One of our favorite things to do when we move somewhere new is to create a big long list of all the things we want to explore in our new home. It gives us a reason to drink wine and dream big with the computers, and it helps when we are trying to fill empty weekends because we can just check something off the list. So we put together this PNW bucket list and are sharing it in case you are planning a trip in this area or live in the area.
We always return to the list to check things off and link to the posts about them, so pin this post for your next trip and let us know what we should add in the comments.
Close to Home in Seattle
This is our list for Seattle and I’m sure it will grow as we get more recommendations.
- Visit the Space Needle ✅
- See the fish throwing at Pike Place Market ✅
- Go to the Aquarium ✅
- Have a sunset bonfire at the beach
- Explore the Amazon Spheres ✅
- Kayak in Lake Union ✅
- Learn at the Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience
- See the Seattle Kraken play ✅
- Take a day trip to Gig Harbor ✅
- Hike the trails at Snoqualmie Pass
- Check out exhibits at the Museum of Pop Culture
- Wait in the long line for Pike Place Chowder
- Cheer on the Seattle Mariners ✅
- Float down the Sammamish River in kayaks
- Eat and drink our way through Capitol Hill
- Explore downtown Issaquah ✅
- Hike Bridal Veil Falls
- See Orcas
- Take a ferry to Bainbridge Island
- Celebrate a special occasion with the tasting menu at Canlis
- Ski in the Cascades ✅
- Find a favorite brewery in Ballard ✅
- Wine tasting in Woodinville ✅
- Head underground with a tour in Pioneer Square
- Visit the Chihuly Glass Garden ✅
- Go on a sailboat in the Puget Sound
- Take a day trip to Poulsbo ✅
- Walk through the Washington Arboretum
- Visit the Ballard Farmers Market Every Season
- Explore Tacoma and Olympia
Greater Washington
These locations are a little more than a day trip, but still close enough to make a weekend out of them. It’s the beauty of living where we do. We are an easy drive to the mountains or the ocean.
- Enjoy the Christmas lights in Leavenworth ✅
- Hike to Colchuck Lake
- Explore Mt. Rainier National Park – Skyline Trail, Paradise Lodge, Kayaking
- Visit the Hoh Rainforest
- Hike Klahhane Ridge in Olympic National Park ✅
- Stay at Lake Crescent Lodge and find the River Otters
- Explore Cape Flattery
- Stay on the San Juan islands for a weekend
- Take in a sunset on Rialto Beach
- Spend the weekend in Westport ✅
- Relax at in the Lake Chelan ✅
- Hike in the Mt Baker Ski Area ✅
- Kayak in Diablo Lake ✅
- Wine taste in Walla Walla
- Try different beers in Bellingham ✅
- Stay in Port Townsend for the weekend
- Hike in North Cascades National Park ✅
- Visit Mt. St. Helens
- Smell the flowers at the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival or the Sequim Lavender Festival
- Explore at Palouse Falls State Park
- Visit Seabrook, WA
Oregon & Idaho
Oregon and Idaho are the two neighboring states and have a lot of the same beautiful mountains and wide open spaces that Washington gets.
- Take a beer tour in Bend, Oregon ✅
- Camp along the Oregon Coast ✅
- Find the Goonies House in Astoria ✅
- See the Painted Hills in Oregon
- Spend time exploring Samuel H Boardman Scenic Corridor ✅
- Visit Crater Lake National Park
- Hike the loop at Silver Falls State Park
- See the waterfalls in the Columbia River Gorge ✅
- Drink wine in the Willamette Valley
- Explore the Alvord Desert
- Hang out in Boise for a weekend
- Walk the historic downtown in Wallace, ID ✅
- Soak in Hot Springs in Idaho
- Hike in the Sawtooth Range
- Ski at Tamarack or Brundage
- Camp or stay near Priest Lake
Alaska
Isn’t Alaska the pinnacle on any PNW bucket list? Our original plan was to make it to Alaska on our US road trip, but COVID ruined that. So we will just have to settle with visiting in smaller segments over time.
- Explore the Mendenhall Glacier
- Visit Juneau
- See the Majestic Denali
- Hike in Chugach State Park
- Road trip to Homer and explore the Peninsula
- Get to Wrangell-St. Elias National Park
- See some Grizzly bears
- Kayaking off the Alaska coast
British Columbia and Alberta
For the Canadian portion of our PNW Bucket List, we included British Columbia and Alberta. I know there’s probably a million things we will add to this list, but these are just the starting spots.
- Drink tea in Victoria
- Ski at Whistler ✅
- Drive the Sea to Sky Highway ✅
- Spend the weekend in Vancouver
- Camp in Tofino
- Go Wine Tasting in Kelowna
- Visit Nelson
- Walk the Columbia Icefield Skywalk
- Explore Banff National Park
- Hike in Jasper National Park
- Drive the Icefields Parkway
Other Considerations
Obviously, we love California and already have a full California bucket list we created while living in San Diego. We visited the Redwood National Park on our trip up here. There is still a ton in Northern California that I’d love to visit. Also, I debated including Montana on this list, but it’s not really the PNW, so we will save that for a different list.
Let us know what gems we are missing.
Pin this bucket list for your own trip. We will keep adding to it and crossing things off the list.
