pacific northwest summer: Hiking, Highlights & must-sees
Summertime on the west coast is truly unbeatable - the weather, the water, the vibes - I feel so lucky and grateful to have grown up in the Puget Sound with so much beauty around. This week I’ve been out west visiting family in Washington State and figured it was the perfect time to note all my favorite spots & must-do things in the greater Seattle area. Discussing some of my favorite hikes, Seattle vs Tacoma favorites, and day/weekend trips if you have the time!
Hiking
One of the things about the pnw I’ll never get over is the landscape. With the Olympics to the west and the Cascades to the east, there is always a mountain scene on the horizon. Living in the greater Tacoma area, I’ve spent most of my time hiking the Cascades, and the North Bend area is a great spot for beautiful hiking without having to drive 2+ hours or deep within the national parks. Here are some of my favorite hikes I’ve done in Washington State (all around 1-1.5 hours from Tacoma, WA)
North Bend/Snoqualmie area:
View from the summit of Rattlesnake Ledge
Rattlesnake Ledge Trail - 5.3 mile out & back with approximately 1,430 ft elevation gain. Well maintained trail with stunning views of Rattlesnake Lake from the top. Took us around 3.5 hours from start to finish (not including time spent chilling at the top).
Talapus Lake Trail - 3.4 mile out & back with around 650ft of elevation gain. Lovely trail with decent parking (especially if you get there before 8am). Trail leads to Talapus Lake, an alpine lake which exhibits mirror-like reflections on a clear day. Quiet and scenic.
Twin Falls via Homestead Valley Trailhead: 3.7 mile out & back with just under 1,000 ft elevation gain. Easily accessible trail, and despite being right off of I-90, the heavy forest transports you into a very serene landscape. The elevation gain is mostly on the way back, as you trek down to view the two waterfalls and climb you way out. Much less crowded than the traditional Twin Falls Trail.
Eatonville:
Little Mashel Falls Trail (via 1000, 1070 Road): 5.8 mile out & back with around 730 ft elevation gain. The trail is steep and rugged at times, but is highly varied with some time walking through wildflower patches and three waterfalls. The largest waterfall is very large, around 125ft drop, and there is a super cool archway you can walk through and stand behind the waterfall as it pours down. Water is crisp even in the summer, but there are calm areas you can take a dip and cool off! Dog friendly as well!
Bellingham:
Oyster Dome Trail: 6.3 mile out & back with just under 2,000 ft of elevation gain. Mostly shaded trail as you walk through the Blanchard State Forest to the summit of Oyster Dome. The summit sees panoramic views of Samish Bay, and on a clear day, you can see outlines of the Olympic Mountains. This is one of the most popular hikes in the area, so I’d recommend starting early for ease of parking & expect to see people on the trail. Steady incline throughout, took us around 4 hours not including taking a break at the top for lunch.
Whatcom Falls Park: a lush wooded forest & park with a large cascading waterfall near the entrance and many trails along the ravine with places to swim.
From L to R: Talapus Lake Trail, Twin Falls Trail, Little Mashel Falls Trail, Oyster Dome Trail
Seattle highlights & Dining
Downtown Seattle offers really beautiful waterway sights, historic charm, and bustling energy. I recently recommended the following for a family member coming to visit!
Things to Do
Stroll Pike’s Place Market (also close to the Seattle Ferris Wheel which is stunning on a sunny day)
Walk Occidental Square - lots of coffee, shopping, historic buildings (Smith Tower stands out + has a rooftop bar) (other rooftop bar recommendations: The Nest, Fog Room, Frolik)
Go to a Mariner’s game - the energy is electric in the summer!
Picnic or stroll around Gas Works Parks - on the northern end of the city, the park overlooks Lake Union
Dining by Style
Italian: The Pink Door (res required, books out fast), Il Terrazzo Carmine, Tavolata, Serafina, San Fermo,
Japanese: Momiji Sushi
American: Purple Cafe & Wine Bar
Brunch/Breakfast: Old Fellows (near lots of cute shops), Hart & the Hunter
tacoma Area highlights
Gig Harbor:
Downtown waterfront - accessible beachfront walking, lots of boutiques, shops, and restaurants
Favorite bakeries/breakfasts: Susanne’s Bakery (get a sandwich or their cinnamon roll), Java & Clay (pottery painting & coffee), NetShed 9 (all out brunch)
Drinks/Brews: Heritage Distilling, 7 Seas Brewing (really beautiful spot & can pull up on a boat)
Accommodations: The Maritime Inn & unique Airbnb boat stays on the docks near 7 Seas
Narrows Park - stunning views of the Narrows Bridge & sentimental to us as we got engaged there!
Tacoma:
Point Defiance/Owen’s Beach - highly dog friendly, beautiful paved path along the beach as well as tons of forest trails
During summer the Rose Garden is a must-see! Bushes on bushes of different types of roses, sculptures, and free to the public!
Foss Waterway - close to a lot of cool museums like LaMay Cars, Tacoma Glass Museum
West Side (University Place/Steilacom)
Titlow Beach - Narrows Brewing has great brews & neighboring Boathouse 19 is great for dinner
Chamber’s Bay - high walkability around the golf course, big patches of grass for picnicing, grilling & games, beachfront access with views of the sound & the train
Steilacom - beachfront walking, lots of cute shops & historic charm. We love Topside Coffee Cabin for coffee, pastries and a dinner with waterfront views
top weekend trips from seattle
Roche Harbor/San Juan Islands
Getting there - option to drive or fly! If driving, it’s a few hours from SeaTac airport to Anacortes (about 100 miles) then you’ll take an hour ferry ride from Anacortes to Friday Harbor (recommended to book in advance). Friday Harbor is super cute with restaurants and shops! Roche Harbor proper is on the opposite side of the island, around 20 minutes drive. Otherwise, daily flights to/from the Seattle/Tacoma area are available via Kenmore Air & the Roche Harbor Airport (RCE).
Accommodations - Roche Harbor Resort is the main stay & very iconic! There’s also little houses/condos nearby that we stayed in that are very conveniently located! Checking Airbnb/VRBO is always a great idea too. I’d recommend booking in advance especially during busy summer season!
Lake Chelan
Around 220 miles from SeaTac, the drive takes you through the beautiful Snoqualmie Pass (there are frequent closures in the winter). For accommodations, there’s tons of homes to rent around the lake or hotels downtown for higher convenience! The downtown area has some really cute boutique shops, coffee stops, and groceries, and the entire area is well known for their wine, specifically Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Syrah.
Mount Rainier National Park/Olympic National Park
About 70 miles and 130 miles from SeaTac (respectively), these large national parks offer lots of hiking and stunning nature scenes! Renting a camper van or finding unique Airbnb stays would be my go to in order to make the most of your time and stay close to the parks!