If you live in the Pacific Northwest or are just taking an extended vacation in the area, there is a lot to see and do here. The regions around Seattle are known for their culinary delights, vineyards, and outdoor adventure scene. And much of it can be accessed by car on a single weekend.
Weekend getaways are a wonderful way to get relief from city life, break up your routine, or just explore the beautiful towns and countryside that surround you. Here are the top weekend getaway destinations from Seattle to get out of the city and experience the very best of the Pacific Northwest.
San Juan Islands
Many people who haven’t lived or traveled in the Pacific Northwest don’t realize that there are islands off the coast of Washington. One of the best areas to visit here is the San Juan Islands, which is actually a collection of about 172 islands that are part of the state. This is an excellent getaway for foodies because there are lots of locally sourced restaurants in the area. Make sure to get some oysters! It’s also an ideal trip for art lovers and outdoors lovers. You can hop on a ferry to reach the islands, and the most popular ones to visit are San Juan Island and Orcas Island. Lots of charming hotels are located in these areas, and top things to do include the San Juan Island National Historic Park, sea kayaking, hiking, and whale watching.
Friday Harbor
Take a drive about three hours from Seattle to reach Friday Harbor, which is a seaside town that’s small and right along the beach. Take a walk in the sand and browse the local shops for souvenirs and antiques. You can also find some great live music to listen to here in the evenings. As an alternative to driving, you can also take a ferry to Friday Harbor and leave your car parked on the mainland of Washington. This is a great way to get some walking exercise over the weekend and not worry about parking during your trip.
Langley, Whidbey Island
A popular getaway in Washington State, Whidbey Island is a great place to get away, relax, and just wander around without a care in the world. There are lots of places to go shopping, eat out, and explore here. It’ll typically take you less than an hour and a half to get to Whidbey Island from Seattle, and Langley is one of the most charming towns to visit here because it’s packed with cute restaurants and ice cream shops. Fort Casey State Park and Deception Pass State Park are excellent spots to relax and get back in touch with nature if you’ve grown a bit weary of the pace of city life. Make sure to take in the lovely views of the mountains and water and shop at the unique galleries in the Langley area. Coupeville is another town to visit while you’re in the area.
Cascade Mountains
Escape the daily grind and endless traffic with a weekend trip to the Cascades. If you travel to the North Cascades, you can enjoy amazing mountain views and a fun winery and brewery scene as well. Wenatchee’s orchard and wine country make for an incredibly relaxing trip that will make you feel a world away from city life. Fun outdoorsy things to do in the North Cascades are canoeing the Skagit River, backpacking from Hannegan Pass to Ross Lake, climbing Cascadian rock, and viewing the wildflowers at Harts Pass. Come here for a romantic weekend getaway with someone special. Nearby Rockport and Manning Park have hotel options here.
Port Townsend, Olympic Peninsula
The Olympic Peninsula extends from Port Townsend to Olympic National Park. Come to Port Townsend to experience a Victoria-era town that is unlike anywhere else. Olympic National Park is a temperate rainforest that is perfectly suited for hiking. When you’re at the northern tip of the peninsula, you can check out the lake and beachfront, which are perfect for a relaxing weekend away from Seattle. The Olympia Peninsula makes a great weekend getaway for some romantic time at the beach. And while you’re in Port Townsend, be sure to check out the music at Sirens, the unique shops on Water Street, and the local brews at Propolis and Port Townsend Brewing.
Mount Rainier
While a trip to the Cascades can be as laid-back or as adventurous as you like, Mount Rainier is a must-visit spot for adventure when you’re in Seattle. In the winter, this is an amazing place to ski because Mount Rainier is the tallest peak of the Cascades standing at 14,410 feet. In the summer, come to Mount Rainier to rock climb and hike. You’ll only need to be in the car for about three hours to reach Mount Rainier from downtown Seattle, which makes it totally doable on a two-day weekend. This is an excellent family weekend getaway that’s fun for everyone.
Ellensburg
Ellensburg is the place to come for wide-open spaces if you’re feeling a bit claustrophobic in Seattle. Here you’ll find the Yakima River and rolling hills, and a great place to stay is the Canyon River Ranch. It’s also easy to visit the Cascades when you’re in Ellensburg for the weekend. Popular activities to do here include fly fishing classes and sampling wines at the Naches Heights Vineyard. There’s also a thriving craft brewery scene here in Ellensburg.
Yakima
The state of Washington has some amazing wine country regions, and one of the best is Yakima. It takes a little over two hours to reach Yakima from Seattle, and you’ll often find the sun shining here. Not only is this a vineyard region, but also a place where you’ll find hard cider mills and breweries. Carve out some time in your weekend to visit Johnson’s Orchards, the Bonair Winery, and Bale Breaker Brewing Company. The Yakima Valley Museum, the Cowiche Canyon Trail, and Fort Simcoe State Park are also worth a trip here for the weekend.
Leavenworth
Leavenworth is a Bavarian-style village in Washington state that’s an easy drive from Seattle. It’s on the eastern side of the Cascade Mountains and is a lovely destination in both the summer and winter seasons. You can walk around town to check out the shops and relax in Waterfront Park while taking in all the themed restaurants and hotels. This is a family-friendly weekend getaway that’s made especially fun with a visit to the Nutcracker Museum and the fish hatchery in town. You can also get active in Leavenworth by going river rafting, mountain biking, hiking, and skiing.
Portland, Oregon
It may sound counterintuitive to visit another state when you are looking for a weekend getaway from Seattle, but Portland has a very different vibe and is definitely worth checking out over and over again. It’s known for keeping it weird and being all about the food trucks and breweries, but there is much more to Portland as well. Check out the mile-long Artisan Corridor in the Central Eastside Neighborhood to try local foods, wines, and coffees. Popular stops around town include the Doug Fir Lounge, Ristretto Roasters, and Water Avenue Coffee. Bike culture is big in Portland, so if you don’t bring your own set of wheels, rent a bike in a local shop to explore the city at your own pace.
Vancouver, Canada
Who says that weekend getaways from Seattle have to be in the continental U.S.? Since Seattle is so close to the Canadian border, it’s easy to travel to Vancouver in British Columbia for the weekend. This is a great destination in Canada to visit for foodies, especially if you love Japanese, Chinese, and Indian food. The city of Vancouver also has a great public transportation system and is bike-friendly, so you can easily explore it without the hassle of a car.
Victoria, Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island is an ideal weekend getaway from Seattle, and Victoria is packed with everything you want in a city away from your own city. But unlike Seattle, Victoria is a very compact city that’s easy to see on foot in a single weekend. This means you may not even need to use your car to get around that much. Victoria is a family-friendly getaway spot that’s just northwest of Seattle.
