Beautiful views of the Cascade Mountains, roaring waterfalls and rural towns built with a pioneering spirit make this region one of Washington’s treasures.
Visit the rugged Northwest Washington region, which shares a border with Canada, to sit at the foothills of the local mountain ranges, cycle along the oceanfront and watch children splashing in the surf in small seaside villages.
On the banks of the Skagit River is Sedro-Woolley, a community started in 1914 by explorers who were traveling through the local forests. See the cedar statues and gas lamp replicas downtown and venture inside the Sedro-Woolley Museum to see photos of the first residents. From there, take Highway 20 to explore the vast wilderness of the North Cascades National Park.
For a delightful college town atmosphere, head to Bellingham, which also provides easy access to Mt. Baker and the San Juan Islands. Hike to the Whatcom Creek Gorge to see four unique waterfalls and go for a swim in Whatcom Falls Park. Children will enjoy inspecting model trains at Bellingham Railway Museum and playing with the hands-on exhibits at Mindport Arts and Sciences Museum.
Founded in the 1860s, the small town of La Conner is one of the oldest towns in Skagit County. Walk across the Rainbow Bridge and observe fishing boats come in to shore. Restaurants line the waterfront of Downtown La Conner, where locally owned boutique shops sell crafts and quality wares. A similar atmosphere exists in Mount Vernon where most shops and seafood restaurants have beautiful views of a river.
Take a ferry out to the San Juan Islands for an outdoor adventure. Bring your bicycle to enjoy the trails on Lummi Island, which is just a 10-minute journey across Bellingham Bay.
The rural atmosphere and prevalence of small towns means that renting a car is your best option when traveling around the region. Fly into Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and take Interstate 5 up north to Mount Vernon and Bellingham. Buy your tickets onboard local ferries to head to the San Juan Islands.
For a unique view of Northwest Washington, consider traveling in the winter months when you can snowshoe across miles of trails.
