15 Unique Things to Add to Your Washington State Summer Bucket List

1. Eat Pike Place Clam Chowder

I do not consider myself a seafood person. I am super duper picky when it comes to fish and how it’s prepared and the texture in my mouth.

If you were to ask me, I would tell you that I don’t eat clams UNLESS it’s in a chowder, camouflaged by cream and potatoes!

Enter Pike Place Clam Chowder! A soup I actually crave and unashamedly swear is the best clam chowder in the world (even though I’ve only had like 3 others). It’s creamy, not fishy, and has all the right flavorings. My favorite way to eat it is in a bread bowl!

There is always a long line waiting for this famous chow in Post Alley in Pike Place Market. Don’t be surprised if you are waiting 30 minutes.

If you take a Pike Place Food Tour you can bypass the line as your guide gets priority of the samples.

2. Whale Watching

The Puget Sound is full of orcas, gray whales, and passing humpback whales so of course there are whale watching tours to take!

Whale watching tours depart from several locations including Seattle, Anacortes, Port Townsend, and the San Juan Islands. 

You’ll be guided by naturalists who provide commentary about the whales and other wildlife you might encounter, such as sea lions, seals, or bald eagles.

Tours typically last between 3 to 6 hours, which is longer than other whale tours you might be used to like in Hawaii or Mexico. 

3. Sniff Wildflowers in Mount Rainier National Park

You’ve probably seen the iconic photos of wildflowers that grace the Paradise subalpine meadows in Mount Rainier National Park. Not only is it an Instagram-worthy location, it’s also easy hiking.

There are a few different trails to choose from, all under 2 miles roundtrip, some even paved. The wildflowers are such a colorful accent to the mountainous backdrop. 

You’ll also have waterfalls to look at as bonuses.

Get to the Henry M. Jackson Memorial Visitor Center as your starting point and choose your (trail) adventure from there.

⚠️ Don’t Forget! Timed reservations are required ahead of time to enter the park.

4. Troll Hunting

In 2023, Danish artist Thomas Dambo came to the PNW to create 6 giant Northwest Trolls made from recycled materials. 

Five of these whimsical trolls are in the Seattle area:

• Ballard
• West Seattle
• Issaquah
• Bainbridge Island
• Vashon Island

The sixth one is in Oregon.

The trolls are giant pieces of art incorporated into the surrounding natural foliage, almost like they had grown there. Some are easily accessible by parking your car and walking a few hundred feet to get to them. A couple take a little bit of (easy) walking.

I made a challenge for myself to see all 5 trolls in one day, but I highly DON’T recommend it! It was exhausting and slightly stressful trying to catch all the ferries. Plus, I wasn’t able to enjoy spending time on Vashon Island and Bainbridge Island.

💁‍♀️ Tab’s Trip Tip: I suggest spending at least two days to see them, or spread each troll out throughout the summer to combine with other items on your summer bucket list.

5. River Tubing in Leavenworth

My own summer tradition is river tubing the Wenatchee River in Leavenworth. It’s the epitome of summertime fun. 

A van drops you upstream with floating tubes and then you’re on your own, floating for a relaxing 1-2hrs below the towering North Cascade mountains. It’s usually blazing hot as well so the cool water is refreshing.

Most of the river is relatively shallow and safe, though some sections get a little sketch and exciting, depending on the river levels and time of year. 

You can milk your float trip for all it’s worth by packing a picnic and stopping on a pebbly beach for a meal before getting back in the water. 

💁‍♀️ Tab’s Trip Tip: Start your float late morning before it gets unbearable hot and to avoid the crowds

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☀️ Summer Things to Do in Leavenworth

6. Island Hop

Washington has many islands to visit, some you can drive to and others require a ferry. Summertime is the best time to hit them up and enjoy day trips or weekend getaways.

🤔 Did You Know? Washington State Ferries is the largest ferry system in the US. 

Here are some things you can find on the different islands around the Puget Sound and Salish Sea:

• San Juan Island: lavender farm, American and British forts from the Civil War-era, whale watching, Scoot Coupe rental, distillery, brewery, sculpture park
• Orcas Island: waterfalls, winery, brewery, kayaking, whale watching, farmers market, Mt Constitution
• Lopez Island: ice cream, tree climbing, winery, whale watching
• Whidbey Island: brewery, meadery, 19th century fort, wild animal encounter, Deception Pass Bridge, mushroom hunting tour, second oldest town in the state, drive-in theatre
• Fidalgo Island: Mt Erie, outdoor rock climbing, brewery, ferry to Guemes Island, festivals
• Vashon Island:  cidery that makes perry, Northwest troll, lighthouse, bike “eaten” by tree, lavender farm, winery, brewery, Strawberry Festival
• Bainbridge Island: distillery, Northwest troll, art museum, brewery, history museum, winery, farmers market

Of course, each island also offers plenty of hiking trails and opportunities to get out on the water like kayaking, paddle boarding, boating, and fishing.

7. Relax in Hot Springs 

Surprisingly, there are a few hot springs to be found in Washington State. Some are privately owned (meaning reservations and/or payments), others are just hot pools of water sitting out in nature all by their lonesome!

Before the road was washed out for easy access, I got to visit Olympic Hot Springs in the Olympic National Park. We arrived early enough in the day that there weren’t too many people yet and were able to have a pool all to ourselves.

I found it extremely exhilarating and magical to hike through a forest and come across little pools of hot springs scattered across the hillside. 

I’ve been to other hot springs in Canada, Hawaii, and Costa Rica, but this was my favorite experience.

Here’s a list of some hot springs you can find in Washington:

• Olympic Hot Springs – 20 mile hike
• Baker Hot Springs – 0.5 mile hike
• Goldmyer Hot Springs (private) – 10 mile hike
• Scenic Hot Springs (private) – 4 mile hike
• Sol Duc Hot Springs (private) – resort

8. Pedal Vance Creek Railriders

With Vance Creek Railriders you get to pedal a 4-seated flatbed railcart across the historic Simpson Logging Company Railway tracks. 

A caravan of these carts are led by guides through 13 miles of thick, evergreen forests and across bridges over salmon-filled creeks. You’ll pedal 6.5 miles from “Camp 1” towards Shelton then turn around using the rail turntables before pedaling back the way you came. 

The entire tour takes about 2 hours.

It’s a mostly easy pedal but they do offer a pedal assist if needed.

This one has been on my bucket list for years!

9. Spelunk in Ape Cave 

When I hear the word “lava tube” I think of the Big Island Hawaii and all the awesome caves to hike there. But surprisingly, Washington has its own lava tube and it’s the third longest lava tube in North America.

Ape Cave is a lava tube formed by a Mt St Helens eruption about 2,000 years ago. (No, there are no apes in the cave :P)

There are two paths to take: Lower Ape Cave and Upper Ape Cave.

• Lower Cave: This part of the cave is relatively easy and family friendly. It’s about 0.75 miles long and takes about an hour to go through.
• Upper Cave: This part of the cave is more challenging and extends for about 1.5 miles, taking about 2hrs to hike through. It involves boulder hopping and scaling an 8-foot lava fall (with a rope assist). 

You will need strong flashlights or headlamps as the caves are unlit. It can also be a cool 42 degrees Fahrenheit so wear warm clothing.

I hate to admit it, but I had more fun hiking through Ape Cave than any lava tube on the Big Island 🤫

⚠️ Don’t Forget! Be sure to make your reservation for entry in advance, time slots do sell out weeks in advance.  

10. Drink Wine by Lake Chelan

There are around 40 wineries and tasting rooms along the shores of Lake Chelan. Each winery specializes in different wines (obviously) and offer different ambiences for enjoying a glass of vino.

Some tasting rooms have cozy rooms with comfy chairs and fireplaces while others have outdoor patios with epic lake views.

It’s pretty hard to pick a wrong winery, but I really enjoyed:

• Tsillan Cellars
• Sigillo Cellars
• Benson Vineyards
• Karma Vineyards

💁‍♀️ Tab’s Trip Tip: I suggest taking a long weekend to visit Lake Chelan and being able to pace yourself as you wine hop around the lake.

11. Pet Kangaroos at Outback Kangaroo Farm

I don’t associate kangaroos with Washington, but there is in fact an Outback Kangaroo Farm in Arlington. 

I couldn’t believe I could actually walk up and just pet the kangaroos. They were so docile and…dog-like. 

But there’s more than just kangaroos at this farm you can interact with. They also have:

• Wallabies
• Wallaroos
• Rabbits
• Llamas
• Lemurs
• Alpacas
• Nigerian Dwarf Goats
• Peacocks
• Mini Donkeys
• Parrots
• Emus

They offer guided tours a few times a day, no reservations are necessary, so just show up.

12. See Palouse Falls

Washington state’s official waterfall is Palouse Falls (not Snoqualmie Falls like I woulda thought would be it). 

The reason Palouse Falls should be on your bucket list is because it’s actually a bit cumbersome to get to as it’s smack dab in the middle of Nowhere, Washington. You’ll be driving in nothing for miles and yet, in the middle of this nothing is a very impressive waterfall cascading into a canyon.

You can also camp overnight here to make the visit more worthwhile.

⚠️ Don’t Forget! A Discover Pass is required to enter the park.

13. Hike Big Four Ice Caves

Before I lived in Alaska, I was first introduced to glaciers as a kid at Big Four Ice Caves. It’s an easy 2-mile out and back trail with only a 200ft elevation gain to a small glacier that perpetually has holes in it, aka “caves”. 

It’s a great way to see snow in the summer and something unique to hike to besides a waterfall or lookout.

⚠️ Danger Alert: DO NOT GO INTO THE CAVES as this is an active glacier with ice breaking off at random times; people have died in these caves.

14. Watch a Civil War Reenactment

While the Civil War battles occurred on the opposite end of the country, there are still dedicated volunteers who like to reenact those fights and relive the lifestyle of the mid-19th century right here in Washington state.

Throughout the summer, the Washington Civil War Association puts on reenactments around the state. 

I had so much fun wandering between both the Union and Confederate camps, talking to people dressed in period clothing, and learning about what life was like during that era. 

I even got to volunteer as tribute to be a “patient” in need of an amputation!

Then of course, the big production is a fake battle between the opposing camps, with an MC narrating to the crowds what is happening out on the field. 

It really does bring history to life.

15. Visit Stadium High School

One of my favorite travel themes is finding film locations and visiting Stadium High School in Tacoma was one of those locations that hit me emotionally. 

If you’re a fan of “10 Things I Hate About You” then Stadium High School is a must-see! It’s the high school filming location in the movie and is just as impressive in person, if not more. 

It almost feels like Hogwarts with its brick walls and castle-like turrets. But we all know why we want to visit: Stadium Bowl, the high school football field. Yes, the very field from the iconic scene of Heath Ledger dancing and singing on the stadium seating to woo Julia Stiles.

I almost cried as I stood on those concrete step seating imagining that I was really there and knowing that Heath Ledger stood on these very steps. I also got a little bit of vertigo because those seats are STEEP! I don’t know how he danced on them without breaking his neck!