Everyone In Washington Should Check Out These 9 Tourist Attractions, According To Locals
×
Andrea Verschuyl
Author
When compiling your Evergreen State bucket list, it pays to hit the street and find out what spots are local favorites. The following entries — a mix of mainstream and off-beat — provide newcomers and life-long residents alike with a bird’s eye view of what’s worth exploring in our region.
Pack your car for a tour that will take us from the Pacific Coast to the Palouse, featuring everywhere from our state’s largest city to its quaintest towns.
National Forest Development Road 2340, NF-2340, Washington, USA
Start with a high-octane thrill at Shelton's high steel bridge. Soaring almost 400 feet above the Skokomish River, this trussed beauty features mesmerizing views and is just a stone's throw from the charming peninsular entry point of Hoodsport.
409 Pacific Ave, Long Beach, WA 98631, USA
This classic Northwest attraction is a trove of oddities, inspiring reactions from visitors since it debuted in 1921. Come to say you survived and don't forget to snap a picture with Jake the Alligator Man.
Advertisement
1438 NW 46th St, Seattle, WA 98107, USA
For a sentimental outing, be sure to visit Edith Macefield's home in the buzzing neighborhood of Ballard. Shockingly, the woman who fought to save this relic of old Seattle from development was not the inspiration for Pixar's Up, but the building elicits a similar nostalgia, nonetheless.
Advertisement
South Shore Road, S Shore Rd, Quinault, WA 98575, USA
With a whopping circumference of just under 59 feet, the world's largest spruce is a PNW treasure and a hefty reward for an easy hike that clocks in at under a mile. Symbolic of Washington's magnificent nature, this ancient conifer is a must-see in the lush Quinault area.
Related Stories
10 Incredible Hidden Gems In Washington You’ll Want To Discover This Year
Esther Short Park In Washington Just Turned 171 Years Old And It's The Perfect Spot For A Day Trip
Washington Has A Lost Town Most People Don’t Know About
Fremont Troll, North 36th Street, Troll Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103, USA
An inventory of Evergreen State attractions wouldn't be complete without the Fremont Troll, who's been keeping an eye on the street beneath Aurora Bridge since it was first sculpted in 1990 by artists Steve Badanes, Will Martin, Donna Walter, and Ross Whitehead.
98616, Cougar, WA 98616, USA
Buried in Gifford Pinchot National Forest is the longest lava tube in the continental United States. Winding for over two miles, this remarkable volcanic feature formed over 2,000 years ago following an eruption of Mount. St. Helens.
4000 15th Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
Never got your Hogwarts acceptance letter by owl post? Visit Suzzallo — as it's referred to on campus. This remarkable Gothic-style building is one of the University of Washington's crown jewels. Though it certainly looks like a thing of antiquity, the library isn't the university's oldest building. To see that, you'll have to visit Denny Hall, completed in 1895, some three decades prior.
Winlock, WA 98596, USA
The Winlock Egg proves that wondrous things don't need to be serious. Hidden in a town of under 2,000, it's the world's largest egg. Breaking the scales at 1,200 pounds and boggling the mind at 12 feet long, this roadside curiosity was borne of local pride. Winlock was the country's second-largest producer of eggs until the 1950s, a distinction that could only be celebrated one way. Do we think the egg is hard, medium, or soft-boiled?
Advertisement
U.S. 730, US-730, United States
Few attractions in the Tri-City area are more majestic than the Twin Sisters. Soaring 750 feet above the arid basin floor, the Sisters were created by the Missoula floods 18 to 15,000 years ago. In their wake, the powerful waters carved this imposing formation into the region's granite bedrock, leaving an awe-inspiring reminder of the sheer scale of Washington's geological past.
Whether you’re a lifelong PNWer or visiting from out of state, these favorite local attractions in Washington reflect the range of what our region offers adventurers.
What are some of your favorite spots?
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.