Top Washington Outdoor Activities - page 2

There’s no better way to experience a summer evening in Seattle than from the water. Join us for the Seattle Sunset Cruise, a relaxing 1.5-hour cruise with minimal narration timed perfectly to capture the golden hour and sunset over Puget Sound. Come aboard and head to the open-air deck as the city begins to glow in the warm evening light. As the captain navigates through Elliott Bay, enjoy breathtaking views of the Seattle skyline, passing ferries, and the Olympic Mountains. Whether you’re enjoying a date night, celebrating with friends, wanting a memorable evening on your trip, or simply soaking in summer, the Seattle Sunset Cruise offers a peaceful and unforgettable way to end the day on the water.

Have the special chance to explore Olympic National Park with a naturalist guide—and make your sightseeing logistics smooth and hassle-free—on this full-day, small-group tour from Seattle. With round-trip transit from your downtown hotel, getting to the UNESCO–listed park is made simple. From beaches to mountains to forests and beyond, experience the best of this spectacular landscape, seeing and doing more with your guide than you could alone.

See a new side of Gig Harbor—and soak up the wild scenery of Puget Sound—on this boat tour. Meet your Coast Guard-certified captain, hop aboard the ex-navy boat, and set sail. You’ll see impeccable views of Mt. Rainier’s snowy peak, and admire local landmarks like the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. As you go, look out for eagles, seals, porpoises, and other wildlife, and learn more about the region’s history.

Visit Mount Rainier National Park without having to rent a car by boking this one-day tour from Seattle. Your driver will take you through the park, with plenty of stops along the way to take photos of beautiful lakes and waterfalls, including Longnire and Narada Falls. You'll also get to spend some time learning about the park at the Jackson Visitor Center before ultimately making your way back to Seattle.

Combine visits to both Snoqualmie Falls and Twin Falls in Washington with this half-day, small-group hiking tour that allows you to go with a guide, so you don’t get lost in a new outdoor space. A morning tour helps you connect with nature and appreciate the natural beauty of the area.

Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo houses over 300 animal species and contains more than 10 bioclimatic zones, which range from humid tropical rain forests to coastal deserts. Ideal for time-pressed travelers, this admission ticket allows you to bypass the ticketing line at the zoo’s west entrance. Inside, you can admire an impressive range of animals including gorillas, grizzlies, lions, giraffes, and penguins.

Seeing the highlights of Mt. Rainer National Park in one day can be difficult if you don’t know where to go and downright impossible if you don’t have a car. Make your trip easy (and leave the driving to someone else) with this small-group tour from Seattle. Depending on when you visit, you might see wildflower meadows, alpine vistas, and waterfalls, either on a hike or on a snowshoe adventure.

Escape the hustle and bustle of Seattle, and enjoy a relaxing excursion, on this half-day coach tour. Set off in the morning from downtown Seattle, and admire the Pacific Northwest scenery as you go. Your first stop is Snoqualmie Falls, where you can take in the mighty waterfall from different observation points and trails. Then, indulge in a tasting and lunch (own expense) at one of Woodinville’s highlight wineries.

Make the most of summer in Seattle on an evening cruise that takes you past the city's skyline from a vantage point on the water. Pass by Elliott Bay, Alki Point, and into Puget Sound as the sun begins to set—perfect for snapping golden hour photos. Up on the top deck, enjoy an included drink (cocktail, mocktail, beer, or wine) and feel free to purchase more from the onboard bar and catch a glimpse of the Olympic Mountains.

Cover the highlights of Olympic National Park in one day, without having to rent a car, on this tour from Seattle, which mixes car and ferry transport and about six miles (9.6 km) of hiking. Visit different ecosystems, including meadows, a temperate rainforest, and a subalpine forest, with time leftover to visit the Pacific Ocean.

Join a small-group tour to Mount Rainier and take a scenic drive through the Cascade Mountains, catching sight of lush forests, volcanic landscape, wide lakes, waterfalls, and historic towns. Stop for photo ops at viewpoints along the way, before arriving at Mount Rainier National Park. Take in the scene of Mount Rainier itself—an active volcano—and explore the park’s trails, wildlife, and visitor center at your leisure.

Get up close with the killer whales off Orcas Island, the largest of the San Juan Islands near Seattle, on this guided, 3.5-hour whale-watching cruise from Eastsound. Led by naturalist guides and captains, climb aboard a Blackfish fleet vessel and travel through some of the most picturesque scenery in the Pacific Northwest searching for orca, humpback and gray whales. Along the way, see ocean wildlife in their natural environment, like seals, porpoises, sea lions and otters — plus a wide variety of birds and more. Sightings are guaranteed from April through early September.

Pass through the renowned Ballard Locks and learn about the complex system on a cruise that transports you between the freshwater of Lake Union and the saltwater of Puget Sound. The one-way cruise can be used as transportation, making it ideal for travelers who want to avoid traffic and enjoy a unique journey from the Seattle waterfront to the AGC Marina on South Lake Union (or vice versa).

Discover Seattle’s original neighborhood, Pioneer Square, on this guided walking tour that is great for locals and tourists alike who want to learn more about this city. Explore the underground pathways that were built in the southwest corner of the Emerald City more than 120 years ago. Learn about Seattle’s history and the events that transformed this once-small Indigenous dwelling place into one of the most popular and thriving cities in the United States.

Cycle through Seattle on this half-day tour that combines exercise with sightseeing. After getting matched with the appropriate gear, you'll follow your guide and group of just 12 fellow adventurers to some of Seattle's top sights, stopping to listen to insightful commentary along the way. Highlights include the Ballard Locks, Olympic Sculpture Park, the Fremont and Queen Anne neighborhoods, the fish ladder. Travel most of the way via protected bike lanes and an interurban bicycle trail.

Explore Washington state’s San Juan Islands Monument on this sea kayak tour starting in Anacortes. Join a small group to paddle past the stunning scenery of uninhabited islands including Burrows Island. Spot local wildlife such as harbor seals, porpoises, several fish species, and sometimes orcas. All sea kayaking equipment, life jackets, and safety gear are included for a safe and comfortable experience.

Hike Mount Rainier National Park's Three Burroughs Trail with an expert local guide to lead the way with this semi-private guided tour. Your guide will lead you and your group on a moderate-to-challenging hiking trail, with the option to hike for anywhere from four to six miles, depending on your preferences.

Explore the city's unique waterways, nature, and neighborhoods on an e-bike with a local guide who grew up, taught, and has a livelihood in the city. Seattle is a wonderful city to bike, especially when you have the help on the hills with an assist. Each helmet is equipped with an intercom system to communicate during the ride. Bikes are built adults, so participants must be 16 or older.

Experience the food and culture at one of Seattle’s most famous landmarks, Pike Place Market, on this 2-hour, chef-guided food tour. See where chefs shop and locals hang out and enjoy diverse tastings at several different stops — places such as Beecher's ‘World's Best’ Mac and Cheese, Pike Place Chowder, local artisan chocolate shops and more. Feel like a market insider on this behind-the-scenes adventure to savor the flavors, as well as the sights and sounds, of this historic attraction.

Discover Seattle’s largest public park—and enjoy a lively, active excursion—on this small-group e-bike tour. Meet your guide in a convenient downtown location, get acquainted with your bike and helmet, and set off on a 15-mile round-trip journey. En route, zip through highlights like the Olympic Sculpture Park and the pretty Magnolia neighborhood, and learn about Seattle history. Then, soak up the views of Puget Sound and the distant Olympic Mountains.

Observe Pacific Northwest whales in their natural environment on a 3.5-hour tour from Seattle. You have the chance to get up close to orcas, humpbacks, and minkes. Learn about the marine life from your on board guide.  In the event that you don’t see any whales during your excursion, enjoy a second journey on the boat free of charge.

Hop aboard a schooner for a 2-hour sailing journey out into the Puget Sound, ideal for photographers or anyone who wants to capture images of the city from the sea. You'll board right in downtown Seattle's Pier 66 terminal and set out into the water for some fantastic views of the city's skyline and the mountains beyond.

Set off on a full-day, small-group guided adventure through Olympic National Park, beginning with a scenic drive through Elwha Valley and around Lake Crescent to reach Sol Duc River Valley. Experience a guided hike to Sol Duc Falls, then explore the majestic Lake Crescent. After a stop at Port Angeles, ascend to Hurricane Ridge for breathtaking views and a guided hike through subalpine trails.

This cruise takes you through the heart of Puget Sound. It is the only public sunset cruise on Puget Sound with this extended duration and distance traveled, nearly 30 miles, round trip. Our cruise is available to individual travelers rather than groups only. Our vessel, "RIVIERA" is a restored, USCG certified, classic Northwest built charter boat. She and her captain and crew are steeped in Puget Sound legacy and experience. This is a smooth-water cruise. Wildlife ranges from seagulls to Bald Eagles, seals and sea lions. Can't miss Mt. Rainier for hours and the Olympic Mountain range unimpeded except for some clouds. You can bring-your-own snacks and drinks, no alcohol please. This is an interactive trip where we candidly and casually interpret our surroundings. There is plenty of time on this cruise where you are left to enjoy the cruise without interruption. We will talk with you and answer your questions along the way. (Senior Age is 62. Tour is recommended for ages 10 and above.)