlelogo-1399993

Waterfront Vacation Rental Homes in and near Seattle.
Visit our website at – http://www.SeattleWaterfrontRentals.com

Beautiful homes with exceptional views, able to accommodate up to eight,
within 15 – 25 minutes of downtown Seattle!

Only about a half hour drive east from downtown Seattle you can overlook the magnificence of Snoqualmie Falls.  Beautiful at any time of year, the park surrounding the falls offers a great observation deck, picnic tables, and a trail (3 miles round trip) to hike down to the foot of the falls.  The Salish Lodge, overlooking the falls, offers lunch & dinner.

waterfall-6977059


Continuing east for another half hour will put you into the Snoqualmie Pass.  With snow-laced mountains on both sides and beautiful scenery…

snoqlake-1017873
snoqlgmtn-5701238

…this quick getaway is a great way to see the beauty of the Pacific Northwest.  Several winter ski areas are located here.


Find Particular Destinations:
Snoqualmie Falls / Pass,  Mountain Passes,
Mt. Rainier / St. Helens,  Ferries: islands, peninsula,San Juan Islands,
Canada: Victoria / Vancouver,  Tulips,
Dinner Train,  Boeing / Museum of Flight,
Seattle Attractions    Parks

 

Another popular mountain pass that takes just a little longer to drive to and through is Stevens Pass, about 1 1/2 hours from Seattle by car.  Along the way stop at the pull-off for the waterfalls, a trail will lead you directly to a bridge where you will find yourself standing directly over the rapids of the falls. 

rapids-3926005
rapidfall-2935916

This drive offers breathtaking views of brilliantly colored foliage in the autumn months.  The hillsides become tapestries of vibrant colors, bright red, flaming orange, and vivid yellow, offset by the evergreens which retain their forest green color. 


The pass will eventually lead you to a charming bavarian town called Leavenworth nestled in the mountains.  Leavenworth offers interesting shops for exploring and cafes for enjoying lunch.  A wonderful Christmas shop is located here as well.  Take a different way back and return by Snoqualmie pass to take in new scenery the whole trip.

Another nice drive through the mountains is via the North Cascade Highway.  It’s a 4 hour drive to the other side to eastern Washington where the climate is quite different – warmer in summer, colder in winter. 

passflowers-9109823


passcows-5591113 Your trip will take you through
small quaint towns
by farms and 
cattle.
passlake-4457484


passmtn-9407924

This drive is also know for its maginificent fall display of color.

 

You will pass several mountain waterfalls and rapids.

wtrfallroad-9425811


Find Particular Destinations:
Snoqualmie Falls / Pass,  Mountain Passes,
Mt. Rainier / St. Helens,  Ferries: islands, peninsula,San Juan Islands,
Canada: Victoria / Vancouver,  Tulips,
Dinner Train,  Boeing / Museum of Flight,
Seattle Attractions    Parks


Mount Rainier, the Northwest’s largest mountain,  is located south of Seattle, about 2 – 2 1/2 hours by car. 

rainierlng-2985931


rainierhillsd-4607028
Getting to Mt. Rainier
typically only takes 
about 1 1/2 hours, 
but the winding 
road upwards can
add another hour.
rainierpath-6895968


rainierfallppl-3885459 This mountain is 
snow covered all year. 

(Photos 
taken in 
autumn.)

rainierfall-5132965

Mount St. Helens, a volcano as is Mount Rainier, differs in that it relatively recently erupted.  The restorative powers of nature can be witnessed as the area is slowly reborn after the 1980 eruption.  Mount St. Helens can be reached by driving about 4 hours from Seattle.

Brought to you by:

wfseattlelogo-1399993

Waterfront Vacation Rental Homes in and near Seattle.
Visit our website at – http://www.SeattleWaterfrontRentals.com

Beautiful homes with exceptional views, able to accommodate up to eight,
within 15 – 25 minutes of downtown Seattle!


Find Particular Destinations:
Snoqualmie Falls / Pass,  Mountain Passes,
Mt. Rainier / St. Helens,  Ferries: islands, peninsula,San Juan Islands,
Canada: Victoria / Vancouver,  Tulips,
Dinner Train,  Boeing / Museum of Flight,
Seattle Attractions    Parks

Taking a ferry ride to Bainbridge Island can also make for a pleasant afternoon excursion.  If on foot, ride the ferry inexpensively as a passenger, departing from downtown Seattle, and explore Winslow once on the other side.  The 30 minute ferry ride itself is quite enjoyable.  The WA state ferries offer both indoor and outdoor observation areas with great views of other water traffic and the surrounding shorelines.

wtr-boat-5426141

You can also drive about 1/2 hour north of Seattle and take either the ferry to Kingston from Edmonds, or the Whidbey Island ferry from Mulkilteo.  Once on Whidbey Island, you can explore the island and visit Deception pass, the waterway between the island and mainland.

wtrboatbk-6791459
There are many boat excursions to explore the islands, and view wildlife,  whales, etc.  Many vessels offer inside or outside seating. 

The boat rides are always enjoyable, and crew members are knowledgeable about sites and nature. 

 
Whale watching excursions depart from different points.  One of the closest, relative to Seattle*, is the Everett based Mosquito Fleet, about 1/2 hour north of Seattle.  There is also a nice combination cruise departing from Bellingham, 1 1/2 hours north of Seattle, offering whale watching on the way to Victoria (see below), and additionally, a buffet dinner on the return trip: Victoria-San Juan Cruises.
*Nov. – Mar., Salish Sea Charters departs from Seattle (in the summer months, they depart from San Juan Island).

wtrwhales-5239758

wtr-boatdk-7931539
 

(Orca whales near the boat on a whale-watching excursion.)

The ferry to Kingston will take you to the peninsula across Puget Sound, just a 1 1/2 hour drive will bring you to Olympic National Park where another 1/2 – 1 hour will get you to Hurricane Ridge, part of the Olympic Mountain range.  Weather permitting, you can drive to the top where you will find top-of-the-world views, snow, and also wild deer feeding in the sloping meadows.  By driving another 2 hours from the park, you will find a rain forest – the only such forest in the northwest.

On the way to the Olympics, you will pass Port Angeles, a point of departure for the ferry to Victoria on Vancouver Island.  Another car ferry to Vancouver Island departs from Anacortes, about 90 miles north of Seattle off I-5.
 

orcaswaterway-7476708

From Anacortes, take a 
WA state ferry through the 
San Juan Islands
to Vancouver Island. 

 

For an interesting side trip, stop off at one of the islands, San Juan, Lopez, or Orcas. 

Orcas Island is not the largest island, but is thought by many to be the most scenic, with a varied topography offering a mix of forests and pastures. 

*We can recommend a nice B&B on Orcas!

orcasinlet-3561301
orcasbarn-9495240
orcasroadway-7456142


 

 

At the upper most point of the island is a wonderful look-out, where the major mountains, waterways, and islands 
can be seen. 

orcasoutlook-2386896
orcaslake-5061931
orcaslookout-6704360


 

orcasdeer-6363773

Be watchful for deer grazing 
just beside the roads.

On the ferry ride back, an evening trip may present a nice photo opportunity for a 
sunset picture!

orcasmtnsunst-2896731


Find Particular Destinations:
Snoqualmie Falls / Pass,  Mountain Passes,
Mt. Rainier / St. Helens,  Ferries: islands, peninsula,San Juan Islands,
Canada: Victoria / Vancouver,  Tulips,
Dinner Train,  Boeing / Museum of Flight,
Seattle Attractions    Parks


To visit Victoria, B.C., Canada from dowtown Seattle without a car, take the Victoria Clipper.  This ferry will have you in Victoria in 2 1/2 hours, departing from downtown Seattle as a passenger only ferry.  The Clipper has several a.m. departures and several return boats in the evening.  Victoria is a charming Canadian town with a distinctive English character. 

victoria-6253097

Victoria features a renowned garden just outside of town that can be reached by tour-bus or car.

To enjoy even more of Canada while visiting Seattle, drive north on I-5, the main interstate, about 2 1/2 hours to find yourself right in the heart of Vancouver, B.C., Canada.  Vancouver has similar weather to Seattle and is also a city located on the water.  Vancouver offers a large, lovely park at it’s north end, Stanley Park.  Vancouver also has a central shopping district with a variety of stores, a downtown mall, and many restaurants to choose from.  The exchange rate is typically favorable to U.S. dollars making shopping and dining out that much more fun!  (You can also stop off at Anacortes on the way there or back from Vancouver and visit the San Juan Islands and / or Victoria.)

Brought to you by:

wfseattlelogo-1399993

Waterfront Vacation Rental Homes in and near Seattle.
Visit our website at – http://www.SeattleWaterfrontRentals.com

Beautiful homes with exceptional views, able to accommodate up to eight,
within 15 – 25 minutes of downtown Seattle!

Find Particular Destinations:
Snoqualmie Falls / Pass,  Mountain Passes,
Mt. Rainier / St. Helens,  Ferries: islands, peninsula,San Juan Islands,
Canada: Victoria / Vancouver,  Tulips,
Dinner Train,  Boeing / Museum of Flight,
Seattle Attractions    Parks


On the way to Vancouver, about 1 hour out of Seattle, LaConner is a destination in spring during the 
Tulip Festival.

tlp-rednyellow-2523628

tlp-closered-5359748
tlp-closevar-2991601 tlp-pink-4038338
 

The entire Skagit Valley is a sight to behold with field after field of bright tulips and daffodils displaying their colors.

If you decide to continue north, consider taking the scenic route along the coast – Chuckanut Drive, a scenic drive through farmlands and along the coastline, taking you from the Skagit Valley to just outside Bellingham to the north.

For an excursion closer to home, try the Spirit of Washington dinner train, with lunch departures as well during summer weekends.  An excellent dinner is served with narration of the passing sites during the 45 mile trip along the eastern shore of Lake Washington.  On the way, you’ll cross a 102 foot high, 974 foot long wooden trestle.  The trip leads to the Columbia Winery in Woodinville, where a tour of the winery is offered or wine tasting with the opportunity to purchase favorite selections.  Dessert is served on the return trip and the whole outing lasts 4 hours.

There are several other wineries in Woodinville if you decide to make the 1/2 hour drive instead:

Chateau St. Michelle
Delille Cellars
Facelli Winery
Hightower Cellars
Matthews Cellars
Silver Lake Winery

While in Seattle, visit the area’s largest manufacturer and employer, Boeing.  Tours of the airplane plant are available Mon. – Fri., with 3 tours lasting approximately 1 hour offered daily.  Large 747 jets are built completely indoors at the Boeing plant – a sight to see!  The Boeing airplane plant is located about 1/2 hour north of Seattle.

If you have further interest in planes, visit the Museum of Flight, located near Boeing’s aerospace plant just south of downtown Seattle.  A huge collection of aircraft, including 20 full sized airplanes, are suspended from the glass ceiling.  The history of flight is chronicled from the Wright brothers to the space age.  The collection includes military, commercial, and amateur.

Click here to view and download Washington State Highway Maps.
Click here for a list of National Parks in Washington State.
Click here for a list of State Parks in Washington State.

Find Particular Destinations:
Snoqualmie Falls / Pass,  Mountain Passes,
Mt. Rainier / St. Helens,  Ferries: islands, peninsula,San Juan Islands,
Canada: Victoria / Vancouver,  Tulips,
Dinner Train,  Boeing / Museum of Flight,
Seattle Attractions    Parks

Brought to you by:

wfseattlelogo-1399993

Waterfront Vacation Rental Homes in and near Seattle.
Visit our website at – http://www.SeattleWaterfrontRentals.com

Beautiful homes with exceptional views, able to accommodate up to eight,
within 15 – 25 minutes of downtown Seattle!

Links to this site or its pages are welcome, without permission.
Content and photos are protected by copywrite and may not be copied to be hosted elsewhere.
Content may be printed or downloaded for personal use.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Copyright © 2021 · Aspire Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in