Everything you need to know about visiting Washington

Towering, ancient trees, the freshest seafood around, sounds of the ocean, snowy mountain tops, rolling wine vineyards, Washington has a lot to offer and then some.

I have never been to a state with SO many different landscapes. In one direction you are looking at an enormous snow capped mountain. Turn your head and there’s the ocean. Oh, what’s that over there, skyscrapers of Seattle.

When to visit

There really isn’t a bad time to visit Washington because there is something new to do with every season. With that being said, though, there are certain months that are more ideal than others if you have specific activities in mind.

For example, December to even as late as April is ski season. If you are wanting snow, that’s the time to go!

Looking to hike? I honestly wouldn’t go hiking any earlier than the beginning of June because a lot of trails will still be covered in snow (I learned the hard way). If hiking in the snow is your idea of fun, then hey, forget I said anything! I was there mid June and a lot of the trails of Mt. Rainier were still covered in a deep snow. There were clear trails at the bottom of the mountain, though. July and August will get you the prettiest hiking conditions with wildflower galore.

January and February are the rainiest months so if you have a lot of outdoor activities planned, it’s best to come another time. During my trip in mid June, it was 80 and sunny the entire trip! I was totally shocked. We asked a local about it and she said the summer months are actually really nice and they just tell people it is always rainy to keep tourists away haha.

If you want to see a whale, June through September is the best time to visit!

What Seattle is like

Seattle looked just like the movies (minus the Christian Grey). Ferries, skyscrapers, ocean views, the Pike Place Market. It was amazing! I really loved Seattle and it was fairly clean for being a big city. It is also REALLY easy to get around. It is a city that is meant to be walked or biked. After walking around for an evening, we were able to get around without a GPS. There is also a train system that you can ride for $3 AND it goes to the airport.

The Pike Place Market is so nice and pretty big. You kind of forget you are in a major city while in there. They have a ton of vendors selling everything from flowers to fresh fruit and seafood to homemade jewelry.

Where to hike

You can find a hiking trail basically anywhere in Washington haha it is a state that encourages you to get outdoors! We hiked Mt. Rainier National Park (photo was taken on the Nisqually Trail), HOH Rainforest, and a few different trails in the charming ski town of Snoqualmie.

Hiking conditions vary depending where you are at so come prepared with a comfy pair of hiking boots (waterproof is best).

What the beaches are like

The beaches of Washington are unlike the beaches I have visited before and let me tell you…I came unprepared haha

I have seen photos of the beaches and of course the beach scene from Twilight when Bella goes to La Push Beach but I was still surprised by how cold it was!

We drove the 4.5 hours from Seattle to the coast line of Olympic National Park and visited Rialto Beach (right by Forks where Twilight was based). The entire beach was made of rocks, large trees, driftwood, and a mist that created a very iridescent vibe.

It had been 80s the whole week and was even 90 the first day we visited the beach. So I thought, ok maybe people are in the water? Like maybe people will have beach blankets laid out and we can relax and have a drink? Nope haha I showed up like an idiot wearing a bikini, shorts, and sandals. It was cold, windy, and everyone was wearing jackets and hiking boots. I struggled to say the least. I dressed more appropriately from there on out and had a lot of fun creating a fort of driftwood but it’s not the place you’d want to catch a tan haha.

There are some sand beaches (like Ruby Beach) in Washington but in general, it isn’t a beachy place like Florida where you would want to get into the water and hangout.

What to eat

Washington is definitely a place for foodies to enjoy themselves. They have a wide variety of options and different price points. I am not a huge seafood person and even if you don’ like it, you have to try oysters while you are there. I mean, come on, they are practically served boat to table! You won’t find any fresher than that.

My favorite place was Le Panier, a small French bakery outside of the Pike Place Market. OMG when I tell you I could eat there everyday, I mean it. I love pastries and I went there everyday for an almond croissant, cappuccino, and a box of pistachio éclairs. I am a bit embarrassed by how much money I spent there haha. If you go to Washington, it is a must.

The best meal of the entire trip was our very first meal, lunch at The Pink Door. It is an Italian restaurant and I debated about booking because I have read it is popular with tourists (and if you are anything like me, when you travel you try to not stick out like a sore thumb) but the menu looked so good I just had to try it. And it did not disappoint. The food was so fresh and authentic it felt like we were back in Florence on our honeymoon.

P.S. if you are a wino, try the white wines- it’s what Washington is known for!

I can’t say enough about how amazing our trip to Washington was. It is an underrated vacation destination and has so much to offer!

If you are interested in booking a trip to discover the Pacific Northwest for yourself, check out my Washington Travel Itinerary that has all the details you need for a memorable and stress-free trip.