The city of Seattle is located on the Pacific Coast of the United States and is a major urban center. The sea and evergreen forests largely encircle the Puget Sound-based city of Seattle on all sides. It is a major metropolitan area in the state of Washington.
Even though Seattle has a reputation for being a rainy city, the city’s springs and summers are filled with festivals that feature both cuisine and music. The Pike Place Market, which is a shopping center but is famous for its delectable seafood, waterfront, and other features, is the primary draw for visitors to the city.
Outside of the city itself, there are several sites you can go to around Seattle that will make you appreciate the city even more than you already do.
Which Large City is the Closest to Seattle?
According to the data provided by the United States Census Bureau, the metropolitan area consists of the three cities of Seattle, Tacoma, and Bellevue in the state of Washington.
It is the 15th-biggest metropolitan statistical area (MSA) in the United States, with an expected population of 4,102,400 residents as of the year 2022, and it is home to more than half of the state’s total population.
Best Places to Visit Near Seattle
The following is a list of the top locations to visit in the vicinity of Seattle that will provide you with a vacation that will warm your heart. Take a gander at it!
1. Snoqualmie Falls, Salish Lodge
The hotel is perfect for couples celebrating their honeymoon near Seattle. A quaint and romantic hotel that is only 35 minutes from the heart of Seattle and 45 minutes from SeaTac International Airport. This hotel is perfect for honeymoons, anniversaries, or other special occasions.
2. Friday Harbor on the Island of San Juan
My preferred location for a day trip is Seattle; however, I recommend spending at least a couple of nights there rather than attempting to see everything in a single day. Friday Harbor is the most populous settlement in the San Juan Islands and may be found on the island of San Juan, which has the largest overall population.
It is the ideal location from which to embark on whale-watching trips, but in addition to that, you will discover amazing restaurants, charming cafes and pubs, wonderful walks and overlooks, and a welcoming atmosphere among the locals.
From Seattle to Friday Harbor, the trip takes 3 hours and 45 minutes by seaplane, 3 to 4 hours by automobile and ferry through Anacortes, or 3 hours and 45 minutes by the Clipper, which is a direct boat from downtown Seattle.
3. Leavenworth
Leavenworth is a lively town in the Cascade Mountains that is modeled after a Bavarian village. It features a complete calendar of popular events that take place throughout the year. Hiking, mountain biking, and rafting are activities that attract both families and seasoned explorers.
There is a lot of foot traffic at the outdoor theater throughout the summer, Oktoberfest is an annual event that takes place in the fall, and the Christmas lights downtown are a major draw during December.
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From Seattle to Leavenworth, the driving takes around 3 hours and 20 minutes, the Amtrak train takes approximately 3 hours and 20 minutes twice daily, and the Greyhound bus leaves Seattle five times every day.
4. The Island of Bainbridge
Bainbridge Island is a wonderful island getaway that is just minutes away from the heart of Seattle, and it offers a combination of quaint small-town character and a rough environment.
The heart of the island is home to evergreen forests and lush wetlands with hiking, cycling, and horseback riding trails. The island’s beaches and marinas offer kayak and paddleboard rentals and are located around the perimeter of the island.
Eagle Harbor, which serves as the ferry station for Bainbridge, has bicycles available for hire. Since the island has some hills, you might want to consider renting an electric bike for a more enjoyable ride. To get to Bainbridge Island from Seattle, you can take the ferry, which takes 35 minutes, or drive for 1 hour and 45 minutes (via Tacoma).
5. Tacoma (U.S.)
Tacoma is the third-largest city in the state of Washington, and it is situated on the shores of Puget Sound, in the general vicinity of Commencement Bay.
Tacoma has a rich history of industrialization, but the city is also experiencing a new vigor with a thriving art scene. There is a diverse selection of cafes, galleries, and live music venues along 6th Avenue.
Downtown is home to several popular museums, including the Chihuly Bridge of Glass and Museum, the Lemay Car Museum, and the Washington State History Museum.
6. Portland (Oregon)
A riverfront city that is both tight and energetic, with world-class food, an offbeat cultural culture, and an abundance of opportunities to spend time outside.
Portland, also known as the Rose City, has an abundance of gardens, including the International Rose Test Garden, the vast Washington Park (410 acres) and Hoyt Arboretum (187 acres), a Chinese Garden and a Japanese Garden, and many more. The city is also known as the City of Roses.
Food and drink are key attractions in this area, with a particular emphasis placed on regionally grown vegetables, inventive Asian cuisine, an abundance of food carts, gourmet doughnuts, and homebrewed or distilled liquor, wine, and beer (the Portland metropolitan area is home to 84 breweries).
7. Mount Rainier National Park in the United States
Mount Rainier is the highest peak in the 48 contiguous states of the United States, rising 14,410 feet above sea level and earning it the nickname “America’s Everest.” It’s a winter wonderland that’s ideal for activities like backcountry skiing and boarding, snowshoeing, sledding, and cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
In the summer, when hundreds of different types of wildflowers bloom, some of the snow melts into waterfalls, and marmots roam the hillside, it is also a good time to go hiking in this region.
The park is open throughout the year, but the months of July and August see the most visitors. Between the 1st of November and the 1st of May, certain places and highways are off-limits; during those months, all cars must carry tire chains.
8. Olympic National Park
There is only one park, yet it contains three distinct ecosystems: glacier-capped mountains, the wild Pacific coast, and the tropical rainforest. The park is open all year, with a variety of activities available throughout the summer, including climbing, fishing, hiking, camping, and backpacking.
Activities such as snowshoeing, snowboarding, tubing, cross-country skiing, and downhill skiing are all available during the winter season. Paddling or motoring a boat along the rivers, lakes, and coastlines while inspecting the tidepools is a fun activity to do.
Due to the variety of habitats, it is possible to witness elk, goats, marmots, birds, banana slugs, deer, and even whales during migration seasons. It is fantastic to be able to trek up Hurricane Ridge to a glacier at the peak of a mountain and then go on to stroll through the fuzzy, green, misty rainforest all within the same park.
9. The National Park in the North Cascades
A rough retreat from the civilized world that features plenty of opportunities for trekking and camping. There are trails spanning hundreds of miles that cater to hikers of varying abilities and heights.
North Cascades National Park, Ross Lake National Recreation Area, and Lake Chelan National Recreation Area are the three sections that make up the park. Hiking, camping, climbing, equestrian riding, biking, boating, and fishing are among the most popular outdoor activities.
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There is also the possibility of spotting uncommon fish, land mammals, and birds, as well as wildflowers. The hypnotizing turquoise blue water of Diablo Lake, which is produced from glaciers that have been finely crushed up, makes it an ideal location for kayaking.
10. British Columbia, Vancouver
A lively and welcoming urban hot spot that is surrounded by breathtaking natural scenery that can compete with any other location on the planet.
The highlights of outdoor activities inside the city are Stanley Park and the Vancouver Seawall, which is a continuous pedestrian and bike route that spans 28 kilometers along the city’s coastline.
However, this is just the beginning of the city’s offerings. There are some fantastic sites for canoeing, skiing, swimming, mountain biking, and hiking either within the city limits or just a short trip to the north of the city.
Conclusion
Even though Seattle offers a plethora of attractions and activities, there are times when it’s necessary to simply escape the city. Fortunately, there are a great number of wonderful small towns and getaways located within a reasonable driving distance of the city.
There is no requirement to purchase an airline ticket, which makes it much easier to organize a day trip, a short overnight stay, or a weekend getaway.
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