Being the Heart of the Pacific Northwest, Washington is notoriously known for having drizzly weather. It has a dramatic mix! Call it a combination of alpine meadows and lush forests on one side & snowy Cascade Mountains as well as the San Juan Islands on the other. Also, it has small mountain towns, which is a cherry on the cake in winter. Undoubtedly, this makes Washington one of the magical destinations not only in summer but also winter. On the next visit in winter, these are the must-visit destinations here.
10 Leavenworth
Leavenworth has the essence of a German-themed town and is more gorgeous than usual in winter. With its unbelievable radiance quite similar to Bavaria, Leavenworth has equivalent traditions to it in terms of authentic food, arts and crafts, local themed street shops, and even winter vibes overall. Being remotely close to ski resorts and, thus, having engaging winter activities such as snowshoeing, skiing, sledding, or snowmobiling, it is a winter paradise for adventure seekers. Be it the gabbled wooden houses set against the backdrop of snowy mountains, or staying in those wooden cabins, visiting the Reindeer Park or Nutcracker museum, or window shopping for souvenirs around town, this place has something for every visitor. Also, don't miss its “Village of Lights Festival” from Thanksgiving weekend through the end of February, or try visiting the town during Valentine’s week to experience its romantic charm. On your visit over here, Stevens Pass Ski Resort, the Leavenworth Ski Hill, and Mission Ridge Ski Resort are the few best places to visit.
9 Seattle
The largest city in Washington, Seattle, has replete with winter activities and scenic spots. Snoqualmie Pass, an amazing place for winter activities, is located 45 minutes away from the east of the city. Other options are Stevens Pass, located two hours northeast of Seattle as well as Crystal Mountain, located 2.5 hours southeast of Seattle. One can spend a day at Mount Rainer National Park or explore the Chihuly Glass Garden, a beautiful glass house. Also, Lake Union has beautiful boats twinkling with holiday lights, while the serenity of the lake is the cherry on the cake.
8 Suncadia Resort
A classic winter destination in Washington covering 6000 acres of forest landscape is Suncadia Resort in Washington. Both for an indoor and outdoor person, this destination has something to offer. From adventurous sports such as ice skating rink, sleigh rides, tubing, snowshoeing trails, and cross-country skiing to inns having fireplaces, soaking tubs, and private balconies, this national park lodge has almost 250 rooms. Having an array of dining options, spas, pools, and golf areas, it is a 10-minute drive from Washington State Horse Park. Located in Cle Elum, Washington, this resort enjoys the views of Lake Easton State Park and the snow-covered Cascade Range in winter. The price ranges from $230 to $250 per person.
7 Bellevue
A perfect alternative providing big-city adventures with quaint town feels is the city of Bellevue, Washington. For the largest ice skating rink area, Chaplins Bellevue Volkswagen Ice Arena Ice Skating Park, Mini Mountain for skiing and snowboarding, and a string of lodges available for cross-country skiing, and sledding, Bellevue has opportunities galore for adventure seekers. Even though it's a small town, Bellevue Square, Lincoln Square, and The Bellevue Collection are perfect places for chic shopping. Gorge on some croissants, warm bread, and butter coffee at Cépaé Tasting Room in freezing winter. Or head towards Café Trophy, famous for Valrhona chocolate cake topped with Nutella buttercream, and Fern Thai, famous for its authentic spicy Thai food, are other options.
6 Visit Crystal Mountain, A Ski Destination
A premiere ski destination, Crystal Mountain is located in the Pacific Northwest & is deemed to be the largest ski resort in Washington. With the enveloping Cascade range as its prime view & Washington’s volcanoes visible from the summit, this is the epitome of a winter destination. One can enjoy the mesmerizing Gondola ride, which will take visitors over 2400 vertical feet to the summit. The experience gets dreamier as mountaintop dining is introduced by Summit House Restaurant at 6827 feet. A string of activities such as skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, night skiing, camping, and hiking keeps the visitors highly engaged. This property is available for weddings, groups, and corporate as well as other events.
5 Bellingham
Be it a solo traveler or one with family, Bellingham won’t make anyone regret it as a winter destination. Quaint in nature, it has a couple of winter and holiday festive vibes activities to engage in. “Holiday Port Festival,” an event held in December, engages visitors with gingerbread house displays and local choir performances as well as bands and dancers. “Holiday Market By The Sea” is another indoor market with loads of local items like candles, homemade soaps, pastries, coffee, and more. The Fairhaven Village in Bellingham can be another exciting place that has numerous art shops by local artists. Visitors can also experiment with Whatcom Artist Studio Tour, Downtown Bellingham’s Friday Art Walks, or History Walking Tours. Bellingham is also known for Alpine Hiking, where travelers seek Larches, a tree that morphs in a golden hue in autumn and winter. Also, Mount Baker is the hot spot for snow activities such as skiing and snowboarding.
4 Palouse Falls State Park
The Palouse Waterfalls is one enchanting sight to behold not only in summer but also in winter. For adventure seekers, a drive to this state park and witnessing this frozen waterfall with the surrounding canyon walls shrouded in the snow seems magical indeed. These falls were formed more than 13,000 years ago from Ice Age flooding, and travelers need to follow the Palouse Falls Trail to encounter the falls. Located in LaCrosse, near Washtucna, it is located away from major population centers, inevitably gravitating visitors more.
3 The Hoh Rainforest
If one loves hiking in winter, Hoh Rainforest should be on the destination list in Washington. The Hall of Mosses and Spruce Nature Trail are two trails where visitors can explore maple trees, mosses, Taft Creek, and Hoh River. Also, as travelers walk through the Hoh River trail, they can also encounter First River Access, Mineral Creek Falls, Cedar Grove, and the 5-mile Island. Located in Port Angeles, Washington State, this spectacular rainforest makes up the perfect winter destination.
2 Olympic National Park
USA has plenty of national parks, which are a must-visit. Located on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State, USA, Olympic National Park has everything from coastlines to mountain ridges to rainforests. Renowned for its diverse nature elements, such as mountain peaks, sandy beaches, and rainforests, as well as activities such as trekking, camping, sleigh riding, fishing, tide pooling, and wildlife viewing, it is surrounded by the Olympic mountains. Winters beckon snow, and visitors can encounter it on Hurricane Ridge. Also, storm watching in winter is ideal here along the Pacific Coast.
1 Visit Alpine Meadows Christmas Tree Farm
Owned and operated by the Stremler family since 1982, Alpine Meadows Christmas Tree Farm is located in Whatcom County, Washington. Visitors can select the Christmas tree as their choice while gorging on hot chocolate in winter. From the variety of trees displayed, Douglas fir, Grand fir, Nordmann fir, Noble fir, and Fraser fir trees are the few ones over there. The festive string of lights illuminating the entire selection exudes a holiday spirit indeed.