WashingtonState
5
Day Itinerary •
USA
Five days in Washington State lets you explore the full extraordinary breadth of the Pacific Northwest, from the world-class food and coffee culture of Seattle and the extraordinary wildflower meadows of Mount Rainier to the magnificent Hoh Rain Forest of Olympic National Park, the extraordinary North Cascades and the dramatic Columbia River Gorge. This route covers the complete Washington experience. The extraordinary Pike Place Market and Space Needle of Seattle, Paradise meadows on Mount Rainier at 5,400 feet, the extraordinary Hall of Mosses in the Hoh Rain Forest, the finest winery country of the Yakima Valley, the extraordinary North Cascades Highway and Diablo Lake.
Best Time To Visit
July to September for wildflowers and clear mountain views
Getting There
Fly into Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA)
Getting Around
Rental car essential throughout
Budget Per Day
Approx $130 to $210 per person per day
Difficulity
Easy to moderate, some high-altitude hiking
DAY 1
SEATTLE
MORNING
PIKE PLACE MARKET, THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY PUBLIC MARKET IN AMERICA
Pike Place Market is the most extraordinary public market in America, its extraordinary 9-acre waterfront complex of fishmongers, flower stalls and artisan food vendors operating since 1907. The flying fish toss, the extraordinary lower levels of the market, Rachel the bronze piggy bank and the first Starbucks are all unmissable. Arrive before 9am for the most extraordinary atmosphere before the tour groups arrive. Free. Drive: 15 min walk
MIDDAY
SPACE NEEDLE AND CHIHULY GARDEN AND GLASS
The Space Needle built for the 1962 World's Fair gives 360-degree views of Elliott Bay, Mount Rainier and the Olympics from 520 feet. The extraordinary Chihuly Garden and Glass museum immediately below contains the finest collection of Dale Chihuly glass sculpture in the world. The outdoor garden of extraordinary glass installations is unmissable at any time of day. Space Needle approx $37, Chihuly approx $32. Drive: 20 min walk
AFTERNOON
CAPITOL HILL AND THE SEATTLE FOOD SCENE
Capitol Hill is the finest dining and nightlife neighborhood in Seattle, its extraordinary density of independent restaurants, roasters and bars giving the best concentration of Pacific Northwest food culture in the city. The extraordinary Cal Anderson Park, the Pike-Pine corridor with its vintage shops and the extraordinary Broadway Avenue street scene are all unmissable. The Seattle Art Museum downtown has the finest Northwest Coast Native art collection in the world. Free to explore.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Ballard Locks in Seattle connect Lake Union to Puget Sound and are the most extraordinary free attraction in the city, the fish ladder allowing visitors to watch salmon migrating from salt to fresh water through underwater viewing windows in summer. The extraordinary Carl English botanical gardens beside the locks are the finest in Seattle. Free.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Biscuit Bitch, Seattle The finest biscuit sandwiches in the Pacific Northwest. Extraordinary gravy biscuit before 8am. | Lunch: Pike Place Chowder The most celebrated chowder in Seattle. Extraordinary Dungeness crab chowder in a bread bowl. | Dinner: Canlis, Seattle The most legendary fine dining restaurant in Seattle since 1950. Extraordinary Pacific Northwest cuisine.
DAY 2
MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK
MORNING
PARADISE, THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY SUBALPINE MEADOW IN AMERICA
Paradise at 5,400 feet on the southern flank of Mount Rainier is the most extraordinary subalpine meadow in America, its wildflower meadows of paintbrush, lupine and avalanche lily blooming against the Nisqually Glacier in July and August. The view of the summit at 14,411 feet from Paradise on a clear morning is the most extraordinary mountain vista in the Pacific Northwest. Entry $35 per vehicle. Book timed entry at recreation.gov. Drive: 30 min drive
MIDDAY
SUNRISE, THE HIGHEST ROAD-ACCESSIBLE POINT IN THE PARK
Sunrise at 6,400 feet gives the most extraordinary close-up view of the Emmons Glacier, the largest glacier in the contiguous United States by area. The Burroughs Mountain Trail above Sunrise gives extraordinary views of the summit and the eastern Cascades that are among the finest in the park. Sunrise is significantly less crowded than Paradise and gives a more extraordinary wilderness experience. Open July to September only. Drive: 1 hr drive
AFTERNOON
GROVE OF THE PATRIARCHS AND OHANAPECOSH
The Grove of the Patriarchs is the most extraordinary old-growth forest trail in Mount Rainier National Park, its extraordinary suspension bridge over the Ohanapecosh River leading to an island of ancient Douglas fir, western red cedar and Sitka spruce up to 1,000 years old and 25 feet in diameter. The hot springs at Ohanapecosh were used by Native Americans for thousands of years. Trail 1.5 miles round trip, free with park entry.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Spray Park trail on the remote northwest side of Rainier is the finest uncrowded wildflower hike in the park, its 8-mile round trip to open subalpine meadows giving a more extraordinary experience than Paradise with almost no other visitors. Accessible from Mowich Lake. Free with park entry. The finest hidden gem in Mount Rainier National Park.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Whittaker's Bunkhouse Cafe, Ashford Coffee and hearty breakfast before the Rainier drive. Local eggs, smoked salmon and strong coffee. | Lunch: Paradise Inn Dining Room Outstanding mountain lunch at 5,400 feet. Local salmon, Dungeness crab cake and WA craft beer. | Dinner: Alexander's Country Inn, Ashford The finest restaurant near Rainier. Extraordinary local trout, wild mushrooms and Washington wine.
DAY 3
OLYMPIC PENINSULA
MORNING
HOH RAIN FOREST, THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY TEMPERATE RAINFOREST IN AMERICA
The Hoh Rain Forest in Olympic National Park is the most extraordinary temperate rainforest in America, its Hall of Mosses trail winding through ancient big-leaf maples draped in extraordinary curtains of club moss in a cathedral of green unlike anything else in North America. With up to 140 inches of annual rainfall, the Hoh creates an extraordinary primeval forest. The Hoh River Trail continues 17 miles to the glaciers of Mount Olympus. Entry $35 per vehicle. Drive: 45 min drive
MIDDAY
HURRICANE RIDGE, THE OLYMPIC MOUNTAINS AT EYE LEVEL
Hurricane Ridge at 5,242 feet gives the most extraordinary panoramic view of the Olympic Mountains, its subalpine meadows alive with Olympic marmots, black-tailed deer and wildflowers in summer. The road from Port Angeles gains 5,200 feet in 17 miles with extraordinary views at every hairpin. The Olympic Mountains are the most dramatically isolated range in the contiguous United States, their extraordinary peaks rarely seen by visitors who stay on the coast. Free with park entry. Drive: 30 min drive
AFTERNOON
RUBY BEACH AND THE KALALOCH COAST
Ruby Beach is the most extraordinary stretch of Pacific coastline in Washington, its extraordinary sea stacks, enormous drift logs and extraordinary tide pools giving a wild primeval beach experience. The Kalaloch area with its Beach 4 tidepools and the extraordinary Kalaloch Tree of Life, its roots hanging exposed over an eroded bank above the beach in extraordinary defiance of gravity, are unmissable. Free with Olympic NP pass.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Quinault Rain Forest on the southern Olympic Peninsula is the finest hidden section of Olympic National Park, its extraordinary lake-shore drive through record-breaking Sitka spruce, Douglas fir and western red cedar trees entirely unknown to most visitors who focus on the Hoh. Lake Quinault Lodge is the finest historic lodge in the park. Free to drive.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: First Street Haven, Port Angeles The finest breakfast in Port Angeles. Extraordinary omelets, local smoked salmon and strong coffee. | Lunch: Rain Forest Cafe, Hoh area Extraordinary wilderness lunch near the rain forest. Local salmon burger and Washington craft beer. | Dinner: Next Door Gastropub, Port Angeles Outstanding Pacific Northwest gastropub. Local Dungeness crab, oysters and Washington craft beer.
DAY 4
NORTH CASCADES
MORNING
NORTH CASCADES HIGHWAY, THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY ALPINE DRIVE IN WASHINGTON
The North Cascades Highway (US-20) between Marblemount and Winthrop is the most extraordinary alpine drive in Washington State, its extraordinary passage through the jagged granite peaks and glaciers of the North Cascades giving views unlike anywhere else in the American West. The highway crosses two passes and passes through the extraordinary Skagit Valley gorge. Open May to November only. The entire 110-mile corridor is extraordinary. Free. Drive: 30 min drive
MIDDAY
DIABLO LAKE, THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY TURQUOISE LAKE IN AMERICA
Diablo Lake in the North Cascades is the most extraordinary turquoise lake in America, its extraordinary glacier-flour-suspended water giving a color unlike anything seen outside Iceland or the Canadian Rockies. The Diablo Lake overlook is one mile from the highway and gives the finest view. The extraordinary Diablo Lake trail circles the entire lake through old-growth forest. The color is most extraordinary in morning light. Free. Drive: 45 min drive
AFTERNOON
WINTHROP, THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY WESTERN TOWN IN WASHINGTON
Winthrop is the most extraordinary small town in the North Cascades, its extraordinary Western-themed main street boardwalk, craft breweries and proximity to the Methow Valley trail network making it the finest base in the eastern Cascades. The Methow Valley has the finest cross-country ski trail network in the United States in winter and extraordinary mountain biking in summer. The view from downtown over the Methow River to the Cascades is extraordinary.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Blue Lake Trail near Washington Pass in the North Cascades is the finest short hike on the entire North Cascades Highway, its extraordinary 4.4-mile round trip to an alpine lake reflecting the jagged Liberty Bell formation giving the most extraordinary mountain reflection in Washington State. Free. Best in morning light before clouds build over the peaks.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cascades Diner, Marblemount Coffee and breakfast before the highway drive. The finest diner at the gateway to the North Cascades. | Lunch: Diablo Lake Resort Outstanding lunch at the extraordinary turquoise lake. Local burger, WA craft beer and lake views. | Dinner: Old Schoolhouse Brewery, Winthrop The finest brewery in the North Cascades. Extraordinary ales, local burgers and Cascade mountain views.
DAY 5
YAKIMA VALLEY AND COLUMBIA GORGE
MORNING
YAKIMA VALLEY WINE COUNTRY, WASHINGTON'S FINEST WINE REGION
The Yakima Valley is the most extraordinary wine region in Washington State, its extraordinary desert microclimate of hot days and cool nights producing the finest Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Riesling in the Pacific Northwest. The valley has over 120 wineries, most family-owned and offering extraordinary private tastings. Chateau Ste Michelle is the finest large producer, but the small family wineries of the Red Mountain AVA give the most extraordinary tasting experiences. Drive: 45 min drive
MIDDAY
COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE, THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY RIVER CANYON IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST
The Columbia River Gorge on the Washington and Oregon border is the most extraordinary river canyon in the Pacific Northwest, its extraordinary basalt walls rising 4,000 feet above the Columbia River for 80 miles. The extraordinary Beacon Rock, a 848-foot volcanic plug accessible by a remarkable switchback trail, gives the finest view over the gorge. The Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area protects the most extraordinary waterfall corridor in the United States. Free. Drive: 30 min drive
AFTERNOON
MULTNOMAH FALLS AND THE GORGE WATERFALLS
The Columbia River Gorge contains the most extraordinary concentration of waterfalls in North America, with over 90 falls in a 35-mile corridor. Multnomah Falls at 620 feet is the most extraordinary waterfall in the Pacific Northwest, its extraordinary two-tiered plunge visible from the historic 1925 lodge at its base. The Horsetail Falls and Latourell Falls nearby are extraordinary and far less visited. Entry free.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Palouse Falls in eastern Washington is the most extraordinary waterfall in the state, a 198-foot plunge of the Palouse River into an extraordinary basalt canyon carved by the Missoula Floods at the end of the last Ice Age. The geology is extraordinary and the falls are largely unknown outside Washington. Entry $10 per vehicle. The most extraordinary hidden gem in eastern Washington.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cowiche Canyon Kitchen, Yakima The finest farm-to-table breakfast in Yakima. Local eggs, smoked Columbia River salmon. | Lunch: Tasting room lunch, Red Mountain Extraordinary charcuterie and local cheese at the finest small winery in Washington State. | Dinner: Birchfield Manor, Yakima Outstanding fine dining in the finest restaurant in wine country. Local lamb and extraordinary WA wine list.
Where To Stay
Seattle, Night 1 Edgewater Hotel on the waterfront or Kimpton Hotel Monaco. Approx $150 to $300 per night. Ashford or Port Angeles, Nights 2 to 3 Stormking Spa or Lake Crescent Lodge inside Olympic NP. Approx $130 to $220. Winthrop or Yakima, Nights 4 to 5 Hotel Rio Vista Winthrop or Oxford Suites Yakima. Approx $100 to $180 per night.
Top Tips
1. Book Rainier Paradise timed entry at recreation.gov immediately when released. They sell out in minutes.
2. Pike Place Market at 7am before tourist crowds is the most extraordinary food market experience in America.
3. Diablo Lake overlook on the North Cascades Highway has the most extraordinary turquoise color in the US.
4. Hoh Rain Forest on a rainy day is the most extraordinary experience. The mist through the mosses is extraordinary.
5. Yakima Valley wine tastings at small family wineries are extraordinary and almost entirely unknown outside Washington.
6. The Spray Park trail on Rainier is the finest uncrowded wildflower hike in the park. Almost no visitors.
Total Budget
$130 to $210/day