Seattle doesn’t have as much rainfall as you might expect (max.ku/Shutterstock) Orcas is a dream for those who love hiking, kayaking, and other outdoor pursuits. Orcas Island: Part of the San Juan Islands, which are famous for their beauty and natural settings.If you’re looking for a small town to stay in, give Langley a look. Whidbey Island is larger and features a growing wine community. Whidbey Island: Located next to Camano Island, but is generally easiest to reach by using a ferry that departs from Mukilteo.The island also has a growing arts community. Camano Island: Accessible from Seattle in little more than an hour without needing to take a ferry, Camano Island is a rural island with several public beaches and parks located along its shores.A few of our favorite island destinations include: you’ll find rocky shorelines with views of both the Cascade and Olympic Mountains. In general, the islands are more rural and extremely scenic. In total, there are 35 major islands in Puget Sound, and most are accessible either by bridge connections or ferries. We just discussed how Puget Sound is filled with islands. Puget Sound is filled with islands that are often very rural and scenic Several whale-watching boats also depart from Seattle’s waterfront. The Victoria Clipper departs from downtown and moves customers from Seattle to Victoria, British Columbia at speeds of 36 knots. It has restaurants and shops near the ferry terminal and is a popular destination for cyclists who take a ferry from Seattle and enjoy more scenic bike rides on the island.īeyond the state-run ferry system, there are other boat rides that may appeal to you. Bainbridge in particular is an excellent day trip. Puget Sound is far too wide and deep to create bridges across it in most areas, so Seattle has built a ferry fleet to carry cars and people to surrounding islands and peninsulas.įrom downtown Seattle, you can hop ferries that take you to areas like Bainbridge Island and Bremerton. Seattle sits on Puget Sound, a body of water that was carved by glaciers and created a number of islands and deep inlets and bays. Washington State maintains a fleet of ferries that cross Puget Sound (Clifford Wayne Estes/Shutterstock) Its a pedestrian-friendly street that connects Seattle’s ferry terminals to Pike Place Market and features several hidden restaurants, shops, and even has some wonderful areas to sit down and enjoy a meal or drink and people watch. Staring at thousands of pieces of discarded gum might not sound like your cup of tea ( it makes me a bit queasy), but the Gum Wall is on Post Alley, which is a fun spot to visit. There are even places where people have used gum to create impromptu “artwork.” There are places where the gum is several inches thick and reaches up to 20 feet above street level. Over the years the Gum Wall spread to cover more than 100 feet in length.Ĭity officials cleaned the wall in 2015, but it quickly grew back. Located near Pike Place in Post Alley, the Gum Wall began in the 1990s when patrons of a local theater began filling a wall with gum. Seattle has several unusual attractions it’s known for ( we’ll get to a giant troll later), but the Gum Wall might take the cake. Coffee ShopsĪfter being melted the gum wall has returned (ARTY00RAN/Shuterstock) Thankfully, geologists closely monitor the mountain and any major eruption would be accompanied by warning signs. It last erupted in 1894, and it’s only a matter of time before it erupts again. One last fact that makes Rainier unique: it’s an active volcano. If you’re really outdoorsy, more than 10,000 people attempt to summit Rainier every summer. Mount Rainier National Park is filled with trails and other outdoor activities and hosts 2 million visitors every year. The area around Mount Rainier is a National Park today. Trust us when we say seeing Rainier on a clear day from Seattle is an awe-inspiring view. That is, while many mountains are part of ranges of near identical peak heights, Rainer rises from a little above sea level to its incredible heights. The mountain stands 14,417 feet tall, which is less than 100 feet shorter than the tallest mountain in the continental United States (Mount Whitney).īeyond being a fixture of Seattle’s skyline, what makes Rainier so famous is its prominence. Mount Rainier is a nearly ever-present site during Seattle summers.
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