Seattle Day Trips for Each Month of the Year

museum of glass at seattle center
January 19, 2016

It's the new year, and I just finished putting together our travel calendar of Seattle day trips for this year. I don't normally plan all our travels so far in advance, but this year I thought I would do something different.

Towards the end of last year, I fell into a rut. It's hard to explain, but after the high of spending five weeks intensive travel, I came back to Seattle and quickly fell into a mode of uninspired lethargy. I realized that we spend our year building up to a big trip. And when that trip is over, there's nothing else to look forward to.

This post was updated on April 9, 2020.


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The Waterfront in Seattle (July 2018)

Planning for Seattle day trips throughout the year

This year will be different. My husband and I both decided to make it our goal to travel somewhere at least once a month.

These trips don't necessarily have to be big trips. But if we want to maintain our energy and inspiration throughout the year, I think it's important to incorporate travel into our lives as often as we can.

Because family travel is so much more expensive than solo travel, it's important for us to maintain a budget for travel if we don't want to end up in debt by the end of the year. And if we're going to be budgeting for travel, it's helpful to know the places where we're going to be traveling.

For families like us who live in Seattle, planning for Seattle day trips can be so helpful. They also make travel affordable and simple. While some of these places on this list require longer than a day to visit, they are all within an afternoon's drive from Seattle.

So if you live in the Pacific Northwest, and are looking for ideas for Seattle day trips for this year, here's the list for you:

A view of downtown Seattle (February 2018)

January: Winter sports at Whistler, BC

Being just a three to four hour drive from Seattle, Canada is a great place to visit any time of year. We normally go in the summer time when it's warm, but in the winter months, a trip to the mountain resort town of Whistler, BC is well worth the effort.

If you're into snow sports, Whistler has many excellent outdoor options for you. And even if you're not into the snow, there are other fun things you can do at Whistler. We like exploring the Olympic Village or going hiking on the trails.

Family taking Seattle day trips in Whistler, BC
Walking through the Olympic Village in Whistler, BC (November 2015)

February: Explore the unique city of Portland, OR

In the opposite direction is Portland, OR, which is about a three hour drive south of Seattle. We like exploring kid-friendly Portland on our way down to California.

With its wide selection of restaurants, it's a great place to visit for amateur foodies like my husband and me. Our favorite restaurants so far have been Slappy Cakes and Hopworks Urban Brewery.

Playing at a mansion in Portland, Oregon (September 2016)

March: Take some Seattle day trips to Snoqualmie Falls

If you live in the Western part of Washington State, a trip to Snoqualmie Falls is required for Seattle day trips. The falls are great to visit any time of year. But the best time of year is in the spring, when the snows begin to melt. This usually falls between the months of March through May.

Other times of year worth visiting is in the fall, especially if it has been a particularly rainy one. A visit to Snoqualmie Falls is a good introduction to the outdoors as there are plenty of paved paths around the area, to give you a nice taste of nature.

Visiting Snoqualmie Fall (October 2015)

April: Take an island getaway to Whidbey Island

The Puget Sound is surrounded by islands. And an easy island getaway from the bustling streets of Seattle is Whidbey Island. The island is accessible by ferry from the Mukilteo ferry dock. Otherwise, you can drive further north and get onto the island via Deception Pass.

There are plenty of good camping options on Whidbey Island. Some of the state parks include Deception Pass, Fort Ebey, and Fort Casey.

Playing on the beach at Deception Pass State Park (July 2017)

May: Experience small town hospitality in Spokane

Having grown up in Spokane, I go to this city several times a year to visit my parents. Most visits are spent hanging out at my parents' house. But this year we're actively seeking out family friendly Spokane activities to do while we're there.

Spokane is the second largest city in the state of Washington, with plenty of family oriented activities as well as new locally owned businesses. Our favorite time to visit is during the first weekend in May, when the town comes together for Bloomsday, one of the largest 12k run in the United States. It's a great way to welcome the spring and celebrate fitness at the same time.

Kids walking through Manito Park in Spokane, a destination for Seattle day trips
Visiting Manito Park in Spokane (August 2018)

June: Get some hiking done at Mount Rainier

One of the unique things about living in Western Washington is our close proximity to an active volcano. Seattleites have a loving fascination with Mount Rainier. Although its most recent eruption was in the 1800's, geologists are quick to warn about the possibility of an eruption, which can cause terrible devastation and destruction in the surrounding areas.

But despite the risks, Mount Rainier is one of the most beautiful places to visit on my Seattle day trips list. Glaciers cover the top of the mountain, and an abundance of hiking trails allow people to explore the mountainside. Moon Guides' 75 Great Hikes Seattle offers a few hikes around Mount Rainier.

Our favorite area to visit is Paradise, which sits on the southern side of the mountain, and affords visitors picturesque views of the peak, along with some beautiful waterfalls.

Enjoying a hike at Mount Rainier National Park (August 2017)

July: Plan some Seattle day trips to Tacoma

The city of Tacoma often falls in the shadow of its neighboring Seattle, but there are actually plenty of fun things to do in the city. It's a great city to do some Seattle day trips! Tacoma is known for its glass museum, which features a permanent collection of 20th and 21st century glass, as well as works from visiting artists.

This past summer, we spent time in Point Defiance Park, which has features a zoo and aquarium, as well as a few miles of coastline. There's also a living history museum called Fort Nisqually, which we happened to stumble upon on our visit last summer. It was fun to see the fort recreated to how it was in the 1800's.

An herb stand in Fort Nisqually in Tacoma, Washington, a family-friendly destination for Seattle day trips
Herb stand in Fort Nisqually (July 2015)

August: Visit the coast at Cape Disappointment

Another great place for Seattle day trips in the summertime is Cape Disappointment, in the Southwestern part of Washington State. Part of the Lewis and Clark trail, Cape Disappointment provides 27 miles of coastline, as well as two light houses. We enjoyed learning about the history of the area at the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, and visiting nearby Astoria in Oregon.

lighthouse at cape disappointment in washington state
Lighthouse at Cape Disappointment (July 2015)

September: Take a ferry ride to Bremerton

In the month of September, the island town of Bremerton holds its annual Blackberry Festival. We stumbled upon this last year, and were pleasantly surprised by how many things there were to do there.

The late summer is the best time to enjoy blackberries in the Pacific Northwest. And doing some Seattle day trips to the Blackberry Festival is a great opportunity to taste the delectable berries in things like pies, ice cream, and other sweet treats.

girl looking out window of boat
Riding the ferry in Washington state (June 2016)

October: Get into the fall mood with Seattle day trips in Carnation

A popular fall option for Seattle day trips is pumpkin picking. In the Carnation and Duvall area of the Snoqualmie Valley, there are a number of small locally owned farms that offer pumpkin picking, as well as other fall-themed activities like hay rides and corn mazes.

Our favorite farm to go to in the fall is Oxbow Farms, which offers pumpkin picking, as well as a kids' farm and family-friendly hay rides. Our kids love being able to run around on the farm. And we enjoy learning about the organically grown agriculture that occurs in the area.

Colorful signs at Oxbow Farms in Carnation, Washington, where families can go for Seattle day trips
Signs at Oxbow Farms (October 2016)

November: Take a ferry ride to Vashon Island

Another easy choice for Seattle day trips is Vashon Island, which is accessible by ferry from the downtown Seattle terminal. Vashon Island doesn't have a lot of landmarks or prominent destinations. However, it's a nice island to drive around and enjoy the scenery.

Vashon Island ferry (May 2016)

December: Get into the holiday spirit in Leavenworth

Washington state has some pretty quirky attractions. One such place that should be on anyone's Seattle day trips list is Leavenworth, a Bavarian themed town in Central Washington. We like to visit in the summer time, as there are a number of great hikes in the area.

But Christmas time is also a great time to do visit Leavenworth. The town is decorated with holiday decor. Snow sport enthusiasts will enjoy skiing or snowboarding in nearby Stevens Pass.

Lake Wenatchee in Washington state, where families can take Seattle day trips
The forests of Wahsington state (July 2017)

Making time for Seattle day trips with your family

For traveling families like us, keeping the wanderlust at bay can be rather difficult when you try to limit your travel to just one big trip a year. We're hoping that changing it up this year will help feed our travel bug and keep us inspired throughout the year.

In the end, the thing that travel does best is to help bring us closer together as a family. We're looking forward to all the family quality time together, exploring our beloved Pacific Northwest.

Where will your travel plans take you this year?

Seattle Day Trips For Each Month of the Year | The Wandering Daughter

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