Outdoor activities you can safely enjoy in Washington

With summer just around the corner, there are tons of outdoor destinations and activities for us to enjoy, from exploring scenic trails, wildlife watching, relaxing at the park, and more.

If you’re searching for some of the best outdoor destinations and activities in Washington, here are a few of our suggestions:

Nestled on the shores of Lake Washington, the Washington Park Arboretum boasts over 230 acres of gardens, wetlands, and natural areas where visitors can find an incredible assortment of plants, including species that do not exist anywhere else in the Northwest.

The arboretum’s plant collection is displayed in several thematic gardens, ranging from ecogeographic gardens to seasonal gardens like the Joseph A. Witt Winter Garden, which features an incredible variety of cedars, firs, shrubs, and perennials.

Head to the Space Needle to take in panoramic 360-degree views of downtown Washington, Puget Sound, Mount Rainier, and the enchanting Olympic and Cascades mountain ranges.

This is the perfect place to head to if you’re in the mood for something more relaxing, as visitors can enjoy snacks and drinks safely at the private open-air covered lookouts located on the Space Needle’s outdoor deck. Head to this page for ticket information.

Created and operated by the Seattle Art Museum, the Olympic Sculpture Park is an award-winning 9-acre public park filled with a collection of modern and contemporary sculptures. Some famous sculptures you can find at the park include Richard Serra’s “Wake,” Teresa Fernandez’s “Seattle Cloud Cover,” and Alexander Calder’s “Eagle.”

Visitors can explore the park to discover stunning sculptures nestled among lush native plants, bike along the waterfront, relax along the edge of Elliot Bay, or take in the panoramic views overlooking Puget Sound all the way to the majestic Olympic Mountains.

Sea Quest Kayak Tours take visitors on an unforgettable journey across some of the best whale watching habitats in the world.

One of their most popular tours is the San Juan Islands kayaking tour, which is designed to maximize the chances of a spectacular whale encounter for kayakers. In addition to whales, other fascinating creatures you can catch a glimpse of include sea lions, otters, porpoises, and seals. With more than 40 years of experience living and working in the San Juan Islands, the biologists at Sea Quest know all of the best locations around the islands, which makes them the top kayaking experts in the area.

If you’re in the mood for a challenging yet rewarding hike, the picturesque Thornton Lakes Trail is hard to top. The trail ascends through an enchanting forest before reaching a rocky outcrop featuring jaw-dropping panoramic views of the Thornton Lakes, the Picket Range, Skagit River, Mount Triumph, and Mount Despair.

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