The beautiful Seattle is a fantastic place to live with tons of things to do and see, including its thriving tech scene, artsy vibes, mountain views and water front neighborhoods. However, even the ultimate city lovers would agree that sometimes life in a big hub can wear you out. When you feel like it’s time to get away for a little bit and recharge, it’s an awesome idea to treat yourself to a great day trip from Seattle and explore some calmer, yet equally beautiful places.
With a prime location in the Pacific Northwest, Seattle is not only surrounded by water and forest but also by other cool cities with amazing nature reserves, vibrant nightlife and great food scenes that make perfect destinations for a short weekend getaway or even a day trip from Seattle. Here, we give you a snippet of the many awesome places and hidden gems you can find when you’re ready to take a break from the big city and visit surrounding towns like Bellingham or Tacoma in Washington, or even adventure across the Canadian border and get to know Vancouver, BC.
Bellingham, WA
Like much of the Pacific Northwest, Bellingham is a paradise for nature lovers. With tons of parks, gardens and hiking trails within the city limits, you won’t need to go too far to dive deep into an outdoor adventure outside of Seattle. Whatcom Falls Park is a must-stop if you are looking for beautiful views and waterfalls. There is also plenty to see if you are an art lover. Bellingham has many art galleries where you can appreciate the creations of local artists like Artwood, Whatcom Artist studios, Western Gallery and Lucia Douglas Art Gallery but that’s just a snippet of all the fun and relaxing activities you can discover there.
Click here to read our full guide to Bellingham and plan a best day trip outside of Seattle area!
Tacoma, WA
If you are looking for a dream-like location for an afternoon stroll, you must visit Swan Creek Park, a beautiful wooded green space that offers hiking trails, mountain biking, streams and more. Later, get into town to discover Tacoma’s blooming food scene. Viva 4 Life and Marrow Tacoma are two iconic eateries that feature locally sourced ingredients, fusion recipes and plant-based dishes. Also, Moctezuma’s Mexican Restaurant is a great place to check out if you are into tacos, margaritas and other Mexican goodness.
Click here to discover more fun things to do in Tacoma, one of the best destinations for Seattle day trip!
Vancouver, BC
Vancouver is one the most fun hub in Canada and it’s well-known for its natural beauty. If you take a couple of days and take a weekend trip from Seattle here, you’ll find tons’ beautiful places to visit: green areas like Stanley Park, the Vancouver Aquarium, and excellent eateries like 33 Acres and The Foundation. Also, make sure you spend some time at the iconic shopping district Granville Island. But there’s more – if you are one for adventure, stop by the Capilano Suspension Bridge where you can walk across the river while suspended 230 feet in the air!
Click here to read more about our favorite places in Vancouver and then plan your outing to this Pacific gem. There is more!
There is more!
We asked some of our favorite travel and lifestyle bloggers for suggestions on additional destinations, attractions and things to do in the Seattle area to have an amazing time even if it’s just for a day. Check out their recommendations and experiences below.
Westport, WA
Life and style blogger Angie of Chasing My Halo recently went on a trip outside of Seattle to Westport, WA and detailed every step of it, giving you a glimpse into the life in his quaint Washington town and the numerous places and attractions that you should check out, like Gray’s Harbor Lighthouse and the Maritime Museum, to name just a few.
Click here to read about Angie’s adventures through Westport!
Around Seattle in a day
Food and travel blogger Crysta of Dancing with Fireflies recently did a piece on various cool places, attractions and events to visit in the Seattle area within a day, including fun ferry boat rides, must-see waterfalls and delectable wine tastings.
Click here to check out Crysta’s suggestions for a good time right outside of Seattle!
Olympia, WA
Bucket list and travel blogger Shelly of The Goal List went on a trip to Washington state’s capital city of Olympia and she has put together a list of various places of interest that you should visit when in town, including must-see monuments that would appeal to the history buff in you, as well as some awesome eateries to satisfy your local cuisine cravings.
Click here to read about Shelly’s adventures around Olympia!
Nearby Parks & Islands
Food & travel blogger Kimberly of Plethora, Etc. is doing a whole series of interesting local gems you can discover and admire on a short day trip from Seattle. From the numerous islands in the Emerald City vicinity to awesome national and state parks that are bound to make you appreciate nature even more, Kimberly is telling you all that you need to know to enjoy a perfect getaway within a day’s time.
Click here to read about Kimberly’s suggestions for parks and beaches you can easily travel to in the Seattle area.
Click here to check out Kimberly’s preferred island destinations around Seattle.
As you can see, there are many amazing places you can visit during a day trip or a weekend getaway from Seattle. You only need to hop on a bus and set your adventure spirit free.
Visit Wanderu.com to book the cheapest bus tickets from Seattle to Tacoma, Bellingham or Vancouver and many other destinations. Comment above with your experiences and travel suggestions outside of Seattle!
