By Lauren Rice
Lake Chelan
Nestled right on the edge of the Cascades, Lake Chelan has become a very popular summer destination for many residents on the west side of the state. The crystal clear blue lake it a big draw for many vacationers who flock to the lake during the summer months. The city if Chelan itself goes from 4,000 residents during the winter to 25,000 over the summer months. The lake has 3 communities that encompass it; Chelan, Manson and Stehekin. While you can get to both Chelan and Manson by car, Stehekin is only accessible by boat, or by foot or horseback. With 300 days of sun, Lake Chelan offers numerous recreational activities during the summer; skiing, wake boarding, hiking, biking, and fishing. There is lots of family fun to be had with miniature golf, go karts and a water slide park. Of course you can expect a vibrant nightlife during the summer, there is a reason you will “What happens in Chelan, stays in Chelan.” You will hear many people refer to the shenanigans they get into has “Chelanigans,” there is even a bar named after it. Lake Chelan truly has it all and it one of the quintessential summer destinations in Washington.
Leavenworth
Looking for a little Bavaria in Washington? Well look no further than Leavenworth, WA. Head east on Hwy 2, suddenly you will find Leavenworth a little village right under the shadow of the Cascades. The whole town has a German theme, with the whole town decorated in ornate woodwork and Bavarian motifs. In town you will find various German restaurants, bakeries, chocolate shop, gifts shop that sell nutcrackers and cuckoo clocks, and of course many breweries. Go to Gustav’s if you are craving some bratwurst and wash it down with some beer from Icicle Brewing Company. Leavenworth is an outdoor lovers paradise, the town offers numerous recreational activities during the winter and fall. During the summer you can enjoy camping, climbing, kayaking, hiking, rafting, horseback riding, paddle boarding, river tubing and zip-lining. There are numerous places to stay right in the village, including the Icicle Inn which is a great place to bring the kids with the putt-putt golf course and arcade. With so many outdoor activities, Leavenworth makes a great get away for the outdoor lover.
Forks
You may not find any vampires, but you will find a beautiful place full of dense forests and picturesque waterfronts. The city of Forks, Wa is now well known as the town where Stephanie Meyer based her popular teen fiction series, Twilight. Fans of the series from all over flock from to Forks to walk in the shoes of Bella and Edward. You can tell the moment you enter Forks, that the city has embraced the Twilight fandom. You will see signs that say “No Vampires Beyond this Point” and “Edwards Cullen Was Here.” Bella’s red truck sits in front of the visitor center for fans to take their pictures and many restaurants feature Twilight themed menu items. Regardless of whether you are a fan of Twilight, everyone in Washington needs to take a trip to La Push at least once in their life. Just 14 miles west from Forks you will find La Push, home of the Quileute tribe. The area is known for its natural beauty and rugged coastline, it will surely take your breath away.
Whidbey Island
Just 30 miles North of Seattle and ferry ride away you will find the 40th-largest island in the United States, Whidbey Island. The island is perfect picture of what life is like out in the Puget Sound, being surrounded by miles of beaches. Being 45 miles in length, Whidbey Island is the longest island in the continental United States and boasts 148 miles of shoreline. Some beaches are easy to walk to such as Oak Harbor’s city beach, and others are only accessible by boat. Kayaking is a great way to experience the Island life and see the local wild life. If you love to bike then Whidbey Island is a cyclists dream. With State route 525 and Highway 20 serving as scenic byways, this keeps drivers on the main roads. This leaves the many roads that line the waterfront less traveled, making it perfect for cyclists who want to enjoy picturesque views of the Puget Sound. Stop by Fort Casey while you are there. Although the Fort never did see any action, the fort was built as part of a military strategy called the “Triangle of Fire,” but was already outdated by the time it was finished with the invention of planes. Get an up close look at the disappearing guns that served as mobile defense for trains in Europe during WWII, you can see the shrapnel marks that remain. If you love the paranormal, explore the spooky looking chambers and tunnels that are below ground.
Ellensburg
Did you ever want to experience the old west? Well then look no further than Ellensburg, WA where the spirit of the West is still alive, heck it is even home to an annual gathering of Cowboys. Ellesnburg is most well-known for the Rodeo it hosts every Labor Day Weekend. The Rodeo was founded in 1923 and brings in more than 25,000 fans to the city over a four day period. The whole city becomes full of hustle and bustle of the Rodeo madness, you are sure to find every bar down town packed every night. Looking for a more relax weekend go to Ellensburg? Although it may be known for being a cowboy town, Jazz is also very popular in the Kittitas Valley. Ellensburg host Jazz in The Valley at the end of July, with this year being the 18th annual festival. Do you love Dachsunds? Well then take a trip to Dachsunds on Parade, when the heart of downtown Ellensburg is turned into a Dachsund paradise. If you love the outdoors there are many places to hike, bike and swim. Hike up Manashtash Ridge for some great views of the valley. Ellensburg also has many bars for such a tiny downtown, hit up the Tav for a Tav Burger and to enjoy the beer garden. Stop by the Iron Horse micropub for some locally brewed beers; if dancing is your thing you can head on over to Club 301; and for your late night munchie needs there is always Pizza Colin and Hot Diggity Dog. With so many events during the summer, numerous outdoor activities and lively downtown Ellensburg is definitely worth a trip this summer
Orcas Island
Known to locals as the “gem of the San Juans,” the horse shoe shaped Orcas Island is the largest of the San Juan Islands and features some stunning scenery. Orcas Island is a great place to get lost and immerse yourself in nature. The island is home to one of the nation’s most beautiful parks the 5,252 acre Moran State Park. The park alone has five lakes and 38 miles of hiking trails. While at the park you can either drive, bike or hike up Mount Constitution, the San Juan Island’s highest point. Once you make it to the top of Mt. Constitution you will find the stone observation tower, built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1936. From the tower you can sweeping views of the surrounding Islands, The Cascades and Mt. Baker. At the heart of the Island nestled right on top of a fjord, you’ll find Eastsound. The village is a walkers paradise with art galleries, boutiques, cafes, visitor attractions and restaurants lining the streets. South of Eastsound on the south east corner of the Island is the Doe Bay Resort. The Resort is now home to the Doe Bay Fest, featuring music, camping and activities all weekend long in the picturesque setting of Orcas Island.
Ocean Shores
Known as Washington’s favorite beach getaway, Ocean Shores is a little over a 2 1/3 hour drive from Seattle. Ocean Shores features plenty of fun at the beach with a huge expanse of sandy Pacific Ocean Beach to enjoy. You are sure to find plenty of activities to do, you can comb for treasures along the beach, go clam digging (depending on the season), fly a kite (there is even a kite flying festival in June), bike, take a horseback ride along the shoreline or even explore all the interconnecting waterways and lakes by kayak. There is also plenty of fun for the kids with mini golf, go karts and an Arcade. You’ll find yourself going from one activity to the next. Ocean Shores is also home to plenty of live music to enjoy after a day at the beach, from rock and roll to country you are sure to find something up your alley. The Galway Bay Irish Pub and Restaurant, is the Pacific Northwest’s largest Irish pub and features live music daily. The pub is also home to the largest Irish Music Festival on the West Coast which it hosts every year in October. If you like Pirates then take a stop by Pirates Cove Pub, a nautical themed bar where they host Pirate Club meetings every Saturday and host an annual gathering of Pirates. Ocean Shores truly has tons of fun at the beach to offer and makes for the perfect beach getaway in Washington
Walla Walla
Walla Walla, a town so nice they named it twice. Walla Walla is the largest city in Walla Walla County and is well known for its sweet onions and more recently, wineries. There are more than a 100 wineries to explore in Walla Walla, making it the perfect destination for wine aficionados; it has even been referred to as the next “next Napa Valley.” The Historic Downtown Walla Walla is also very charming and walkable as well. You will find many boutiques, cafés, restaurants, public art and wine tasting rooms as you stroll along Main Street. Of course being in Washington there are plenty of outdoor activities to enjoy, from cycling through the rural farm roads that meander along rolling valleys; to fishing and hunting; and bird watching. Another great reason to visit Walla Walla this Summer, The Gentleman of The Road tour will be stopping by Walla Walla this summer. Foo Fighters, Mumford and Sons and The Flaming Lips are all among the headliners. The festival is great reason to go visit Walla Walla and experience the charm that it has, while rocking out to Foo Fighters.
Long Beach
Long Beach is located south of Ocean Shores right on the coast. It boast 28 miles of sandy beach, you may even feel like you have it all to yourself with such an open playground. Long beach offers tons of fun for the whole family with carousel and carnival rides. There are also plenty of fun activities to enjoy along the beach. Take a walk along the boardwalk for some incredible views of the ocean and beach. Walk under the boardwalk and you’ll find the Discovery trail which travels through the dunes of north Long Beach. For the History Buffs, Cape Disappointment offers hiking paths that follow the same trail Lewis and Clark took to survey the ocean. If you like a weird and unusual attraction, Long Beach sure does have quite a few. Check out the ugly mermaid statue, so ugly that the town was embarrassed by her so they moved her from the city center and she now serves as the mascot at the Mermaid Inn. Long Beach also happens to be home to the world’s largest frying pan, built in 1941 to celebrate the annual Clam Festival. Next to you the world’s largest frying pan of course you will find the giant squirting razor clam. Then venture on over to the unofficial sister to Seattle’s Olde Curiosity Shop, Marsh’s Free Museum. While there check out the museum’s star attraction the bizarre reptile-human hybrid, Jake the Alligator Man.
Point Roberts
Point Roberts is a bit of an oddity, it is a part of the United States but yet completely cut off from it. As you probably know the border with Canada runs right along the 49th parallel, crossing west through Boundary Bay, Point Roberts sits south of the line making it a little bit of BC that belongs to the US. The only way to get there is by crossing the border north into Canada, then by taking BC-99 North then taking exit 26 to BC-17, then crossing yet another border back into the United States. Being sparsely populated Point Roberts features numerous outdoor activities. Point Roberts is great for bird watching and is home to about 20 nesting eagles, there are also 170 species of bird that migrate through or live Point Roberts. Lighthouse Marine Park is one of the best places for Whale Watching. Throughout the summer months three local pods pass close by the shore. This is a great place to see some thrilling glimpses of Orca whales as they surface to breathe while swimming or feeding, you may even see a thrilling jumps or tail splashes. Point Roberts is also a great place to truly getaway, or hide out. Having to get through not one but two borders makes it impossible for anyone with a criminal record to get in; this is why it is home to many people in the witness protection program.