It's not a fun park unless you're a kid. Then it's a blast with a playground that has those weird…read morecircular htings that swing you around with your weight and other fancy playground items. But this park is more about the sunset. I was in town as a day trip and the weather was so nice that I wanted to check out the sunset. We sat there people watching on the bench as the sun started sinking over the water. People walked out down the pier and it made for really nice pictures. Once the sun went down, people left because there was a chill in the air, but until that moment, the sunset was magical. Definitely glad we hung around for twilight.

Washington Park is beautiful. The scenic loop is a great drive (go slow 10 mph there are…read morepedestrians on the paved road too). There are spots for cars to park on the loop to enjoy the view (and a disability parking spot). Take advantage of the easy and beautiful access to epic views of Burrows Island and the pass at this park before getting on the ferry to the San Juan islands or staying in Anacortes.

When I'm in the mood for some gorgeous views over Anacortes, Cap Sante Park is one of my go-to…read morespots. Perched high on a point across the harbor from downtown, it's the perfect spot to take it all in. And with its northerly views, you can not only watch the boats arrive at the marina far below, but peer across the mountains for breathtaking sunny day views of Mount Baker, too. It also has a "lover's lane" vibe, so I'll give it an extra star for romance potential. There are a view benches, as well as rocky outperches, to sit and ponder all the beauty. Fall potential is high, so I wouldn't let little ones wander around on their own here. Parking can be a hassle on sunny days.

Went during a sunset and it was spectacular. Even saw a rainbow. There were parking spots when we…read moregot there though it was also a lot of people concerning it was already past 9PM. Wonderful views of the marina and the islands! And beautiful Mountain views.

This was a nice beach park. There were about 20 parking spots give or take with a couple of those…read morebeing ADA. There is also a porta potty The area is small due to private land on either side, which includes the beach. What there is was nice with easy beach access, fishing, swimming, and a good show from the Naval Air Station. If you want to watch jets roar overhead, this is about as close as the public can get. We love planes, so this was a doubly good spot. There is a bench for sitting and loads of driftwood that allows different areas to park your behind and watch the surroundings. A very nice place to visit that is a little off the beaten pass.

It was yet another glorious sunny weekend in the PNW, so we grabbed our buckets and headed to…read moreWhidbey Island for some beachcombing - discovering this beautiful beach along the way. It's a small, but mighty, little strip of land that's bordered on three sides by private property, so while it might not be a great place to hang out with 1000 of your closest friends, you can't beat the vibe here for a small romantic picnic or playtime with the kid. The beach is pretty typical PNW: driftwood, rocks, mud, and lots of stinky seaweed to give the place atmosphere. We were there at low tide, so it definitely had wading potential (if you're into cold, Puget Sound water). The thing I liked most, besides the stunning views out to the Olympics, was that there were only two other people on the beach. This would also be a great place for some sea kayaking on a calm day. There is a port-a-potty in the small parking lot, but other than that there are few amenities here, so bring along your own water, shade, and seating. But if you're looking to cross yet another gorgeous PNW beach off your list, this one is definitely worth a visit.

Deception Pass State Park is a top tier gem of a state park. There's so much to see! This park…read morespans multiple islands, and of course is connected by a bunch of bridges that traverse sheer ocean cliffs with rocky beaches at the base. More inland, there are quiet old growth forests, lakes, and bluffs. I visited the tide pools at Rosario Head during one of the lowest tides of the year. From the parking lot, it's about a 10 minute walk to the tide pools, crossing a conveniently located washroom as well. Since it's so heavily trafficked, there are ropes strung about to keep visitors from trampling on recovering habitats, and also ropes that guide the way to see some tide pool critters. Some staff members were also there to answer any questions and give more information. I did a hike around Rosario Head after my tidepool visit-you get to stand on top of the bluffs and admire the bluest water and the most fluffy clouds for miles. Of course, it's among one of the most trafficked state parks in Washington, so come early if you want to easily snag a parking spot.

First, don't let the name scare you. This was our first thought when planning to come here. It was…read moregiven since there are a ton of waterways which was deceiving to visitors. Those waterways are what make this place so amazing though. Beautiful state park. Lots of scenic trails. Hike down to the water or stay high and explore the views. You can go in through the whidbey island side or the fidalgo island side. We came in through the whidbey island side and it was pretty easy. Recommend checking out the bays too. It's a nice relaxing beach day with actual sand! We camped at bowman bay. During low tide, explore the rocks and you'll find a ton of crabs. Kids loved it! Pet friendly as well. We brought our huge bernedoodle and she loved it too. Dogs must be on leash but the trails were doable with her. Mostly dirt trails without many rocks or obstacles. Weather is always hit or miss in the PNW. It did rain on us the first night but it was actually very relaxing. Remember, no such thing as bad weather, only bad gear. So gear up, come prepared, and get ready to enjoy some beautiful exploration.

This was my first camping trip to Bay View in years, and my very first in the winter months. We're…read moreworking hard on our goal to camp at least once a month in 2023, so this not-too-far spot seemed like a great spot to check out on a blustery January weekend. We were lucky to snag a partial hookup (power/water) site in the first loop (sites 1-9), which features views of the bay. The campground host was kind enough to help guide us as we backed in our new trailer, which is a LOT bigger than our old one! Soon enough we were snug in our site and all hooked up. The loop eventually filled up for the weekend and was very quiet. While our site didn't have a sewer hookup, there's a dump station at the park which is free for overnight campers. There's not a lot to do at this park, it's pretty small. But the beach is gorgeous, with nighttime views across the bay to the eerily gorgeous refineries to the west. We didn't do much exploring, except for a day trip to nearby Edison for some beers and lunch.

Pretty nice place it's kind of secluded. It's very quiet and clean…read more Every one of the people there are extremely nice , The park, Rangers are excellent, very helpful and friendly , The prices are very reasonable , And the scenery is excellent .

This park is beautiful, clean, quiet and well maintained. The bathrooms and laundry areas are top…read morenotch. Walking paths along the water and seals visiting made our stay memorable. I did remove a star due to the bizarre interaction with staff members. The nosy lady at the front desk was rude and told us "I'm watching you" because we waited an hour to check in. Also we backed into our spot so we could wake up to a view of the water but within seconds the big bad security guy came and corrected us. Apparently that's not allowed, which is really weird. After that we were public enemy number 1 bc the front desk was very accusatory and flat out weird towards us. Side note: the road in is a one way so whenever you leave the park you're forced to drive into town and turn around. Not a big deal but noteworthy

We stayed four nights at the Fidalgo Bay Resort and couldn't be happier. The bathroom was spotless,…read morethe laundry clean and cheap. It was quiet at night, the reception building was well stocked with gifts, free coffee and food items. The people at the desk were very helpful, we will stay here again.

I could walk here from my home. Lovely community and a must…read moreto visit if you're in the area.

I highly recommend this. Not just for kids but adults too. They have a very interactive museum, a…read morehands-On room and an aquarium. Everything is so interesting. Well laid out and highly interactive so this is a super engaging space for all ages.

The summit view is obscured with tall trees so it can be difficult to get a good view unless you…read morewant to do a little more hiking beyond the summit parking lot. On clear days you can see Mount Baker. There's a neat statue on top called, Mountain Guardian, with a small information placard explaining the significance of the work. It really meshes into the surrounding forest. Nice hiking overall, pretty peaceful. The road to the top is well maintained, although it's a little twisty at times so definitely do not speed or else you might wipe out, or wipe out the oncoming traffic!

Some great views with good hiking trails…read more Can get windy so you might want to bring a coat

Addie was our guide and we had a fun 1.5 kayak tour of Bowman bay and surrounding area. As our…read morefirst time in sea kayaks we were excited to head out. Addie gave us tons of educational info that was cool and interesting. Although we didn't sea orcas breaching over our kayaks like we'd dreamed of, we did see plant life, fish, crab, seals on rocks, and "Ellie Mae" the female elephant seal on shore. 1.5 tour was the perfect amount of time for our day. We even got to taste bull keep leaves- tasty but also very salty lol! Thanks for a great tour Addie!!

We did the bioluminescence tour in late June. Our guide was very friendly and helpful. He pushed…read moreour kayaks into the water so we didn't get wet. He knew where to go to find the bioluminescence and the tour was plenty long. The equipment was nice. The launch point was easy to get to.

On Guemes Island in the Pacific Northwest just a few short nautical miles from Canada's coast lies…read morethe "Indian Village". A blast from the past type of place! Where time stands still because of it's remoteness! This is a small community of beach homes and cabins right on Puget Sound located on the West side of this beautiful little island. It's positioned looking at Cypress Island and ready to entertain you with really beautiful sunsets. This cool little isle lies in midst of the San Juan Islands where you'll see Bald Eagles, deer, coyote, seals, porpoises, orcas, salmon and when clear, the bluest skies anywhere! Like fishing? This place will put a smile on your face and some awesome fare on your table! Bird watcher? Bring your camera and binoculars all sorts of fowl coolness here! Long walks along the Sound in the fresh cool air here are exhilarating!!! Star gazer? Milky Way is not just a candy bar, it's visible! Want smore fun! Nothing like beach bonfires shooting stars, marshmallows, chocolate and graham crackers! A show and dessert! Nice! Residents and visitors here also love collecting these rocks called agates! What are they? They're semi-precious gem stones that come in all shapes, sizes, colors, clarity, and brightness! Google image them, cool stuff! Logistics- The only way on and off Guemes Island is a small ferry that carries about 20 cars. This island is about 70 miles Northwest of Seattle. The weather from May through October is optimum! Really late sunsets May-July. A great place to unplug and weeelax!!! As locations go, I have a few destinations that I call happy places and this is certainly near the top of my list!!! I could go on and on.... :-)))