Great Holiday Travel Destinations in Washington State

The COVID-19 pandemic has put a damper on a lot of people’s travel plans in 2020, but there are still plenty of opportunities to get out and explore someplace new while doing so safely.

If you’re going to be spending any time in the region over the holidays or are interested in traveling to the Pacific Northwest, here are just a few great places to travel to in Washington State.

Friday Harbor

If you’re looking for a relaxing getaway spot, you can’t do a whole lot better in Washington State than Friday Harbor in the San Juan Islands. The islands (172 of them) are located between the Washington coast and Vancouver Island, and you’ll need to take a ferry to get there. You may spot some whales along the way, as this is one of the best spots in the world to see orcas!

Friday Harbor features beautiful beaches, a gorgeous lighthouse, some great restaurants, a lavender farm and plenty of quiet places to sit and enjoy your surroundings and a cup of coffee or glass of wine. It’s also the perfect distance away from other great sites in the area, including spots for hiking and exploring.

Olympic Peninsula

This is a must-see natural location if you’re going to be spending time in Washington. The peninsula isn’t just surrounded by water—it also has a ton of gorgeous waterfalls, gigantic trees and the Olympic Mountains serving as an awe-inspiring backdrop. The entire area is teeming with life and feels completely wild. There are beautiful beaches (namely Kalaloch and Ruby) that have spectacular sunsets, and plenty of life and shells. There are excellent restaurants, great spots for surfing and even the most northwestern point of the continental U.S. at Cape Flattery!

Leavenworth

This alpine village in the middle of Washington makes for an ideal winter getaway, as there are plenty of outdoor activities in which you can partake. Skiing, snowboarding, sleigh rides, a lighting festival, a reindeer farm and a nutcracker museum all make Leavenworth seasonal favorites.

This is a popular stop for visitors all year long, but there’s no better time than the winter months to check it out if you’re a first-time visitor, or are specifically looking to plan a winter getaway somewhere in the Pacific Northwest.

Whidbey Island

Whidbey Island is a scenic hour-and-a-half drive from Seattle, and you can either take the bridge or the ferry to get there. The bridge route takes you over the gorgeous Deception Pass. If you wish, you can park and walk across the bridge to really soak in the views. Bowman Bay is in the area and features nesting bald eagles, seals and much more wildlife.

There are several villages on the island, as well as Fort Casey Historical State Park, which features a lighthouse, gun batteries and incredible views of the Puget Sound and the mountains around the area.

For more recommendations for Washington State travel destinations, or for transportation around the area, reach out to Around the Sound today!

Categorised in: Travel Destinations

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