field trips washington state

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Washington Field Trips

Field trips are a great way to reboot a bad homeschooling week, get out of the house when everyone has cabin fever, and learn about your local area. Before heading out, check out Jeanne's tips for improving homeschool field trips .

Our listing of Washington field trips for homeschoolers is ordered alphabetically by city. If you would like to submit a Washington field trip destination, you may do so using the red button above.

At 8:32 Sunday morning, May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens erupted. Shaken by an earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale, the north face of this tall symmetrical mountain collapsed in a massive rock debris avalanche. Nearly 230 square miles of forest was blown down or buried beneath volcanic deposits. At the same time a mushroom-shaped column of ash rose thousands of feet skyward and drifted downwind, turning day into night as dark, gray ash fell over eastern Washington and beyond. The eruption lasted 9 hours, but Mount St. Helens and the surrounding landscape were dramatically changed within moments. In 1982, the President and Congress created the 110,000-acre National Volcanic Monument for research, recreation, and education. Inside the Monument, the environment is left to respond naturally to the disturbance.

Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument website

( Update this listing )

Fields Spring State Park is a 792-acre forested camping park remotely located in the Blue Mountains of Southeastern Washington. A portion of the park sits at a height of 4,500 feet atop Puffer Butte and offers a spectacular view of three states and the Grande Ronde River. Spring and summer wildflower displays attract visitors, as do winter sport opportunities.

Fields Spring State Park website

A Source of Inspiration - Learn about glaciers. Discover life in a rainforest. Hike the Wonderland Trail. Explore subalpine ecology. Watch clouds shroud the mountain and disappear. Visit a rustic historic building. Dream about climbing to the summit. Study geology. Experience a mountain meadow. Listen to a glacier crack.

Mount Rainier National Park website

Flaming Geyser State Park is a 480-acre day-use park with more than three miles of freshwater shoreline on the Green River. The park's most unique feature is its "geysers" (methane seeps). Park activities include whitewater rafting, tubing, and model airplane flying.

Flaming Geyser State Park website

Fay Bainbridge State Park is a 17-acre marine camping park with 1,420 feet of saltwater shoreline on the northeast corner of Bainbridge Island. The park offers sweeping views of Puget Sound, the Cascade Mountains and two volcanoes and features sandy beaches. Nearby Old Man House is located on the site of the home of Chief Seattle.

Fay Bainbridge State Park website

Bainbridge Island Museum of Art (BIMA) is pleased to offer a fully subsidized Field Trip Program for teachers and students in grades K-12 throughout the Puget Sound region. All aspects of the Field Trip, including pre-visit, transportation to and from BIMA, docent-led gallery visit, and art project, are FREE of charge, underwritten by BIMA and funded 100% through grants, sponsorships, and BIMA's fundraising events and donors. BIMA Field Trips can be tailored to support learning requirements. Docent tour leaders are trained in Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS), and Teaching Artists are practicing artists with a special focus on education. Exhibits at BIMA feature the contemporary art and craft of the Puget Sound region. Our exhibits are designed to engage diverse interests and age groups. Field Trips are typically offered Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10 am-12 pm. Each two-hour visit includes a guided tour in the gallery and a hands-on art activity designed to support learning about the exhibits and to develop deep looking, critical thinking, and to foster a community of learning and confidence. Lunch may be eaten in the classroom after the field trip, and an optional extended art project may be scheduled as well. These options are also free of charge, but must be scheduled at the time that the field trip is requested.

Bainbridge Island Museum of Art website

Fort Ward State Park is a 137-acre marine park with 4,300 feet of saltwater shoreline on Rich Passage. Many of the structures in the park reflect the historic military significance of the area, but the park is well developed for day use. There is an underwater park for scuba divers, a two-lane boat ramp and a long, rocky beach along Rich Passage.

Fort Ward State Park website

Battle Ground Lake Battle Ground Lake State Park is a camping park with 280 acres of beautiful, forested land in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains. This park offers five miles of horse trails and a primitive equestrian camping area. The spring-fed lake is stocked with trout and is a favorite of anglers. The lake is said to be a "miniature version" of Oregon's Crater Lake.

Battle Ground Lake State Park website

Belfair State Park is a 63-acre, year-round camping park on 3,720 feet of saltwater shoreline at the southern end of Hood Canal in western Washington. It is noted for its saltwater tide flats, wetlands with wind-blown beach grasses and pleasant areas for beach walking and saltwater swimming. The park features swimming, wading, shellfish harvesting, over 3,000 feet of freshwater shoreline and 3,700 feet of saltwater shoreline on Hood Canal.

Belfair State Park website

Enjoy hours of delight and discovery at this innovative hands-on museum for children and families designed to engage kids from infancy to age ten. KidsQuest is a unique place for fun and exploration. Art, science, technology and daily life experiences are integrated in world-class exhibits with strong ties to the Pacific Northwest.

KidsQuest Children's Museum website

Larrabee State Park is a 2,683-acre camping park with 8,100 feet of saltwater shoreline on Samish Bay near Bellingham in northwest Washington. The park features two freshwater lakes, coves and tidelands. Sunsets are gorgeous. A variety of non-motorized, multiple-use trails wind through the park. The area is known for Chuckanut sandstone.

Larrabee State Park website

Peace Arch State Park is a 20-acre day-use park commemorating treaties and agreements that arose from the war of 1812. The park celebrates the unguarded United States/Canadian border that stretches from the Strait of Juan de Fuca to the Bay of Fundy in Nova Scotia. The park features horticultural exhibitions and the giant, commemorative, concrete arch that straddles the border of the two nations. More than 20,000 flowers are planted annually on the grounds. The park offers magnificent views of Point Roberts and Vancouver Island. The countries co-maintain the monument.

Peace Arch State Park website

Birch Bay State Park is a 194-acre camping park with 8,255 feet of saltwater shoreline on Birch Bay and 14,923 feet of freshwater shoreline on Terrell Creek. The Terrell Creek Marsh is one of the few remaining saltwater/freshwater estuaries in north Puget Sound. The park features nearly two miles of beach and great views of the Canadian Gulf Islands and the Cascade Mountains. A natural game sanctuary is at the park's north end.

Birch Bay State Park website

James Island State Park is a 113-acre marine camping and moorage park with 12, 335 feet of saltwater shoreline on Rosario Strait. The park features a beautiful western view of the San Juan islands from a high bluff along the loop trail.

James Island State Park website

Illahee State Park is a 75-acre marine camping park with 1,785 feet of saltwater frontage on Port Orchard Bay. "Illahee" means "earth" or "country" in the Indian tradition, and views of Puget Sound from the Illahee beach give the viewer a sense of what that word meant to native people. The park has plenty of parking space, lots of fresh air, facilities for a number of outdoor activities and access to a variety of water sports. The park features a veterans' war memorial and the last stand of old-growth timber in Kitsap County. One of the largest yew trees in the nation grows in this park. The beach provides great views of Puget Sound.

Illahee State Park website

Fort Okanogan State Park is 45-acre day-use park set on a bluff overlooking the Columbia River. The park has 1,000 feet of "high" freshwater shoreline, but no beach accessibility. The park and interpretive center overlook the Columbia River and old fur trading sites, one of the first Washington settlements.

Fort Okanogan Interpretive Center website

Bridgeport State Park is a 748-acre camping park with 7,500 feet of freshwater shoreline on Rufus Woods Lake. Set directly behind Chief Joseph Dam, this lake is actually a segment of the Columbia River. The park provides 18 acres of lawn and some shade in the midst of a desert terrain. "Haystacks," unusual volcanic formations resembling their name, are the park's most striking feature.

Bridgeport State Park website

Dosewallips State Park is a 425-acre, year-round camping park with 5,500 feet of saltwater shoreline on Hood Canal and 5,400 feet of freshwater shoreline on either side of the Dosewallips River. The park is unique in that it offers both freshwater and saltwater activities. All camp areas are grassy and located in scenic, rustic settings. The park offers several breath-taking views of Hood Canal and the Olympic Mountains.

Dosewallips State Park website

Pleasant Harbor State Park is an overnight moorage facility only. It features 120-feet of moorage dock, and boaters may stay up to three consecutive nights. Moorage is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Pleasant Harbor State Park website

Triton Cove State Park is a 29-acre day-use park with 555 feet of saltwater shore on Hood Canal. This small park provides an ADA-compliant boat launch with access to near-shore fishing. Future plans include possible camping facilities.

Triton Cove State Park website

Cama Beach State Park is on the southwest shore of Camano Island facing Saratoga Passage. Cama Beach offers visitors a chance to step back in time to a 1930s-era Puget Sound fishing resort complete with waterfront cedar cabins and bungalows. These have been refurbished, with modern conveniences added, and are available for rent year round to individuals and groups. The area, used for centuries by Native Americans for fishing and hunting, looks out on sweeping views of the Sound, with Whidbey Island and the Olympic Mountains beyond.

Cama Beach State Park website

Camano Island State Park is a 134-acre camping park with 6,700 feet of rocky shoreline and beach. The park provides sweeping views of the surrounding mountains and offers opportunities for shellfish harvesting.

Camano Island State Park website

Visitors may enjoy a variety of interpretive displays that set the scene for all the visitor centers at Mount St. Helens. There are comprehensive presentations on the cultural and historical significance of the area, a chronology of events leading up to the volcanic blast on May 18, 1980, local geology, and the re-growth and recovery of the area in the years since the eruption. Displays include several interactive exhibits, life-size manikins, a large, step-in model of the volcano and a working seismograph. Theater programs are offered twice an hour. Outdoors, visitors can explore Silver Lake via a mile-long trail, including boardwalks over wetlands where a variety of migratory waterfowl may be viewed at different times of the year.

Mount St. Helens Visitor Center at Silver Lake website

Seaquest State Park is a 475-acre, year-round camping park near Mount St. Helens. The beautifully forested park claims over a mile of Silver Lake shoreline, a shallow wetland lake. Enjoy one mile of wetland trail and six miles of woodland trails for hiking and bicycling; see spectacular views of wildlife, Silver Lake and the surrounding area. There are also children's play areas and playing fields. Great seasonal fishing, boating and swimming are available nearby. The major draw to this park is Mount St. Helens. An outstanding interpretive center details history and geology of the volcano. An ADA-compliant trail opens to a view across Silver Lake of Mount St. Helens.

Seaquest State Park website

Constructed in 1935 in the heart of old-growth forest, this wooded park is known for its rainbow-crowned waterfall, which gives the park its name. A garden displaying 40 varieties of fuchsia is a favorite with visitors.

Rainbow Falls State Park website

Twenty-Five Mile Creek State Park is a 235-acre inland waters camping park on the forested south shore of Lake Chelan. The park separates the mountains from the lake and is surrounded by spectacular scenery. With its modern marina, the park affords visitors excellent boating access to the upper reaches of Lake Chelan.

Twenty-Five Mile Creek State Park website

Lake Chelan State Park is a 127-acre camping park on the forested south shore of Lake Chelan. The park has 6,000 feet of shoreline, lakeside views and expansive lawns for strolling and playing. The park gets an annual average rainfall of 11 inches. Summer tends to be hot and dry. Annual average snowfall is 42 inches. A coniferous forest and a lake provide respite from summer heat in this Eastern Washington park. A large, sandy beach and boating opportunities attract visitors. Daily ferry service is available to the roadless community at the head of the lake.

Lake Chelan State Park website

Anderson Lake State Park is a remote marine day-use park of cedar, fir and alder forest mixed with freshwater marshes. Surrounded by 410 wooded and wetland acres, the park slopes down to the 70-acre Anderson Lake and abounds with birds and wildlife.

Anderson Lake State Park website

Fort Columbia State Park is a 593-acre day-use historical park with 6,400 feet of freshwater shoreline on the Columbia River. The park celebrates a military site that constituted the harbor defense of the Columbia River from 1896 to 1947. The fort was fully manned and operational through three wars. The area was also home for the Chinook Indians and their famed Chief Comcomly. Fort Columbia is one of the few intact coastal defense sites in the U.S. The park provides beautiful views of the Columbia River estuary. An interpretive center, an observation station and five miles of hiking trail through mature forest are additional features of this park. Two historic buildings are available for vacation rental.

Fort Columbia State Park website

Concoy State Park is an 81-acre camping park with 5,400 feet of freshwater shoreline in north central Washington. Established as the oldest Bureau of Reclamation irrigation project in this part of the country, the park dates back to 1910. State park assumed administration in 1945. Considered a fisherman's paradise, this park offers camping and boat launches on two lakes.

Concoy State Park website

Ape Cave sits among a mixed-species forest stand. A short, paved trail leads from the newly remodeled and accessible parking lot with visitor center and facilities to the caves lower entrance and interpretive area. The trail continues on to the upper entrance, though it becomes more steep and rough.

Ape Cave Interpretive Site website

Sun Lakes-Dry Falls State Park is a 4,027-acre camping park with 73,640 feet of freshwater shoreline at the foot of Dry Falls. Dry Falls is one of the great geological wonders of North America. Carved by Ice Age floods that long ago disappeared, the former waterfall is now a stark cliff, 400 feet high and 3.5 miles wide. In its heyday, the waterfall was four times the size of Niagara Falls. Today it overlooks a desert oasis filled with lakes and abundant wildlife. The park and the interesting exhibits at Dry Falls Visitor Center offer many opportunities for people to learn about this unusual landscape. Special programs, hikes, talks and classroom visits are available.

Sun Lakes-Dry Falls State Park website

The mighty Columbia River has drawn people to its waters for over 9,000 years. Historically the rich fishery of the river was used for survival and prosperity. Today Lake Roosevelt's visitors continue to enjoy the river's recreational offerings of fishing, camping, hunting and boating. Visit Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area and experience life on the river past and present.

Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area website

Within the fast growing Puget Sound region, Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve provides a vivid historical record where Pacific Northwest history is still clearly visible in the landscape. Historical features of the reserve appear to today's visitors much as they did a century ago, when New England sea captains were drawn to Penn Cove.

Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve website

Fort Casey State Park is a 467-acre marine camping park with a lighthouse and sweeping views of Admiralty Inlet and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. A coast artillery post features two historic guns on display. The park features 10,810 feet of saltwater shoreline on Puget Sound (Admiralty Inlet), and includes Keystone Spit, a two-mile-plus stretch of land separating Admiralty Inlet and Crocket Lake.

Fort Casey State Park website

Fort Ebey State Park, a 645-acre camping park on Whidbey Island, was originally built as a coastal defense fort in World War II. Concrete platforms mark the gun locations. The park has three miles of saltwater shoreline on the Strait of Juan de Fuca, a freshwater lake for fishing, and miles of hiking and biking trails. Panoramic views of the Puget Sound shoreline, the Olympic Mountains and sunsets. The park features para-gliding, surfing and gun batteries to explore. Eagles may be viewed at Lake Pondilla.

Fort Ebey State Park website

Doug's Beach State Park is a 400-acre, undeveloped day-use park on the Columbia River. This is one of the premier windsurfing sites in the Columbia Gorge and is rated for advanced sailors. Parking is along the south side of SR 14. There is a pedestrian walkway behind the vehicle-parking area, fenced from passing trains. Visitors access the beach down a paved path with railroad-crossing arms and signals.

Doug's Beach State Park website

Lewis and Clark Trail State Park is a 37-acre camping park with 1,333 feet of freshwater shoreline on the Touchet River. The park is a rare treasure of old-growth forest and river in the midst of the surrounding arid grassland. Like an oasis in the middle of the desert, this lovely wooded park on the Touchet River refreshes visitors with its unusual vegetation and geology. The park is rich in history.

Lewis and Clark Trail State Park website

Saltwater State Park is an 88-acre marine camping park with 1,445 feet of saltwater shoreline on Puget Sound. The park is located halfway between the cities of Tacoma and Seattle. The cities jointly and literally buried a hatchet in the park as a symbol of an end to their mutual competition. The park offers beautiful views and wildlife-watching opportunities. The park features tide pools and marine life, including salmon spawning in McSorley Creek. There is an underwater artificial reef for scuba divers. The park is on the flight path of Sea-Tac International Airport.

Saltwater State Park website

Peshastin Pinnacles State Park is a 34-acre desert park featuring a group of sandstone slabs and spires called "the pinnacles." Climbable spires reach 200 feet into the air. Rocks and trails provide views of surrounding orchards, the Enchantment Mountain Range, and the Wenatchee River valley. Hikers and climbers are rewarded with sweeping views of the Cascade Mountains and the Wenatchee River valley.

Peshastin Pinnacles State Park website

Lincoln Rock State Park is an 80-acre camping park on the east side of Lake Entiat, created by Rocky Reach Dam blocking the flow of the Columbia River north of Wenatchee. The park, a popular place for swimming, water-skiing and respite from the hot sun, was named for a basalt outcropping said to resemble the profile of Abraham Lincoln.

Lincoln Rock State Park website

Lake Easton State Park is a forested, 516-acre year-round camping park with 24,000 feet of freshwater access on the shores of Lake Easton in the Cascade Mountain foothills. The park has beautiful mountain views and hiking trails to explore in the summer and cross country and snowmobiling trails to enjoy in the winter. The park's location also allows for snowy winter-sport opportunities.

Lake Easton State Park website

Steamboat Rock State Park is a 3,522-acre camping park with 50,000 feet of freshwater shoreline at the north end of Banks Lake. Dominating the landscape is a columnar, basaltic rock with a surface area of 600 acres. Two campground areas and a large day-use area are on sweeping green lawns, protected from winds by tall dramatic poplars. The surrounding areas are carpeted with wildflowers, adding to the gray-green brush of the Scablands. A sandy swimming area and boat launches make the area a favorite for visitors who enjoy water-play and want respite from the hot, summer sun.

Steamboat Rock State Park website

Olmstead Place State Park is a 217-acre day-use park that features a working pioneer farm. The park hosts tours and school field trips. Pioneer artifacts are plentiful in the park, and many can be seen in action in the work of maintaining the farm. Picnic space and walking trails interweave with interpretive activities.

Olmstead Place State Park website

Schafer State Park is a 119-acre camping park on the Satsop River, midway between Olympia and Ocean Park. A big attraction to park users is the abundant fishing for steelhead, cutthroat trout and salmon on the Satsop River. Wading and swimming in the shallow water make it an equally attractive site for family gatherings. Buildings are constructed from native stone.

Schafer State Park website

Nolte State Park is a 117-acre day-use park with 7,174 feet of freshwater shoreline on Deep Lake in the Green River Gorge. Covered with forests and blessed with water, the land was a resort for many years before it was donated to State park. A one-mile hiking path winds around the water.

Nolte State Park website

Federation Forest State Park is a day-use natural area with 619 acres of old growth evergreens. Located along the White River, the park provides visitors with 12 miles of hiking trail, three interpretive trails, an interpretive center with a gift shop and four picnic areas. Enjoy the beauty and diversity of 600 acres of old growth Douglas firs, with mature western hemlock, Sitka spruce and western red cedar trees. Hike through five distinct ecosystems within a radius of just one mile. Short interpretive loops make this ideal for small children.

Federation Forest State Park website

Dash Point State Park is a 398-acre camping park with 3,301 feet of saltwater shoreline on Puget Sound. The beach provides unobstructed views of the Sound and excellent opportunities for sea-life study.

Dash Point State Park website

Bogachiel State Park is a thickly forested 123-acre camping park on the banks of the Bogachiel River. It is remotely located on the northwestern tip of Washington state. "It isn't the end of the world, but you can see it from there." So goes a popular Northwest saying about this vicinity. The remote park, located on the tip of the Hoh Rainforest, abounds in lush vegetation.

Bogachiel State Park website

South Whidbey Island State Park is a 347-acre camping park with 4,500 feet of saltwater shoreline on Admiralty Inlet. Park features include old-growth forest, tidelands for crabbing and clamming, campsites secluded by lush, forest undergrowth and breathtaking views of the Puget Sound and Olympic Mountains. The park offers a unique outdoor experience.

South Whidbey Island State Park website

San Juan Island is well known for splendid vistas, saltwater shore, quiet woodlands and orca whales. But it was also here in 1859 that the United States and Great Britain nearly went to war over a dead pig. The website offers historical information about the Pig War for those who cannot visit in person.

San Juan Island National Historical Park website

Matia Island State Park is a 145-acre marine park with 20,676 feet of saltwater shoreline on the Strait of Georgia. The island is part of the San Juan National Wildlife Refuge. Under a mutual agreement between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Washington State park and Recreation Commission, five acres at Rolfe Cove are available to boaters as a marine park. Matia Island State Park is reachable only by boat.

Matia Island State Park website

Lime Kiln Point is a 36-acre day-use park set on the west side of San Juan Island. The park is considered one of the best places in the world to view whales from a land-based facility. Orca whales are common in the waters off Lime Kiln. Minke whales, orcas, porpoises, seals, sea lions and otters cruise the shoreline. The peak whale-watching season is May through September, with June and July being the most likely months to see whales. The park, which features a richly diverse environment, includes the remnants and landscapes of a history filled with change, along the rocky shoreline and through the wooded uplands. The lighthouse was built in 1919 and still serves as a navigational beacon for ships in the Haro Strait. Interpretive programs and lighthouse tours are available during the summer months.

Lime Kiln Point website

Posey Island State Park is a small, one-acre marine park with 1,000 feet of shoreline. It is located a quarter mile north of Pearl Island, near Roche Harbor, San Juan Island. Posey Island is part of the Cascadia Marine Trail. All onshore campsites are for the exclusive use of boaters arriving by human- or wind-powered watercraft.

Posey Island State Park website

Turn Island State Park is a 35-acre marine park with 16,000 feet of shoreline. The island is part of the San Juan National Wildlife Refuge.

Turn Island State Park website

Kopachuck State Park is a 109-acre marine and camping park with 5,600 feet of saltwater shoreline on Henderson Bay. One portion of the park, Cutts Island (or "Deadman's Island") is a half mile from shore and reachable only by boat. The park provides scenic views of sunsets, the Olympic Mountains and Puget Sound.

Kopachuck State Park website

Cutts Island is a two-acre marine park situated on Carr Inlet. During low tide, the island has a very nice sand beach. The island features clay cliffs that allow visitors to walk to the top of the island and enjoy the view. The island is covered with various vegetation, and visitors need to be aware of poison oak. During seal pup season, pups will rest on the sandy beach during low tide. Visitors should keep a safe distance away from seal pups.

Cutts Island State Park website

The Wallace Falls State Park Management Area is a 4,735-acre camping park with shoreline on the Wallace River, Wallace Lake, Jay Lake, Shaw Lake and the Skykomish River. Located on the west side of the Cascade Mountains, the park features a 265-foot waterfall, old-growth coniferous forests, and fast- moving rivers and streams. Cougars have been sighted several times near Wallace Falls, and peregrine falcons inhabit the rock cliffs of the Index Town Wall.

Wallace Falls State Park Management Area website

Goldendale Observatory State Park is a five-acre educational facility on a 2,100-foot-high hilltop. The observatory houses one of the nation's largest public telescopes and has attracted sky-watchers since its opening in 1973. The observatory is open to anyone who wants to view the universe.

Goldendale Observatory State Park website

Brooks Memorial State Park is a 700-acre, year-round camping park located between the barren hills of the south Yakima Valley and the lodgepole pine forests of the Simcoe Mountains. The park provides a variety of natural environments for visitors to enjoy. Over nine miles of hiking trails lead along the Little Klickitat River and up through Ponderosa and Oregon Pine forests. At the top are open mountain meadows with a panoramic view of Mount Hood. Visitors may see deer, beaver dams, squirrels, spring wildflowers and a variety of birds.

Brooks Memorial State Park website

Maryhill State Park is a 99-acre camping park with 4,700 feet of waterfront on the Columbia River in Klickitat County. The area is significant for its natural beauty, its access to the surrounding natural wonders and its cultural history. A full-scale model of Stonehenge stands near the park.

Maryhill State Park website

Mount Pilchuck State Park is a 1,893-acre day-use park that features mountainous alpine terrain with diverse scenic and recreation attractions. The main recreational attraction of the park is the three-mile trail to the summit and the old fire lookout. The trail begins at 3100 feet above sea level and winds through an old growth forest to alpine heather and large rocks at the summit of Mount Pilchuck (5324 feet above sea level). The hike is strenuous and in the summer can be very crowded. At the top is an incredible panoramic view of the Cascades, Olympics and Puget Sound. The trail is usually covered with snow until midsummer.

Mount Pilchuck State Park website

Grayland Beach State Park is a 412-acre, year-round, marine camping park with 7,449 feet of spectacular ocean frontage, just south of the town of Grayland. The park attracts kite flyers, kite-flying observers and those who just like a pleasant day at the beach.

Grayland Beach State Park website

McMicken Island State Park is an 11.5 acre marine park with 1,661 feet of saltwater shoreline. It is situated in the beautiful South Puget Sound and features a pristine cove to set anchor. Visitors can enjoy the many hiking trails, viewing an active bald eagle nest and shellfish harvesting. The shellfish population is abundant and open to shellfish harvesters year round.

McMicken Island State Park website

Grays Harbor's Premier History Museum

The Polson Museum website

Ocean City State Park is a year-round, 170-acre camping park, featuring ocean beach, dunes and dense thickets of shore pine. Migratory birds may be viewed at the park, and beachcombing is a popular activity. This beach park offers all the shoreside amenities, including clamming, surfing, kite flying, bird watching and winter-storm watching.

Ocean City State Park website

Cape Disappointment State Park (formerly Fort Canby State Park) is a 1,882-acre camping park on the Long Beach Peninsula, fronted by the Pacific Ocean. The park offers 27 miles of ocean beach, two lighthouses, an interpretive center and hiking trails. Visitors enjoy beachcombing and exploring the area's rich natural and cultural history. The nearby coastal towns of Ilwaco and Long Beach feature special events and festivals spring through fall. The park offers breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean, Columbia River, North Head Lighthouse and Cape Disappointment Lighthouse. The park has old-growth forest, lakes, freshwater and saltwater marshes, as well as streams and tidelands along the ocean.

Cape Disappointment State Park website

Lake Sammamish State Park is a 512-acre day-use park with 6,858 feet of waterfront on Lake Sammamish. The area around the lake was an important culture zone for local Indian tribes for centuries. The park provides deciduous forest and wetland vegetation for the enjoyment of visitors. A salmon-bearing creek and a great-blue-heron rookery are additional features. The park has one of the largest freshwater beaches in the greater Seattle area.

Lake Sammamish State Park website

Squak Mountain State Park is a 1,545-acre, day-use park just outside of Issaquah and a short 15-minute drive from Seattle. This forested park, a wilderness with glimpses of Issaquah below, has miles of winding trails alongside bubbling creeks and narrow ravines. There are several trail loop options on this 2,024-foot-high mountain. With multi-use trails and a natural area, equestrians and hikers alike have plenty to explore.

Squak Mountain State Park website

Once a Catholic seminary, the park's rich history reflects in its grounds and architecture. Walks along the undeveloped lakeshore are peaceful and give the visitor many opportunities for nature study. The park offers many outdoor play amenities. The park hosts the last undeveloped waterfront along Lake Washington's shore. Bald eagles, otters and other animals may be viewed along the 3/4-mile natural portion of the perimeter. An indoor swimming pool and gymnasium are available. The Carole Ann Wald Memorial Pool, named in 1969 for the sister of a seminary student by their father (a major donor), now provideds year-round, indoor public swimming programs for all ages and abilities. The park has two sites suitable for weddings and other special events.

Saint Edward State Park website

Bridle Trails State Park, a 482-acre day-use park, is well-known for its horse trails and equestrian shows. The forested park is on the northeast edge of the Seattle metropolitan area. Sometimes called "the wilderness in the city," this park is a popular getaway destination for Seattle residents.

Bridle Trails State Park website

Hope Island (north) State Park is a 200-acre marine park in Skagit Bay. The park offers several campsites, attractive beaches and a trail across the island. The island is forested with occasional meadows and rock outcroppings. The park is accessible only by boat. The island is a natural area preserve to protect a rare Puget Sound ecosystem. Please respect the island environment by staying on established trails and campsites.

Hope Island State Park (Skagit) website

Joemma Beach State Park is a 122-acre marine camping park with 3,000 feet of saltwater frontage on southeast Key Peninsula. Aside from the natural beauty of park and surroundings, the area is an excellent place for fishing, boating and crabbing.

Joemma Beach State Park website

Penrose Point State Park is a 152-acre marine and camping park on the shores of Puget Sound. The park has over two miles of saltwater frontage on Mayo Cove and Carr Inlet. Impressive stands of fir and cedar share space with ferns, rhododendrons, wildlife and birds. Wildlife, birds and forested terrain make this a beautiful park.

Penrose Point State Park website

Displaying well over 6,000 nutcrackers originating from over 40 countries.

Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum website

Lake Wenatchee State Park is a 489-acre camping park with 12,623 feet of waterfront on glacier-fed Lake Wenatchee and the Wenatchee River. The park is bisected by the Wenatchee River, creating two distinct areas -- South Park, with areas for camping, swimming and horseback riding; and North Park, in a less developed, forested section, a quarter-mile walk from the lake. The park is a natural wildlife area, and visitors should be aware of the presence of bears and other natural dangers. More than five miles of equestrian trails are in and around the park. A concession offers horses for rent for day rides or overnight pack trips. There are no public stables available. Year-round recreation opportunities abound, including swimming, boating and hiking in the summer and cross-country skiing, snowplaying, showshoeing and sledding in the winter.

Lake Wenatchee State Park website

Spencer Spit State Park is a 138-acre marine and camping park situated on Lopez Island in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The park is named for the lagoon-enclosing sand spit on which it rests. The park has a reputation for excellent crabbing, clamming and "car-top boating." This is one of the few state park in the San Juan Islands that is accessible by automobile. A sand spit encloses a saltchuck lagoon.

Spencer Spit State Park website

Upright Channel is a 20-acre, day-use park situated in the beautiful San Juan Islands. The park features walking trails, picnic and beach area. Easy access to tidelands makes for an enjoyable day clamming on the beach. Visitors can enjoy watching the many ferries plying Upright Channel en route to Friday Harbor.

Upright Channel State Park website

Columbia Hills State Park (which includes the Horsethief Lake area and Dalles Mountain Ranch area) is a 3,338-acre camping park with 7,500 feet of freshwater shoreline on the Columbia River. Horsethief Butte dominates the skyline. It stands over the lake like an ancient castle. The lake itself is about 90 acres in size and is actually an impoundment of the Columbia River. The lake was flooded into existence by the reservoir created by The Dalles Dam. Lupine and balsam root bloom in mid-April making spectacular fields of purple and gold. Rock climbing is possible in this park.

Columbia Hills State Park website

A Rich Tapestry - The mountains, forests, rivers and lakes of North Cascades National Park Service Complex provide a rich tapestry of visitor experience for all abilities and interests. Almost 400 miles of trails and vast undeveloped wilderness allow visitors to experience nature with minimal human-caused intrusions. Possible experiences range from accessible trails to world class mountaineering, including scenic drives, hiking, camping, nature-watching, relaxation, boating and fishing.

North Cascades National Park Service Complex website

Kinney Point is a 76-acre park situated on the south end of Marrowstone Island. The park features 683 feet of saltwater shoreline on Admiralty Inlet and Oak Bay. It is reachable by beachable boats only. The park is park of the Cascade Marine Trail.

Kinney Point website

Hope Island State Park is a 106-acre marine camping park on the western side of the state in Mason County, Puget Sound. This quiet island is reachable only by boat. Covered with old-growth forests and saltwater marshes, the park features a beach one-and-a-half miles long.

Hope Island State Park (Mason) website

Crawford State Park is a 49-acre, forested day-use park featuring Gardner Cave, the third longest limestone cavern in Washington. This tourable cave is filled with stalactites, stalagmites, rimstone pools and flow stone.

Crawford State Park website

Lake Sylvia State Park is a quiet, 233-acre camping park with 15,000 feet of freshwater shoreline. The park is an old logging camp in a wooded area halfway between Olympia and the Pacific shore. Aside from the interesting displays of old logging gear and curiosities, the lake is good for fishing, and the rustic charm of the park makes for excellent day outings and group camping trips. The park features a giant ball carved of wood by a local logging legend. Lake and forest offer rest and rejuvenation for park visitors.

Lake Sylvia State Park website

Bay View State Park is a 25-acre camping park with 1,285 feet of saltwater shoreline on Padilla Bay. Over 11,000 acres of Padilla Bay are designated as National Estuarine Sanctuary. Breazeale Padilla Bay Interpretive Center is located a half mile north of the park. The park offers views of the San Juan Islands fronting Padilla Bay, one of 15 existing national marine estuaries. On clear days, park users see the Olympic Mountains to the west and Mt. Rainier to the south.

Bay View State Park website

Lewis & Clark, in their quest for a water route to the Pacific Ocean, opened a window onto the west for the young United States.

Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail website

The Nez Perce (Nimiipuu or Nee-Me-Poo) National Historic Trail stretches from Wallowa Lake, Oregon, to the Bear Paw Battlefield near Chinook, Montana. It was added to the National Trails System by Congress as a National Historic Trail in 1986. The 1877 flight of the Nez Perce from their homelands while pursued by U.S. Army Generals Howard, Sturgis, and Miles, is one of the most fascinating and sorrowful events in Western U.S. history. Chief Joseph, Chief Looking Glass, Chief White Bird, Chief Ollokot, Chief Lean Elk, and others led nearly 750 Nez Perce men, women, and children and twice that many horses over 1,170 miles through the mountains, on a trip that lasted from June to October of 1877.

Nez Perce National Historic Trail website

The Park is made up of 12 park sites located on a 40-mile stretch of the Pacific coast from Long Beach, WA to Cannon Beach, OR. Visit the sites in any order you wish; we recommend starting at Fort Clatsop or the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center at Cape Disappointment. Both offer rangers, gift shops and exhibits on the region.

Lewis and Clark National Historical Park website

Riverside State Park is a camping park along the Spokane and Little Spokane rivers in Eastern Washington. The park supports a wide variety of recreational activities and is rich in history. Freshwater marshes, running rivers, and beautiful countryside make up the terrain. The park also includes the Nine Mile Recreation Area, which is available for camping, picnicking, swimming, fishing, and boating.

Riverside State Park website

Centennial Trail State Park is a 372-acre day-use park, 37 miles long. The park consists of a paved trail meandering along the Spokane River and extending from Nine Mile Falls to the Idaho state line. The trail is punctuated with 42 historical and archaeological sites, most of which remain to be marked.

Spokane River Centennial State Park Trail website

Riverside State Park is a 10,000-acre camping park along the Spokane and Little Spokane rivers in Eastern Washington. The park supports a wide variety of recreational activities and is rich in history. Freshwater marshes, running rivers and beautiful countryside make up the terrain. The park also includes the Nine Mile Recreation Area, which is available for camping, picnicking, swimming, fishing and boating.

Fort Flagler State Park is a 784-acre marine camping park surrounded on three sides by 19,100 feet of saltwater shoreline. The park rests on a high bluff overlooking Puget Sound, with views of the Olympic and Cascade Mountains. Many historic buildings remain at this 19th-century-established military fort. This historic fort offers gun batteries to explore and guided heritage tours.

Fort Flagler State Park website

This 10-acre marine park is reachable by car or boat. The park features 685 feet of saltwater shoreline on Mystery Bay and offers a spectacular view of the Olympic Mountains.

Mystery Bay State Park website

Olallie State Park is a day-use park in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains. It features dramatic Twin Falls, cliff formations, riverbanks and living old-growth trees up to 14 feet in diameter.

Olallie State Park website

Deception Pass State Park is a 4,134-acre marine and camping park with 77,000 feet of saltwater shoreline, and 33,900 feet of freshwater shoreline on three lakes. Rugged cliffs drop to meet the turbulent waters of Deception Pass. The park is outstanding for breath-taking views, old-growth forests and abundant wildlife.

Deception Pass State Park website

Joseph Whidbey State Park is a 112-acre day-use park with 3,100 feet of saltwater shoreline on the Strait of Juan De Fuca in northern Puget Sound. The scenery is beautiful, views are magnificent, wildlife is everywhere and the beach is one of the grandest on Whidbey Island.

Joseph Whidbey State Park website

Leadbetter Point State Park is a natural area open for day use. The park features beach frontage on the Pacific Ocean and Willapa Bay. It borders the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge which has about five miles of ocean beach and several miles of bay beach. There are views of the Pacific Ocean to the west and Willapa Bay and hills to the east. The park is part of the Willapa Bay Water Trail. A variety of migratory birds can be seen from fall through spring, including shovelers, brants, pintails, buffleheads and sooty shearwaters. Visitors can enjoy hiking, fishing and clamming at the park.

Leadbetter Point State Park website

Pacific Pines State Park sits on the Pacific shore. The area is conducive to all manner of day-trip beach activity and nature observation. The park features a shore on the Pacific Coast, with fishing, crabbing, and clamming opportunities in season. Beachcombing is always popular.

Pacific Pines State Park website

Griffiths-Priday Ocean State Park is a 364-acre marine park with 8,316 feet of saltwater shoreline on the Pacific Ocean and 9,950 feet of freshwater shoreline on the Copalis River. The park extends from the beach through low dunes to the river, then north to the river's mouth. The Copalis Spit natural area, a designated wildlife refuge, is also part of the park.

Griffiths-Priday Ocean State Park website

Moran State Park is a 5,252-acre camping park with five freshwater lakes and over 30 miles of hiking trails. Atop the 2,409-foot-high Mt. Constitution, the highest point on the San Juan Islands, there stands a stone observation tower built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1936. The tower offers panoramic views of the surrounding islands, the Cascade Mountains and a variety of Canadian and American cities. The park also features more than 30 miles of trails, five lakes and several waterfalls, an old growth forest and a lodge pole pine forest.

Moran State Park website

Millersylvania State Park is an 842-acre camping park with 3,300 feet of freshwater shoreline on Deep Lake. The park, filled with trails, is abundant in old-growth cedar and fir trees. Millersylvania was constructed almost entirely by hand in 1935 by the Civilian Conservation Corps. This historic park is nestled in broad stands of old-growth cedar and fir trees. Deep Lake, located on the property, attracts boaters, swimmers and fishermen. The state capital is a few miles north of the park.

Millersylvania State Park website

Tolmie State Park is a 105-acre marine day-use park with 1,800 feet of saltwater shoreline on Puget Sound. This forested park is on Nisqually Beach, a few miles from Olympia, the state's capital city. The park offers a variety of beachside activities and an underwater park built by scuba divers.

Tolmie State Park website

Jones Island State park is a 188-acre marine camping park with 25,000 feet of saltwater shoreline on the San Jaun channel. The park features a beautiful loop trail down the center of the island then around the western shore. A herd of black-tail deer live on the island. The deer have become habituated to the presence of humans and are quite tame. Visitors often feed the deer resulting in their becoming dependent on handouts of unnatural foods and potentially dangerous interactions between wild animals and humans. Feed wildlife is prohibited by law in State park.

Jones Island State Park website

Daroga State Park is a 90-acre camping park with 1.5 miles of Columbia River shoreline on the elevated edge of the desert "scablands." The park features camping activities and water-sport access in a unique and beautiful outdoor environment. Lots of sunshine combine with water activities to make this desert park a delight to visitors. Nationally recognized Desert Canyon Golf Course is just two miles away.

Daroga State Park website

Osoyoos Lake State Veteran's Memorial Park is a 47-acre camping park on a 14-mile-long lake that stretches several miles north into British Columbia. Located in the midst of a hot and arid environment, the park provides welcome respite with its sandy shores, green lawns and shade trees. A war veteran's memorial is in the park.

Osoyoos Lake State Veteran's Memorial Park website

Potholes State Park is situated on the reservoir created by construction of O'Sullivan Dam rather than the nearby "potholes geologic formations" for which it is named. Thousands are attracted to the Potholes desert area each year to enjoy fishing, hunting, bird watching, water sports and the sunshine. This desert area is unique because of its abundance of water. The area is comprised of sand dunes, rocky canyons and dozens of lakes. The Columbia Wildlife Refuge two miles east of the park is a favorite for wildlife viewing and bird watching.

Potholes State Park website

Pacific Beach State Park is a 10-acre camping park with 2,300 feet of ocean shoreline. The beach provides a variety of wonders, from dramatic surf to beachcombing. The park's sandy ocean beach is perfect for kite flying, sand-castle building, beachcombing and wildlife watching. Closed seasonlly to vehicles, the beach is great for long windy walks.

Pacific Beach State Park website

On May 14, 1804, the Lewis and Clark Expedition left Camp Dubois (Illinois) and headed west into half a continent of land largely unmapped and unknown to people of the United States and Europe. As the Corps of Discovery set out, no one realized the journey ahead would cover more than 7,500 miles and last almost two and half years. On Oct. 16, 1805, the Expedition arrived at the confluence of the Snake and Columbia rivers, the site of today's Sacajawea State Park. They camped here for two nights, hunting, repairing equipment and meeting some 200 Sahaptin-speaking Indians in the area. The Sacajawea State Park and Interpretive Center features the Lewis and Clark Room which tells the remarkable story of these early explorers. The exhibits highlight their activities at this site and the role of their interpreter, Sacagawea.

Sacajawea Interpretive Center PAsco WA website

Sacajawea State Park is a 284-acre inland waters, day-use park at the confluence of the Snake and Columbia rivers. The Sacajawea Interpretive Center is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. It closes for the season Nov. 1. The center features interactive displays that tell the story of the Lewis and Clark Expedition through the experiences of Sacagawea, the young Shoshone Indian woman who accompanied the expedition. The new exhibits relate what is known about her life before, during and after the Expedition. A river beach and children's playground equipment are additional park features.

Sacajawea State Park website

Alta Lake State Park is a 181-acre camping park where the mountainous pine forests meet the desert. Alta Lake is about two miles long and a half mile wide. The park offers good trout fishing and "conditional" waterskiing and windsurfing during summer months.. Lake Chelan, with its many activities, is 30 minutes away.

Alta Lake State Park website

Eagle Island is a 10-acre marine park with 2,600 feet of saltwater shoreline. The island sits on Balch Passage between McNeil and Anderson islands in South Puget Sound. Visitors can enjoy picnicking on the beach and watching harbor seals on the shoal at low tide. The park is reachable only by boat.

Eagle Island website

Located on the Tucannon River in the Blue Mountains, this center offers hiking on forested and mountain trails, canoeing on Donnie Lake and swimming in an indoor pool.

Camp Wooten ELC website

Guided ranger-led tours are available at Lower Granite Lock and Dam. The dam includes a visitor center, powerhouse, juvenile and adult fish passage systems, and a navigation lock. Tours can be customized depending on the age and interests of visitors.

Lower Granite Lock and Dam website

A Land of Contrasts and Variety - Here you will find Pacific Ocean beaches, rain forest valleys, glacier-capped peaks and a stunning variety of plants and animals. Roads provide access to the outer edges of the park, but the heart of Olympic is wilderness; a primeval sanctuary for humans and wild creatures alike.

Olympic National Park website

Shine Tidelands State Park is a 13-acre seasonal day-use park with 5,000 feet of tideland along Bywater Bay. At high tide, there is little beach available to the visitor. Excellent low-tide shellfish-harvesting opportunities nearby. Kayaking and windsurfing are popular on the beach.

Shine Tidelands State Park website

Manchester State Park is a 111-acre camping park with 3,400 feet of saltwater shoreline on Rich Passage in Puget Sound. The park is covered in woods of fir and maple. Nestled in woods of fir and maple, the park sets on the shore of Rich Passage on Puget Sound. Bainbridge Island and Seattle are visible from the beach. The park also features Calvinwood Lodge, a picturesque lodge perfect for weddings, reunions and group meetings.

Manchester State Park website

Sound Experience programs are hands-on 3-5 hour day experiences and 3-6 day voyages that encourage young people to become sailors and stewards. Students connect history to today's relevant issues affecting our waterways and oceans. They learn about the role of plankton, the problem of micro-plastics and how our daily actions can make a difference. When you join us on a sail, your group will take part in an active learning and working voyage. On board Adventuress, students are able to experience how community, nature, culture and infrastructure all interact and shape each other.

Sound Experience Sailing website

Fort Worden State Park and Conference Center is a 434-acre multi-use park with over two miles of saltwater shoreline and a wide variety of services and facilities. The park rests on a high bluff overlooking Puget Sound. Many historic buildings remain at this 19th century military fort.

Fort Worden State Park website

This 367-acre marine camping park features 3,960 feet of saltwater shoreline on Port Townsend Bay. The heavily wooded park has a rich military history dating from pioneer days. The park offers nature and history interpretive events. The 6.5 miles of hiking trails wonder through a natural forest area.

Old Fort Townsend State Park website

Kitsap Memorial State Park is a 58-acre camping park with 1,797 feet of saltwater shoreline and facilities for group and individual recreation, weddings and overnight stays. The park offers beautiful natural surroundings and sweeping views of Hood Canal. Grassy playfields and children's play equipment, a saltwater beach with tide pools and shellfish harvesting opportunities are highlights of this park.

Kitsap Memorial State Park website

Kanaskat-Palmer State Park is a 320-acre camping park on a small, low plateau in a natural forest setting. The park has two miles of shorelines on the Green River. Boat and raft launching is by hand only. River rafting and kayaking down the Green River Gorge is for expert-level enthusiasts only. Shoreline activities include nature appreciation, trout fishing and picnicking.

Kanaskat-Palmer State Park website

Curlew Lake State Park is a 123-acre camping park. It borders an air field, is eight miles from a public fossil dig and is also near an active osprey nest that can be viewed from the park. Curlew is one of the most relaxing campgrounds in the state, offering water-and snow-sport activity as well as natural-history and archeological study in the midst of gorgeous surroundings. The park has archaeological significance as a former Indian campground. An active osprey nest is viewable.

Curlew Lake State Park website

Paradise Point State Park is an 88-acre camping park with 6,180 feet of freshwater shoreline, immediately east of the interstate. Named for its original peacefulness, the park has lost some of its reputation for quiet since the freeway went in. The park offers unguarded swimming on Lewis River and campsites in open grass or wooded areas. There is a small apple orchard.

Paradise Point State Park website

Rockport State Park is a 670-acre camping park in an ancient forest. The old growth was never logged, and the entire ecosystem remains in place, creating a rare, natural forest with a canopy so dense that minimal sunlight penetrates to the ground. The park stands at the foot of Sauk Mountain, which has an elevation of 5,400 feet and a steep but climbable trail to the top.

Rockport State Park website

Steptoe Battlefield is a four-acre, day-use park in Rosalia. This is the site on May 17, 1858, where Lt. Col. E.J. Steptoe led 159 American soldiers in a running fight with a large band of Spokane, Palouse and Coeur D'Alene Native Americans. The American soldiers beat off a series of attacks until night halted the battle. With ammunition almost gone and facing disaster, Lt. Col. Steptoe and his men retreated with their wounded and under the cover of darkness to Fort Walla Walla.

Steptoe Battlefield website

Blind Island is a small, three-acre marine camping park located near the entrance of Blind Bay, Shaw Island. This natural area includes 1,280 feet of saltwater and rocky shoreline, with year-round moorage available. This park is part of the Cascadia Marine Trail. All of the onshore campsites are for the exclusive use of boaters arriving by human- or wind-powered watercraft. The park's onshore camping is a perfect resting spot for kayakers and boaters in human- or wind-powered watercraft. Be sure to set your crab traps in Blind Bay, an area closed to commercial crabbing. Results can be spectacular. Be aware of shellfish regulations and have your shellfish permits and catch record displayed on your person while harvesting shellfish.

Blind Island website

Patos Island State Park is a 207-acre marine park with 20,000 feet of saltwater shoreline. The island is owned by the federal government and is administered by the Bureau of Land Management's Wenatchee Office. The Washington State park and Recreation Commission operates a small campground facility at Active Cove near the west side of the island, maintains a 1.5 mile loop trail and has two offshore mooring bouys.

Patos Island State Park website

Stuart Island State Park is an 85-acre marine camping park with 33,030 feet of shoreline. The park is part of the Cascadia Marine Trail and offers camping and moorage at Reid and Prevost harbors. Some campsites are for the exclusive use of those arriving by human- or wind-powered watercraft.

Stuart Island State Park website

Sucia Island State Park is a 564-acre marine park with 77,700 feet of shoreline. Sucia Island is considered the crown jewel of the state's marine park system. It is consistently ranked as one of the top boating destinations in the world. Sucia Island and several smaller island comprise the "Sucia group."

Sucia Island State Park website

Griffin Bay State Park is a 15-acre marine park with 340 feet of shoreline. The park is part of the Cascadia Marine Trail and reachable only by human- and wind-powered watercraft. The park is a narrow band of land, which is bordered on both sides by private property.

Griffin Bay State Park website

Clark Island is a 55-acre marine camping and moorage park with 11,292 feet of saltwater shoreline on the Strait of Georgia. Beaches are sandy on the west side of the island and smooth pea gravel on the east side. This is a popular kayaking site. It provides an important camping and rest site for paddlers traversing the northern San Juan islands. Boaters anchoring offshore or using the park moorage buoys should be aware of the strong currents on the west side of the island. The east side moorage area is subject to large waves created by passing commercial shipping in Rosario Strait. Marine access, reachable only by boat.

Clark Island website

Scenic Beach State Park is a 88-acre camping park with 1,500 feet of saltwater beachfront on Hood Canal. The park is known for its wild, native rhododendrons and stunning, clear-day views of Hood Canal and the Olympic Mountains. ADA-compliant paths lead visitors to a country garden, gazebo, rustic bridge and huge trees. A wide variety of birds and wildlife call the area home. The park is ideal for those who appreciate outstanding natural venues for outdoor activities. The park features beautiful views of Hood Canal and the Olympic Mountains, flowers of wild rhododendrons in spring, and a rocky beach where oysters may be harvested in season.

Scenic Beach State Park website

The Seattle Art Museum (SAM) is an art museum located in Seattle, Washington, USA. It maintains three major facilities: its main museum in downtown Seattle; the Seattle Asian Art Museum (SAAM) in Volunteer Park on Capitol Hill, and the Olympic Sculpture Park on the central Seattle waterfront.

Seattle Art Museum website

The Henry Art Gallery engages diverse audiences in the powerful experience of artistic invention and serves as a catalyst for the creation of new work that inspires and challenges. Exhibitions, collections, and public programs stimulate research and teaching at the University of Washington, provide a creative wellspring for artists, students, and educators, and reveal a record of modern artistic inquiry from the advent of photography in the mid-19th century to the multidisciplinary art and design of the 21st century.

Henry Art Gallery website

Enhance your homeschool science curriculum with a day of hands-on exploration at Pacific Science Center. Discover hundreds of innovative and interactive permanent exhibits that make science fun and engaging for kids of all ages. Learn healthy habits at Professor Wellbody's Academy of Health & Wellness, take a stroll through the Tropical Butterfly House, meet our family of naked mole rats and much more. Now is the time to inspire your homeschoolers' lifelong interest in science, mathematics and technology.

Pacific Science Center website

The Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience is dedicated to immersing people in uniquely-American stories of survival, success, struggle, conflict, compassion and hope. The Museum is in the heart of Seattle's vibrant Chinatown-International District, and includes the very hotel where countless immigrants first found a home, a meal and refuge. As our nation's only museum devoted to the Asian Pacific American experience, it's one of the few places that can truly give you a new perspective on what it means to be American. The Wing is a Smithsonian Affiliate, a partnership with the Smithsonian Institution.

Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience website

MOHAI is dedicated to enriching lives by preserving, sharing and teaching the diverse history of Seattle, the Puget Sound region and the nation.

Museum of History & Industry website

Open daily, the Burke Museum welcomes all visitors who are curious about the natural wonders of Washington state, the Pacific Northwest, and the Pacific Rim.

Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture website

Seattle Gateway to Gold - Gold! read the headlines in July of 1897. After years of struggling through a depression, the people of the nation were intrigued by the possibility of riches. Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park preserves the story of the 1897-98 stampede to the Yukon gold fields and Seattle's role in this event. The park offers a glimpse at the stories of adventure and hardship of the gold rush.

Klondike Gold Rush International Historical Park website

Blake Island State Park is a 475-acre marine camping park with five miles of saltwater beach shoreline providing magnificent views of the Olympic Mountains and the Seattle skyline. The park is only reachable by tour boat or private boat. Indian-style salmon dinners and demonstrations of Northwest Indian dancing are offered at Tillicum Village, a concession on the island.

Blake Island State Park website

Woodland Park Zoo saves wildlife and inspires everyone to make conservation a priority in their lives.

Woodland Park Zoo website

Sequim Bay State Park is a year-round, 92-acre marine camping park with 4,909 feet of saltwater coast in the Sequim "rainshadow," just inside Puget Sound on the Olympic Peninsula. The bay is calm, the air is dry and interpretive opportunities await visitors. The name Sequim, which means "quiet waters," aptly describes the bay on the shores of which the park rests. Beachcombing is popular.

Sequim Bay State Park website

Sunny days and low tides attract many to Potlatch to harvest oysters, dig for clams or catch crab and fish. The beautiful Hood Canal offers scenic views, and windy days bring out kite fliers and windsurfers. Scuba divers favor Potlatch for its accessibility and easy descent, and kayaking is a popular day-trip activity. The park offers an active Junior Ranger program.

Potlatch State Park website

Jarrell Cove State Park is a 43-acre marine camping park with 3,500 feet of saltwater shoreline on the northwest end of Harstine Island in south Puget Sound. The forested island park is accessible by road and bridge and is off the beaten path. Most visitors arrive by boat. The park has campsites near the docks, as well as on rolling, grassy areas. Jarrell Cove State Park administers five other satellite park including: Harstine Island, McMicken Island, Stretch Point, Eagle Island and Hope Island State park. Harstine Island State Park is a day use park with beach access via a half-mile trail. It is a two mile drive from Jarrell Cove. The other satellite park are all accessible by boat only and offer buoys for moorage.

Jarrell Cove State Park website

Ike Kinswa State Park is a 454-acre camping park with 46,000 feet of freshwater shoreline on the north side of Mayfield Lake. The campsites are forested and available year-round.

Ike Kinswa State Park website

Skagit Island State Park is a 24-acre marine camping park in Skagit Bay. The island is forested with occasional meadows, rock outcroppings, attractive beaches and a land trail.

Skagit Island State Park website

Beacon Rock State Park is a 4,650-acre year-round camping park with historic significance dating back hundreds of years. The park includes 9,500 feet of freshwater shoreline on the Columbia River. Located in the heart of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Beacon Rock is the core of an ancient volcano. The mile-long trail to its summit provides outstanding panoramic views of the Columbia River Gorge. The park has over 20 miles of roads and trails open to hiking, mountain biking and equestrian use.

Beacon Rock State Park website

We are host to the thousands of school children who come to learn about Washington through our educational Washington State Corn Maze. Younger students can know the thrill of picking a pumpkin grown here at the farm and experiencing a bit of farm life.

Swan's Trail Farm website

The Thomas Family Farm offers families an interactive mining experience. Open throughout the fall, the farm also offers pumpkin and corn maze packages.

Thomas Family Farm website

The Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture collects art, artifacts and primary source material in three disciplines: Regional History, Fine Art, and American Indian and other cultures. The collections include over 68,000 objects representing fine art and material culture from the Americas, Europe, and Asia.

Northwest Museum of Art and Culture website

Share the love of theater with students of all ages. Spokane Children's Theatre offers school day field trip performances for each show of our season at a reduced rate. Experiencing live theatre encourages students to read, develop critical and creative thinking, and be curious about the world around them. Discounted Tickets: $6.00 per ticket with one free per every 10 purchased

Spokane Children's Theatre website

Mount Spokane State Park is a 13,919-acre camping park in the Selkirk Mountains. The view at the top of the 5,883-foot elevation includes surrounding states and Canada. The forested park features stands of old-growth timber and granite rock outcroppings. On fine days, the summit of Mount Spokane offers spectacular views of Washington, Idaho and Montana. The park is rich in winter snow-sport opportunities.

Mount Spokane State Park website

Wenberg State Park is a 46-acre camping park with 1,140 feet of freshwater shoreline on Lake Goodwin in Snohomish County. The park offers good fishing and a variety of other water activities. Located north of Seattle, the park provides urbanites weekend access to forested recreation without the necessity of lengthy travel.

Wenberg State Park website

Jagged peaks, deep valleys, cascading waterfalls and over 300 glaciers adorn the North Cascades National Park Service Complex. Three park units in this mountainous region are managed as one and include North Cascades National Park, Ross Lake, and Lake Chelan National Recreation Areas. These complementary protected lands are united by a contiguous overlay of Stephen Mather Wilderness.

Lake Chelan National Recreation Area website

Tacoma Art Museum was founded by a group of volunteers in 1935 and has since grown to become a national model for regional, mid-sized museum. The museum is dedicated to exhibiting and collecting Northwest art, with the mission of connecting people through art. The museum's permanent collection includes the premier collection of Dale Chihuly's glass artwork on permanent public display.

Tacoma Art Museum website

The Children's Museum of Tacoma offers a range of permanent play spaces and rotating exhibits that foster the power of play in the a life-long journey of learning. Hands-on exhibits allow children to test their independence and gain self-confidence through the arts, sciences and creative play while presenting adults and parents with the tools to understand and support the children in their lives.

Children's Museum of Tacoma website

All glass, all the time. Housed in a striking building distinguished by its iconic 90-foot-high cone, the Museum of Glass features ongoing glassblowing demonstrations in the Hot Shop Amphitheater, where visitors learn about the creative challenges of working with molten glass. The 13,000 square feet of gallery space is dedicated to changing exhibitions of works executed in glass. A hands-on art studio is available for visitors of all ages, our theater shows a variety of films on artists who work in glass, and the Museum Store offers a large selection of glass objects.

Museum of Glass website

The Washington State History Museum is where fascination and FUN come together! People of all ages can explore and be entertained in an environment where characters from Washington's past speak about their lives. Through interactive exhibits, theatrical storytelling, high-tech displays and dramatic artifacts, learn about our state's unique people and places, as well as their impact on the country and the world.

Washington State History Museum website

An Educational Eco farm located on barker mountain near Tonasket Washington. We invite students of all ages to come and learn about Lavender, how it is grown and the uses for it. We also love to share information and workshops about renewable energy, sustainable farming, homesteading and different crafts. Summer planting workshops for kids 5 and up! We can share our curriculum for each age group. Early Childhood, Middle school and high school 1 day itineraries available upon request. Address

Okanogan Highlands Lavender Farm website

Spring Creek Hatchery State Park is located in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, in southeast Skamania County, along the Columbia River. Spring Creek Hatchery is a premier windsurfing and kiteboarding site in the Columbia Gorge with views of Mount Hood from the shore. The park sits at the entrance to the Spring Creek National Fish Hatchery which offers tours of the facility and other interpretive opportunities for visitors.

Spring Creek Hatchery State Park website

Twanoh State Park is a 182-acre marine, camping park with 3,167 feet of saltwater shoreline on Hood Canal. The name of the park derives from the Native American Twana tribes, better known as the Skokomish, who made their home in the area. The park is situated on one of the warmest saltwater beaches in the state. This is because Hood Canal is one of the warmest saltwater bodies in Puget Sound.

Twanoh State Park website

"The Grand Emporium of the Company's Trade" - Nestled snugly today in the Vancouver/Portland metropolitan area and enveloped by its highway, rail, air, and maritime commercial networks, Fort Vancouver is a gem of a park whose story as an economic and cultural center - told, in part, through engaging programs and a world-class archaeology collection - fascinatingly portends that of the modern-day Pacific Northwest.

Fort Vancouver National Historic Site website

The Clark County Historical Society is dedicated to the collection, preservation, and interpretation of the cultural history of Clark County and the Pacific Northwest, and to sponsoring educational programs and exhibits for the enrichment of all members of the public.

Clark County Historical Museum website

Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park is a 7,470-acre park with year-round camping at Wanapum recreational area. The park features 27,000 feet of freshwater shoreline on the Wanapum Reservoir on the Columbia River. Petrified wood was discovered in the region in the early 1930s, which led to creation of the park as a national historic preserve. It is regarded as one of the most unusual fossil forests in the world.

Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park website

The 1847 Whitman "Massacre" horrified Americans and impacted the lives of the peoples of the Columbia Plateau for decades afterwards. Was killing the Whitmans justified legal retribution, an act of revenge, or some combination of both?The circumstances that surround this tragic event resonate with modern issues of cultural interaction and differing perspectives.

Whitman Mission National Historic Site website

Reed Island State Park is a 510-acre marine park located east of Vancouver.The island offers bird watching, boating, beach walking, camping and picnicking. Reed Island features a heron rookery on the southwest section of the island. The park is part of the Columbia River Water Trail.

Reed Island State Park website

Palouse Falls State Park is a 105-acre camping park with a unique geology and history. The park offers a dramatic view of one of the state's most beautiful waterfalls. Palouse Falls drops from a height of 200 feet. A quarter-mile ADA-accessible hiking trail overlooks this natural wonder. The park has an observation shelter and historical displays.

Palouse Falls State Park Heritage Site website

Columbia Plateau Trail State Park is a 4,109-acre, 130-mile-long rail-bed trail that traces the 1908 original path of the Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railroad. The route is most accessible at Cheney, with other less accessible points along the way. The route is steeped in history, re-told at interpretive kiosks on the trail. Scenic vistas reward the visitor who undertakes this sometimes challenging hike. Currently 23 miles of the trail between Lincoln County and Cheney are developed and open for public use. Activities include hiking, bicycling, horseback riding, in-line skating, nature viewing, bird watching, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. While enjoying your trek through the refuge, you can read from several interpretive panels on topics such as wildlife, the Ice Age Floods and wetlands.

Columbia Plateau Trail State Park website

Explore North Central Washington's heritage from the Ice Age to the present day in our historic, landmark facility. Discover the rich diversity of the region's arts, sciences and people through our exhibits and programs. Enjoy rotating art shows, including works by local artists, as well as art by our area's native residents. Create your own arts and crafts at our family events or join us for history tours, lectures, films and other cultural programs throughout the year.

Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center website

Wenatchee Confluence State Park is a 197-acre year-round camping park at the confluence of the Wenatchee and Columbia rivers. Situated at the edge of town, the park has two personalities. The North Confluence is urban and recreational, while the South Confluence is a wetland natural area. Muskrat and beaver may be seen in the rivers here. The park has shaded, grassy areas, sports fields, a roped-off river swimming beach, a boat launch and walking access to the Horan Natural Area.

Wenatchee Confluence State Park website

Squilchuck State Park is a 288-acre camping park covered with forests of fir and ponderosa pine. The park sits at an elevation of 4,000 feet. This forested park sets at an elevation of 4,000 feet. The park is open on a limited basis for winter snow play, which includes sledding, inner tubing, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Two areas are designated for sledding: one for adults and older kids and an area for young children. The park has six miles of trails for cross-country skiers.

Squilchuck State Park website

Westport Light State Park is a 212-acre day-use park on the shore of the Pacific Ocean. The park offers a panoramic view of the sea. The historic Westport Lighthouse is adjacent to the park. A concrete boardwalk traverses the primary dune, connecting this park with Westhaven State Park, 1.3 miles away.

Westport Light State Park website

Twin Harbors Beach State Park is a 172-acre camping park on the Pacific coast, four miles south of Westhaven. The area allows opportunities for nature study and seaside activity along the ocean shore, and the chance to lie in the sand and soak up the sun in one of the most beautiful places on Earth. The park is on the Pacific Coast. Beach activities predominate, including kite flying, surf fishing, and beachcombing.

Twin Harbors Beach State Park website

Fort Simcoe State Park is a 200-acre, day-use heritage park in south central Washington on the Yakama Indian Nation Reservation. The park is primarily an interpretive effort, telling the story of mid-19th century army life and providing insights into the lifeways of local Native American culture. Located in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains in an old oak grove watered by natural springs, Fort Simcoe was an 1850's-era military installation established to keep peace between the settlers and the Indians. Due to its unique historic significance, the park was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in June, 1974. Before the fort era, the site was an Indian campground where many trails crossed.

Fort Simcoe State Park website

Steptoe Butte State Park is a 150-acre, 3,612-foot-tall natural monument. Thimble-shaped, the quartzite butte looms in bald grandeur over the prevailing flat lands. The park is famous for its stark, dramatic beauty and the panoramic view it provides of surrounding farmlands, the Blue Mountains, and other neighboring ranges and peaks. From the top of the butte, the eye can see 200 miles.

Steptoe Butte State Park website

Lewis and Clark State Park is a 621-acre camping park situated in one of the last major stands of old-growth forest in the state. Coniferous trees, streams, wetlands, dense vegetation and wet prairie comprise the park environment.

Lewis and Clark State Park website

Pearrygin Lake State Park is a 696-acre camping park in the Methow Valley in north central Washington. The park features expansive green lawns leading to 11,000 feet of waterfront on Pearrygin Lake. The lake offers swimming, fishing and boating. Old willows and ash provide shade on hot summer days. The grassy park offers lots of sunshine, deciduous shade trees and a sandy beach. It is a popular water recreation area. Colorful wildflowers predominate in spring and summer. Red-winged and yellow-headed blackbirds and marmots add to the display.

Pearrygin Lake State Park website

Yakima Sportsman State Park is a 247-acre camping park created in 1940 by the Yakima Sportsman's Association to promote game management and the preservation of natural resources. The park is on the floodplain of the Yakima River and is an irrigated "green zone" in an otherwise desert area. The park has a variety of deciduous trees that shade camping and picnic areas. One hundred and forty bird species have been identified in the park. Ponds lure fishers to the river. The park is a popular stay-over spot for travelers and visitors to events in the Yakima area.

Yakima Sportsman State Park website

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Educational Field Trip Ideas in Washington

Sometimes, I think we don’t do enough with the kids. Not enough trips, not enough classes, not enough extracurriculars…

I was having one of those days recently as I was learning about all the classes and camps that are going on in our area during the summer. A lot of kids are going to a different camp all summer long and I was beginning to feel like maybe the boys were missing out.

And, then I started working on this post…I realized how many field trips and outings we have been on in the last several years. After compiling these two lists, I’m confident they will survive from their lack of weekly summer camps. 🤪

We recently published our favorite educational field trips (and day trips) in Oregon . This week, we are moving on to our favs in Washington.

Wolf Haven International

Wolf Haven is a sanctuary for displaced pet wolves and those who cannot thrive in their natural environment. Located in Tenino, just 7 miles off I-5, it is an excellent educational field trip for kids to be introduced to wolves. Also, they will learn how sanctuaries, like Wolf Haven, provide safe, long-term homes for animals who cannot live in the wild. While you are there, you will typically see several species of wolves. Tours are offered with a guide so you can have a chance to see and learn more about them while maintaining the integrity of the wolves’ home.

After you arrive, you go in as a group, walk and speak softly, and need to make sure that you’ve turned off all ring tones, etc. Because this is the wolves’ home, it is important that you act as a guest in their space and are respectful not to make them nervous or scared. You’ll take your time stopping at the enclosures, where your guide will share information about the wolves you encounter.

Even though we visited a few years ago and our kids were pretty young, hearing the individual stories of the wolves kept the boys’ attention. Younger kids (under 5 or 6), may find the pace too slow and/or have difficulty keeping their voices down. We went with a large group, and, overall, the kids did well and ranged in age from about 2-12. However, those from Kindergarten age and older seemed to enjoy it much more.

For further information on the wolves and Wolf Haven, we highly recommend the book Wolf Haven.

Note: You can find the most up to date information on opening hours and guidelines here .

Northwest Trek

Northwest Trek is a Wildlife Park that was donated to Metro Parks Tacoma by the Hellyer family. It opened to the public in 1975 and is now one of our favorite places to head for a field trip. You have opportunities to see a variety of animals in the park. However, one of the best features of the park is the tram ride, which is included with your admission. During the tram rides, we have seen bison, elk, moose, mountain goats, sheep and more. The boys love being able to help spot the animals! One time, a caribou was so close to the tram, we could have touched it! Recently, they have also added a play area for kids that also includes a stream. It is PERFECT on a hot day!

Note: You can find more information on current guidelines here .

Puyallup Fish Hatchery

The Puyallup Fish Hatchery grounds are open to visitors during daylight hours. You can observe the fish ponds and walk the trails all over the property. In addition, the Educational Center is staffed on Saturdays from 10am-2pm by volunteers from the Puyallup Historical Society. In the past, we were also able to arrange a homeschool group tour of the Educational Center on a weekday.

Hand’s On Children’s Museum

When we first moved to the PNW, this was most definitely one of the boys’ favorite activities. We lived closer than we do now and had an Annual Pass. Located in Olympia, the  Hand’s On Children’s Museum  has so much to keep kids busy! They have everything from a play grocery store to a water exhibit. In addition, there is also an art studio, fire truck, and builder boards to create their own house!

Note: Current health guidelines for the museum can be found here .

Tinkertopia

When it’s a rainy day in the PNW and you need something to do out of the house, Tinkertopia , in Tacoma, is an excellent option! I think of it as kind of what would happen if your attic, garage and craft room pooled all their misplaced, broken, extra, and unique parts. Then, you get to use them to design whatever your heart desires.

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It is such a great way to reuse things in a creative way. We have been a few times with the boys and it’s always fun to see how their imaginations take over when they arrive. They always come up with something super unique and fun!

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Museum of Glass

Located on the traditional homelands of the Puyallup Tribe and the Coast Salish Peoples in Tacoma, you’ll find the Museum of Glass . When we first heard about it, we decided there was NO WAY we were taking the boys. I mean, breakable items and two wild kids?! No thanks.

However, then I heard about a particular hands-on exhibit and I decided to give it a try, even if we only did that exhibit and left.

It was totally worth it.

In The Hot Shop, it is fascinating to watch the artists at work as they create unique pieces of art during live demonstrations. Even the kids were enthralled!

Another cool thing they have for kids is a Kids Design Glass program where kids under 12 can submit their own drawings and designs. Once a month, they choose a submission and bring it to life in The Hot Shop. They make two – one for the museum to display and one for the kid to take home – how cool is that?!

Becuase The Museum of Glass is fairly small, it will not take very long to walk through, so it’s perfect for littles with short attention spans. Plus, you won’t feel like you missed out if they have a meltdown 90 minutes in. 😉

However, if you and your kiddos want more, they also have workshops that you could sign up to participate in. But, before you head out, make sure you walk across the Chihuly Bridge of Glass to enjoy a sampling of Dave Chihuly’s work.

ProTip: If you live in Pierce County, check with the library for passes. Or, visit on the Third Thursday of the month between 5pm-8pm for FREE admission!

Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

We love Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium . Mostly, because it’s a zoo. AND an aquarium. But, also because on a clear day, it also has a sweet view of Mt. Rainier – always a favorite!

At PDZA, in Tacoma, you can see everything from meerkats to sharks, tigers to budgies, and everything between. They even have a playground in the kids’ area perfect for running off the last bit of energy before you start the trek home.

Note: You can find ongoing updates on current guidelines here .

Pacific Science Center

Special exhibits at the Pacific Science Center are often changed and updated. Of course, they have some that are permanently on display as well. One of our favorite visits was when they had the Grossology: The (Impolite) Science of the Human Body special exhibit. I mean, what boy isn’t fascinated with farts, boogers, and belching?? Plus, there was a giant game of Operation…yes, please!

If you’d like, you can also catch a show or documentary in the Planetarium or IMAX theater. Often, you’ll find new movies playing in their IMAX theater – things like Star Wars and Toy Story 4. In addition, you could also check out the Laser Dome for Music & Light shows. We haven’t had a chance to do one of those yet, but we’d love to hear about it if you do!

Note: You can find the most current info on hours and requirements here .

Gates Foundation

Whether you’re a Mac or a PC person, if you visit the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation , you will come away with an appreciation for what you have and a desire to do more for the world. There are different displays that delve into the challenges in other countries (and sometimes our own), as well as what they are doing to try to combat the issues. If you have the opportunity, you absolutely should visit.

Note: You can check for current status, updates, and guidelines here .

Museum of Pop Culture

Formerly known as EMP (Experience Music Project), the Museum of Pop Culture in Seattle is an excellent place to learn about music and – you guessed it – pop culture. There are rotating exhibits on things like musical artists, gaming, and movies. One of the most interesting exhibits is the sound lab. While you are there, try your hand at mixing, practice your vocals in a soundproof room, or learn about how DJs make their magic happen.

Note: You can find the full list of current guidelines here .

The Museum of Flight

If you, or your kids, love anything to do with space or aircraft, The Museum of Flight is the perfect educational field trip for you. Climb inside aircraft, try out a flight simulator, learn about spacecraft, check out current events or exhibits, or maybe even meet an astronaut!

P roTip : The Museum of Flight participates in the First Thursdays program, sponsored by Wells Fargo, with FREE admission from 5pm-9pm on the First Thursday of every month.

Note: The Museum of Flight is may continue to have additional guidelines in place.

Woodland Park Zoo

Like any great zoo, the Woodland Park Zoo has a variety of animals on exhibit. In particular, we have loved seeing the Wallaroo’s, Tapir, and Rhinoceros as they aren’t always animals you get to see. They even have a Komodo Dragon! G has recently decided the Komodo Dragon is one of his favorite animals, so I’m sure we will be back to visit again in the near future!

Note: You can find additional information and admission guidelines on their website .

Final Thoughts on Field Trips (and Day Trips) in Washington

There you have it! Whatever your interests, we hope you found at least one new idea or tip for your next educational field trip in Washington. As we continue to explore, we will come back periodically and update this post as well as the one where we list all of our favorite cool field trips in Oregon .

Do you have any favorite family day trips in Washington? Let us know in the comments!

More PNW Adventures:

• Awesome Educational Field Trips (and Day Trips!) in Oregon
• Washington Hike: Moulton Falls
• Tillamook Cheese Factory: What You Need to Know
• The Discovery Trail: A Washington Coast Family Favorite

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Tiffany is co-founder of The Stoke Fam. She has been adventuring outdoors with her family since her oldest child was born 13 years ago, and has loved traveling both near and far since she caught the travel bug as a teen. She moved to the Pacific Northwest with her family in 2012 where they first lived in Washington for 5 years before settling in Oregon in 2017.

Tiffany has spent years exploring the PNW. She helps over 20,000 tourists and locals plan their outdoor adventures and family travel each month by sharing things to do and outdoor adventures in the Northwest and beyond.

When she isn't working on The Stoke Fam, you'll likely find her paddleboarding, snowboarding, hiking, camping, or planning her next trip.

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Field Trips

Washington State University is proud to offer a unique opportunity to experience our world-class campus first-hand through our field trips service.

As a outstanding institute of post-secondary education, with facilities on the forefront of groundbreaking research, our university is home to many unique departments and distinguished faculty that are eager to share their experience with young minds.  We offer youth an opportunity to engage with our faculty, to learn, and to have fun while doing it!  Whether they are learning about the laws of the natural world during our EXPLOSIVE physics demonstration or exploring the night sky during a mesmerizing planetarium demonstration, they are bound to walk away with new found knowledge and an experience they will never forget.

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Bussing arrangements must be made by the requesting agency. Transportation reimbursement arrangements will be made through the Museum of Art. See the Museum of Art website for more details.

Brelsford WSU Visitor Center

Explore the Brelsford WSU Visitor Center and learn about Washington State University’s history, research and athletic accomplishments, students and alumni through an interactive, hands-on and slightly competitive scavenger hunt. Pick a partner and see which team can answer the most questions about the visitor center and WSU. Celebrate your Cougar smarts by taking a photo with 15-foot concrete W-S-U letters.

Museum of Anthropology

Take a glimpse into the past with staff at the Museum of Anthropology and learn about the culture of Native American tribes in the Inland Northwest since contact with European settlers. The museum is an official repository for archaeological collections generated by the work of federal, state and county agencies in Eastern Washington and features both permanent and rotating collections.

Birds of Prey

Washington State University Pullman is home to one of the most prestigious colleges of Veterinary Medicine in the world and is home to the unique Raptor Rehabilitation Program. The program provides medical care, food and shelter to sick and injured birds of prey. Thanks to the WSU Raptor Club , students have the opportunity to see and interact with these wild birds of prey up close while learning about their ecology and biology.

Botany Greenhouses

Journey to the roof of Abelson Hall to explore the wild world of plants! Enjoy an interactive tour of the School of Biological Sciences botanical collection to see some of the most interesting and out-there plants around the world. The greenhouse is sure to impress with specimens ranging from cacao, vanilla and coffee plants to Venus fly traps and plants that recoil at the touch of a human hand.

Chemistry Demonstration

Proceed with caution: You will be “blown away” with this explosive look into chemistry! Become filled with excitement as elements of the natural world are brought to life through a series of loud, colorful and dynamic experiments.

Charles r. Conner Museum

Stare into the eyes of a bison, listen to the calls of local birds, measure yourself against a moose or come face-to-face with a 9-foot dinosaur skeleton in the Charles R. Conner Museum . Challenge yourself with animal trivia flip cards and feel the luxurious texture of a muskrat pelt – and more!

WSU Creamery & Ferdinand’s Ice Cream Shoppe

A visit to WSU Pullman simply isn’t complete without a stop at Ferdinand’s Ice Cream Shoppe, the storefront to our campus creamery ! Learn where the famous Cougar Gold cheese is made and enjoy a scoop of ice cream (made by students on campus and using milk from WSU’s own dairy cows) while watching how it’s done from the Marc P. Bates observation room.

Knott Dairy Center

Explore food science even more with a trip to the Knott Dairy Center. Learn about where milk and cream come from, how they’re produced and what it takes to create a successful dairy farm.

M.T. James Entomology Museum

Gain an up-close look at all things that crawl, creep and squirm with a visit to the M.T. James Entomology Museum . The museum is the largest reference collection of insects in the Pacific Northwest and not only offers an opportunity to view specimens in the display, but hold and interact with live specimens while learning all about the world of entomology.

Geology Demonstration

Watch an explosive volcano demonstration taken to the next level with a 30-foot water-volcano eruption better than any paper mache volcano can do. Learn about geology and why composite volcanoes like Mount St. Helens lose their lids, followed by an incredible demonstration of how geologic forces cause eruptions.

Jacklin Collection

Travel back in time 200 million years while walking through the Jacklin Collection of petrified wood and silicified minerals – one of the most extensive collections in the country! View exotic pieces from Brazil and Mexico along with local pieces from the Pacific Northwest that range in age from ancient to prehistoric.

Holland-Terrell Libraries Amazing Race!

How tall is the largest oversized book in the Holland and Terrell Libraries ? How many copies of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix do the libraries have in Spanish? Take a journey through the Holland and Terrell Libraries, while answering questions that simulate authentic college-level research tasks and provide familiarity with an academic library. The race also features plenty of questions that are purely for fun!

Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art

Immerse into the world of art with a tour of the newly constructed Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art . JSMOA, fondly referred to as the Crimson Cube, sits in the heart of WSU Pullman and is designed as a beacon for the arts, inviting visitors to experience the vitality of art at WSU. The museum features six galleries and offers increased access to the arts for the entire Inland Northwest region.

Physics Demonstration

This informative, yet entertaining, presentation will explore topics such a gravity, electricity, magnetism, light and thermodynamics. Attendees are offered the opportunity to observe, discuss – and possibly participate – in live physics demonstrations and experiments.

Planetarium

What’s up, doc? Hear stories and legends of the Sun, Moon, planets and stars while relaxing under a simulated sky.

Material properties testing and engineering design (beam breaking)

This workshop highlights real-world connections for students. Attendees preview both computer modeling and videos of bridge failures. They will then complete a simple experiment to determine the strength (Modulus of Rupture) of wood samples. A quick overview of the mathematical concepts involved is shared to make a clear connection to their value to experiments and engineering design. The data from visitor testing is used to predict the failure of a designed beam. The final demonstration highlights how engineers are expected to both understand and apply knowledge from many areas, specifically material properties and beam design for this experience. The predicted failure is compared and discussed by the group. It’s a good activity for all ages.

Recycling & compost Center

Learn first-hand what it means to “go green” with a tour of the WSU Pullman recycling center and why recycling is important to the campus community. Then make your way to the compost center to see how organic waste can be transformed into a useful byproduct via composting.

Student Recreation Center

Be prepared to be impressed. The Student Recreation Center is an award-winning facility with an elevated running track, seven full basketball courts, more than 200 pieces of cardio equipment, a noteworthy weight room, and aquatics area built to resemble the state of Washington, plus more! SRC staff will provided a guided tour through the facility, sharing how the space is used and what’s available to both students, faculty and staff and the public.

Robert P. Worthman anatomy Museum

Dive into the world of veterinary medicine by spending time in the Robert P. Worthman Anatomy Museum – a space that primarily functions as a study tool for veterinary students. Gain a special, behind-the-scenes look into a major part of life as a first-year veterinary student and the neat processes that allow them to learn about animals from the inside out – literally! Take advantage of the opportunity to ask questions about veterinary school and how to prepare and apply for it.

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Colonial Days Field Trip

• Local Amenities

Washington Crossing Historic Park makes the perfect site for an educational (and fun!) field trip. The park offers dedicated Colonial Days that are specially designed for students of all ages. All of our educational programs meet common core history standards, and our hands-on approach to learning means that every student has the opportunity to experience the history of our site and 18th century life. Programs are offered Tuesdays – Fridays throughout the year.

During the field trip program – which runs from 10 AM to 12:30 PM – students rotate through stations, spending 15 minutes at each stop to learn about life in colonial America and the events of Christmas Night 1776.

Book your Colonial Days field trip by emailing  [email protected] .

FWCP are please to offer funding to offset program costs for schools receiving Title I funding . Free and reduced admission is available based on the need of the school and availability of funding. We encourage you to apply early in the school year in order to take advantage of this program. Funding for this program is provided in part by a generous grant from the Church and Dwight Employee Giving Fund. For more information on this program or to apply, please email [email protected] .

Public Program Dates are customized based on the number of students signed up for each program and the grade levels of the students. Some of the Colonial Days’ activities may include:

• Participation in soldiers’ drills
• Demonstration of musket and cannon firing
• Viewing of a short video about General Washington’s daring crossing of the Delaware River
• Demonstrations of candle dipping, gardening, spinning, woodcarving and caning
• Participation in 18th century children’s games
• A visit to a working blacksmith shop
• A tour of the boat barn containing replica Durham boats
• Time for a picnic lunch overlooking the river
• Time in the park gift shop

AVAILABLE DATES

Private programs and field trips are available on other days upon request. All of the dates listed below are public program dates open to other schools. Please email  [email protected] to inquire about private programs or additional dates.

• Wednesday April 3, 2024
• Wednesday April 17, 2024
• Wednesday April 24, 2024
• Tuesday April 30, 2024
• Wednesday May 1, 2024
• Friday May 3, 2024
• Tuesday May 7, 2024
• Thursday, May 14, 2024
• Friday May 24, 2024
• Thursday June 13, 2024

BOOKING INFORMATION

• Colonial Days Field Trip availability is subject to change per DCNR program requirements
• Capacity for each day is 300 students, and bookings are taken on a first-come, first-served basis
• Cost is $11.00 per student and additional adults (Teachers and school staff are complimentary)
• A 25% deposit is required at the time of booking
• Checks should be payable to Friends of Washington Crossing Park
• Fields trips are held rain or shine and are only cancelled in cases of severe weather
• Tour cancelled due to severe weather will be postponed to a mutually agreed upon date
• Schools that cancel less than 14 days prior to their field trips will forfeit their deposit
• Please forgive our appearance due to our ongoing Capital Project renovations
• Teacher's Name * First Last
• School Name *
• Email * Enter Email Confirm Email

Call Us: (215) 493-4076 Visit Us: 1112 River Road Washington Crossing, PA 18977 Get Directions

See a Map of the Park

Historic Village Tours

Guided tours are offered Wednesday through Sunday from 10 AM to 4 PM. Tickets are required.

The grounds are open dawn to dusk for free self-guided tours.

Thompson-Neely House and Grist Mill Tours Guided tours offered Wednesday through Sunday from 10 AM to 4 PM. Tickets are required.

Bowman’s Hill Tower Admission available Wednesday through Sunday, weather permitting, from 10 AM to 4 PM. Tickets are required.

Buy Timed Tour Tickets

Visitor Center Open every day, 10 AM to 5 PM

Visitor Center Museum Shop Open every day, 10 AM to 4:30 PM

Historic Village Guided tours are offered Wednesday through Sunday from 10 AM to 4 PM. Tickets are required.

The grounds are also open dawn to dusk for free self-guided tours.

Thompson-Neely Farmstead and Grist Mill Guided tours offered Wednesday through Sunday from 10 AM to 4 PM. Tickets are required.

Bowman’s Hill Tower Admission available Wednesday through Sunday, weather permitting, from 10 AM to 4 PM. Tickets are required.

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Date: November 23 Time: 11 AM

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Educational Programs

Sharing the science and wonder of mount washington, the home of the world's worst weather., field trips.

Take learning beyond your classroom and up to the summit of Mount Washington, the “Home of the World’s Worst Weather”! The Mount Washington Observatory has partnered with the Mount Washington Cog Railway and Mt. Washington Auto Road to provide an unrivaled, innovative field trip experience for K-12 students. These field trips are designed to support NGSS Weather and Climate, and Engineering Design curricula. Our field trips are customizable with optional pre- and post-trip in-classroom content provided by our education team. Field trip programs are hosted in the late spring through early fall (winter programs are also available). Request a field trip program today!

Our field trip schedule for the end of the 2023-2024 school year is now full. Please reach out to explore dates for this summer and next school year. 

Sample Schedule

Cog Railway Example

• 9:15 am: arrive at Cog Base  
• 9:15 – 10:00am: [Base Activity]  
• 10:00 – 10:45 am: train to summit [Train Activity]  
• 10:45 am: arrive at summit  
• 10:45am – 11:45pm: [Summit Activities (weather station tour, observation deck activities, museum, lunch, outside time)]  
• 11:45 am: depart summit  
• 11:45am-12:30pm train to base [Train Activity]  
• 12:30 pm: arrive at base  
• 12:45 pm: depart for school  
• 2:00 pm: arrive at school  

Field Trip Themes

Extreme weather observations (ms-ess3-2).

How and why does weather change as you move up Mount Washington? Why is Mount Washington known as the “Home of the World’s Worst Weather”?  

Climate Zones of Mount Washington (MS-ESS2-6)

Investigate what determines a microclimate then explore Mount Washington’s three distinct climate zones, including the alpine tundra. Discover why Mount Washington’s alpine tundra is unique compared to other alpine tundra.  

Climate Change on Mount Washington (MS-ESS3-5)

How is the climate of Mount Washington changing in a warming global climate?

Engineering Design Challenge (MS-ETS1-3)

Design, build and bring your prototypes to test on Mount Washington: build a wind anemometer, wind turbine, insulated instrument enclosure or other prototype.  

Winter Field Trips

Brand new for winter 2023-2024, join MWOBS educators as we climb to tree line on Mount Washington via the Cog Railway to Waumbek Station or via the Auto Road in their snow coaches. Give your students a taste of the harsh climate of Mount Washington in winter as we explore additional program themes such as:

• Mountain Weather  
• Citizen Science Snow Observations  
• Winter Ecology

Program Fees

$300 for up to 24 students for a half-day program with dedicated MWOBS educator-guides. Additional students are $5 per student. Does not include Cog Railway or Auto Road fees. If your school group would like to tour the weather station only, please visit our weather station tours page for more information and to book.

School Memberships

Base camp (6 hours of programming).

• Discounted program rates, no mileage fees*
• Choice of program (school visit, virtual, field trip)**

Boreal Forest (10 Hours of Programming)

Tree line (15 hours of programming).

• Weather station for your school with supporting curriculum

Summit (30 Hours of Programming)

*For schools located in Grafton, Carroll, Coos County, NH and Oxford County, ME. **Does not include Cog Railway or Auto Road ticket fees.

Have a question or another program topic in mind? C ontact   us  by email   at  [email protected]   or by  phone at  603-356-2137 ext.  204.  Reserve today to ensure educator availability!  

Mount Washington Observatory is a private, nonprofit, member-supported institution with a mission to advance understanding of the natural systems that create Earth’s weather and climate. It serves this mission by maintaining a weather station on the summit of Mount Washington, performing weather and climate research, conducting innovative science education programs, and interpreting the heritage of the Mount Washington region. Our weather station is located  on the summit of Mount Washington  in New Hampshire, at Mount Washington State Park.

© Copyright 2024 | Mount Washington Observatory | All Rights Reserved | 603-356-2137

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‘This is the magical land’: Students from Central, East Valley visit Saltese Flats in scientific field trip

In the late 1800s, Bud Morrison’s grandfather drained Saltese Lake, providing a fertile acreage under the looming Mica Peak to homestead, growing hay and raising cattle.

Once one of the largest ranches in the county, the Morrison patriarch may not recognize the 300-acre section of land his family sold in 2010 to the county, which is now in the midst of restoring the wetlands .

Peering out over the marsh is the Doris Morrison Learning Center , a condition of the sale. The visitor’s center is named for Bud’s mother, a school teacher who lived to be 103 on the Greenacres ranch.

Stampeding into Doris’ legacy on Thursday were more than 100 fifth-graders from East Valley schools, eager to get their hands dirty in Spokane County’s wetland explorers field trip program.

Watching the kids clamor in, it’s everything Bud could have wanted. He’s emotional thinking of his kindhearted mother, a teacher well into her golden years.

“She’s looking down,” he said. “She would say, ‘I didn’t deserve that.’ ”

The grant-funded program lasts seven weeks; every fifth-grader from Central and East Valley school districts visited the park in that time, more than 1,500 total.

“Getting these kids outside is really important, because who knows what kind of opportunities they may or may not have to do so in other areas of their life?” Water Resources Program manager Nicki Feiten said.

“Getting that field science in the hands of them at an age that might spark an interest for their futures,” she said .

Feiten became a biologist because of a fifth-grade field trip to a county park in her home state of Wisconsin.

“That’s stuck with me forever,” Feiten said.

Funded through a $75,000 “no child left inside” grant from the state Recreation and Conservation office, kids wore waders and trudged through the marsh to test water quality, peaked at macroinvertebrates through microscopes and spied on birds with binoculars, learning about the water and ecosystem of Saltese Flats, 1,200 acres of restored wetland south of Greenacres.

The grant paid for the child-sized gear, along with training and curriculum for more than 50 teachers in the districts. While the field trips through the county will only last two years, teachers are trained with the intention that they may lead their own field trips at Saltese Flats. Gear purchased with the grant will be available at the center for teachers to borrow for these field trips.

Running the macroinvertebrates section, educational water resource specialist RaeAnn Nolander guides students in using microscopes to identify nymphs, snails and other tiny aquatic life.

“In this lesson, we talk about bugs and things that are creepy that they would normally just smash without even really thinking about it,” Nolander said. “And then suddenly they’re thinking, ‘What if you were this little, how would you like to be treated in this pipette?’ ”

Some students recoil in disgust and terror at the microscopic critters. Curiosity supersedes fear in many, and in a couple of minutes, using pipettes to collect the bugs and place them on microscope slides is the highlight of the day, as is the case for bug fan Alex Velazquez.

“I was the kind of person to just look around in concrete and find ants and pick them up,” Alex said, as Trent Elementary classmate Skylar Johnson squealed and jumped away from a microscope zoomed in on an isopod.

“That thing scared me,” Skylar said, though fear didn’t stop her from loading another critter on the microscope slide and taking a peek.

Otis Orchards student Matthew Kirichenko peered through binoculars to watch yellow-headed blackbirds spar through the reeds with their natural foe, the red-winged blackbird.

The marsh is alive with avian activity . He even caught a glimpse of a beaver diving into the swamp. He’s no stranger to nature; the avid outdoorsman hunts, fishes, builds structures and practices his survival skills on his family’s farm with his brother.

“It makes me free,” Matthew said of spending time outside. “What I like to do is go to my hunting place; that’s what I like to do outside … better than sitting in a chair and playing those video games. That’s what I don’t like.”

Educators hope the hands-on experience instills in the young scholars the importance of healthy stewardship of the natural world.

In seeing the active restoration of Saltese Flats, they learn progress is in their hands as much as environmental degradation.

“We have this water here because we’re restoring it,” said Laura Goff, educational water resource specialist. “We can damage the environment – we can also bring it back. We can restore it. We can be positive agents in our community.”

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WSU Field Crop Tours Throughout June

Mark your calendar for the 2024 WSU field crop tours this spring. The schedule has been released–changes do happen, so make sure you check the WSU Small Grains event calendar before each event for updates.

A couple of things to highlight:

We are again hosting a field day at the WSU Spillman Research Farm on June 24 at 3:00 p.m. We’ll be meeting at the Sheaf Building and a meal will be sponsored by the Whitman County Association of Wheat Growers at the conclusion of the field day. Those on the prelimdata listserv will receive an official agenda closer to the time–you can join the listserv by emailing Clark Neely .

The WSU Extension Dryland Cropping Systems Team is hosting a Wheat Academy Road Show this year on June 18. The event will consist of a bus tour with stops at multiple trials and crops in Walla Walla and Columbia Counties. Tour stops will include field trials of wheat, barley, canola, and field peas along with an AgWeatherNet station. Other topics will be covered on the bus in route to trials. More details are forthcoming.

For questions or comments, contact Clark Neely via email at  [email protected]  or mobile phone at (814) 571-5628.

School opens for Quincy students stuck in Everett after shooting closes I-5 for hours

by Joel Moreno, KOMO News Reporter

EVERETT, Wash. — An I-5 road rage incident turned fatal trooper-involved shooting left all northbound lanes closed for nearly eight hours late Thursday. Among those stuck in the lengthy backups were three school buses filled with fourth graders from a school in Quincy.

The students were in the area on a field trip but ended up trapped in their buses for hours. Finally, the chaperones reached out to law enforcement and Everett police responded.

RELATED | Video shows I-5 road rage incident in Everett before trooper fatally shoots man

“The police department did a police escort. They had to U-turn on Broadway in that traffic the three buses, so the police escorted the kids back here,” said Kelly Shepherd, the principal at Everett High School.

The officers also got food for the kids, and the children, who had brought sleeping bags with them, spent the night at the gym at Everett High School. The food service workers even provided breakfast for them on Friday morning before they continued on their way.

“I think it was just a true team effort from the police department, from our school, our school district, our departments in our district to just ensure that kids and staff had what they needed,” Shepherd said.

According to the Snohomish County Multiple Agency Response Team (SMART), troopers responded to a road rage incident on the shoulder of I-5 near Marine View Drive (milepost 197) in Everett just after 4 p.m. Thursday.

SMART spokesperson Courtney O'Keefe said the man had rammed a Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) contractor vehicle and a lift that was on the shoulder of the interstate. The lift had two WSDOT contractors with Atkinson Construction onboard and was operating over the slough.

Video recorded by KOMO News from a WSDOT traffic camera shortly after the incident began shows some type of physical altercation between the man and at least two WSDOT contractors on the side of I-5 before the deadly shooting. O'Keefe confirmed to KOMO News the altercation was the result of a road rage incident.

A WSP trooper can be seen in the video pulling up to the scene on the other side of the interstate as the man runs across the roadway.

The SMART said the man was armed with a hammer and “an altercation ensued between the suspect, WSDOT contractors, and a Washington State Patrol trooper.” The man was shot by the trooper during the altercation.

Law enforcement gave the man first aid, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. The WSDOT contractor who was assaulted suffered non-life-threatening injuries, according to the SMART.

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Field Trip: Capital Adventures Guide To Washington, DC

Exploring the high points in Washington, DC.

Jeffrey Tiu

If you’re hunting for spectacular sights and tasty bites, our Washington, D.C. field trip guide has you covered.

We’ve hand-picked standout spots that promise memorable experiences, from top-notch cannabis shops to iconic dining destinations.

Shop For Your Sesh at District Cannabis Dispensary

District Cannabis stands at one of the best cannabis stores in DC.

As a family-owned business and award-winning cannabis cultivator,  District Cannabis  has its roots deep in DC. They pride themselves on offering high-quality cannabis products at prices everyone can afford. Instead of a flashy facade, you’ll meet quality, knowledgeable staff who care about your cannabis experience just as much as you do.

Herb’s Flower Choice:  Gelato Cake Flower —If you’re in need of some bud, the gelato cake strain is the ideal choice for an inspiring, mellow, and laidback high. A cross between Wedding Cake and Gelato 33, Gelato Cake tastes grapey with hints of kerosene and cognac.

Gelato Cake Flower

Herb’s Pre-Roll Choice:  Spritzer Pre-Roll Pack (6 Pack) – These hybrid pre-rolls cross the famous Runtz with Grape Pie and MAC. They’re incredibly flavorful and taste like a seamless mix of berries, citrus, and classic gas. Many users report using this strain for stress relief, mood elevation, and light focus.

Spritzer Pre-Rolls 0.5g

Herb’s Gummies Choice: Blood Orange Troche 20mg THC  (10 Pieces) – Made from locally grown cannabis, these gummies taste zesty and only have 1g of sugar per piece. Expect mild to high levels of euphoria paired with a moderate feeling of relaxation.

Chewable Troches

Location: 515 Morse St. NE, Washington, DC 20002 (Union Market Cannabis Dispensary)

Hours: Monday-Thursday: 11am – 8pm; Friday-Saturday: 10:30am – 8:30pm, Sunday: 10am – 6pm

Phone: +1 202-597-7012

Fine Dine At Pineapple And Pearls

Photo Courtesy: Pineapple and Pearls DC Official Instagram

Pineapples and Pearls  offer a unique fusion of high-end dining with the vibrancy of a party atmosphere reminiscent of Studio 54. Since its 2016 opening by chef Aaron Silverman, this fine-dining hotspot has garnered praise and has been a consistent Michelin-star restaurant since 2017.

With a fixed five-course meal with playful “gifts” between courses, expect standout dishes like beet and saffron crepes filled with crème fraîche and caviar.

Reservations are required for this $325 per-person experience, which promises to leave an exceptional impression on you.

Address: 715 8th Street SE, Washington, DC 20003

Hours: Wednesday-Thursday: 6pm – 9pm, Friday-Saturday: 5pm – 10pm

Phone: +1 202-595-7375

Catch Some Views At The National Mall

Photo by: Matti Blume/Wikipedia

Stretching from the steps of the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial, the  National Mall  is a hub of political and historical significance that offers some of the best views in the city.

As you walk along the Mall, you’ll pass by monuments and memorials that tell the story of America’s heritage, including the Washington Monument, the World War II Memorial, and the Reflecting Pool.

The National Mall also hosts tons of activities – you’ll find everything from peaceful protests to lively festivals. Or, if wanting to stay away from the crowd, there are many spots to enjoy a relaxing picnic or simply bask in the beauty around you.

Up, Up, And Off to Space With the National Air And Space Museum

Photo Courtesy: www.airandspace.si.edu

This Smithsonian institution captivates visitors with its incredible collection of aircraft and spacecraft—the largest in the world. The exhibits cover the full spectrum of human flight and space exploration, from the original Wright Brothers flyer to the awe-inspiring Apollo 11 command module.

Plus, the museum keeps things interactive, hosting hands-on activities that bring the science behind aeronautics to life. Expect a genuinely engaging, educational journey.

Whether you’re touching actual moon rocks or marveling at the technology that propelled humans to the stars, the  National Air and Space Museum  delivers you a truly fascinating experience.

Location: 600 Independence Ave SW, Washington, DC 20560

Hours: Monday-Sunday, 10am – 530pm

Phone: +1 202-633-2214

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Quad Cities International Airport could soon be adding more routes, officials say

MOLINE, Ill. (KWQC) - The Quad Cities International Airport could soon be adding more routes. Officials with the airport said they’ll be making a trip to Washington, D.C. for a conference to talk with the airline network planners about possible airline routes in the Quad Cities.

The air service conference allows the opportunity for the airport to meet with airlines face-to-face while networking and advocating for the QCA region, officials said. The airport’s public relations and marketing director said there’s a lot of factors that are in play when discussing these possible routes.

“Business travel really is the most important factor that they look at because it’s the most consistent and predictable,” said Ashleigh Davis, Public Relations and Marketing Director at Q.C. International Airport. “Leisure travel people could go anywhere in the world, maybe once every couple of years, maybe once a year, but they really rely on those business travelers that consistently fill a plane to a major hub, and that helps them decide what makes the most sense. We go to these meeting trying to be the best advocate that we can for our region, but it really comes down to economic development, and the story that we’re able to tell on our region’s growth and future.”

Davis says airlines have complete control over decision making when it comes to adding new routes and she says those decisions could take months and even years to be made.

Copyright 2024 KWQC. All rights reserved.

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