Tag Archives: Mt. Rainier National Park

Visit Washington State Using Your 2018 Tax Refund

You’ve finally finished that dreaded tax filing task and you’ve discovered you’re getting a tax refund you didn’t expect. Why not use that money to visit WA State? We have it all here. Deserts, mountains, ocean beaches, iconic cities, just about any landscape you desire.

This year, especially, with all the new regulations and rules, you probably didn’t know whether a tax refund was in the cards or not. Now that it is, I’d like to suggest some Washington State vacations to consider for this summer and beyond.

National Parks

courtesy VisitRainier.com

If you’re trying to visit all the national parks in the U.S., we have three dynamos for you. Mt. Rainier National Park, good for hiking, camping and colorful bursts of wildflowers from May-September, and lots of snow after that. “The Mountain” is considered one of our greatest treasures. The best view of Mt. Rainier, where you can almost touch the snow-covered peak, is from the Gondola on Crystal Mountain. At the top, take time to enjoy a superb meal at the Summit House.

courtesy Visitrainier.com

Olympic National Park, known for the Hoh Rain Forest and Hurricane Ridge, also boasts some lovely lodges ideal for your stay. Lake Crescent, Lake Quinault and Kalaloch (pronounced clay-loch). Lots to see and do including touring Forks, where the “Twilight” books were set.

I love all our national parks, but North Cascades National Park may be the most rustic yet most scenic of all. With its celestial blue lakes, forested alpine landscape and the chance to learn about nature at the North Cascades Institute, this is a trip you’ll not soon forget.

The Palouse

College football fans rejoice. In Pullman, you can take in a Washington State Cougars’ game this fall and tour what is considered one of the seven wonders of Washington State. Gently undulating hills wrapped in wheat dominate the landscape. The best view from Steptoe Butte gives you glimpse into how these mounds were made thousands of years ago. While you’re there, travel the Palouse Scenic Byway to drink in all of the Palouse’s beauty.

Bellingham

Like craft beer? Want to try more? Bellingham is the place for you. Last summer this town had 15 locations to serve you brews. Plus, they have a dog-friendly tavern, Paws for a Beer, if traveling with Fido appeals to you. But you can’t drink beer all day when you visit this town because they have a ton of other attractions to see.

The Spark Museum of Electrical Invention, walkable Fairhaven District, art galleries, Chuckanut Drive with a stop for oysters and kayak adventures are only a few of the must-sees here.

That’s only a taste of Washington State vacations. If you’re interested in other regions, drop me a line at writemix@harbornet.com and I’ll pen another post like this one.

20 Free Things To Do In Western Washington

Olympia's Capitol building in the background

Here are some options for totally free activities to help stretch your budget.

In Seattle:

Frye Art Museum

704 Terry Ave.

Seattle

206-622-9250

Always free

Center for Wooden Boats

1010 Valley St.

Seattle

206-382-2628

Free “Living Museum” and free boat rides on Sunday afternoons

Ballard Locks

3015 NW 54th St.

Seattle

Free guided tours from March – November

Call for tour times, 206-783-7059

Museum of Flight

9404 East Marginal Way South

Seattle

206-764-5720

Free from 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. the first Thursday of every month

Coast Guard Museum

Pier 36, 1519 Alaskan Way S.

Seattle

206-217-6993

Free admission

Washington Park Arboretum

3501 NE 41st St.

Seattle

206-543-8616

Free guided tours

McCaw Hall

321 Mercer St.

Seattle

206-733-9725

Free tours the first Tuesday of every month

Benaroya Hall

200 University St.

Seattle

206-215-4800

Free tours on Tuesdays and Fridays at noon and 1 p.m.

Paramount Theatre

911 Pine St.

Seattle

206-682-1414

Free tours the first Saturday of every month

In Tacoma:

Washington History Museum

1911 Pacific Ave.

Tacoma

888-238-4373

Free from 2 p.m. – 8 p.m. on the third Thursday of every month

Free on your birthday

Tacoma Art Museum

1701 Pacific Ave.

Tacoma

253-272-4258

Free from 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. on the third Thursday of every month

Tacoma Nature Center

1919 S. Tyler St.

Tacoma

253-591-6439

Free self-guiding paths with wildlife observation

In Olympia:

Washington State Legislative Building

416 Sid Snyder Ave. SW

Olympia

www.ga.wa.gov/Visitor/

Free tours

In Keyport:

Naval Undersea Museum

1 Garnett Way

Keyport

360-396-4148, x220

Free admission and free parking

In Long Beach:

Marsh’s Free Museum

409 S. Pacific

Long Beach

360-642-2188

Always free

In Snohomish:

Blackman House Museum

118 Avenue B

Snohomish

360-568-5235

Open Saturday and Sunday from noon – 3 p.m.

Free, donations accepted

Labor Day Weekend, 2010:

Olympia Harbor Days in Olympia

www.harbordays.com

Bremerton Blackberry Festival in Bremerton

www.blackberryfestival.org

On September 25 & November 11:

Free admission to Olympic National Park

Free admission to Mt. Rainier National Park