12 Best Day Trips from Seattle

See the entire city from 500 feet in the air from the most iconic landmark in Seattle. After a 43 second elevator ride, enjoy 360 degree views of the glittering skyline and vibrant blue of Puget Sound. Plus it’s an easy activity to fit in before you embark on your cruise.  Need an activity before you embark on your cruise? Spend the time soaking in the most iconic landmark on the Seattle skyline: the Space Needle. 

Time from port

• By bus: approximately 30 minutes
• By foot: approximately 1 hour

Things to do

• Try the Skydeck Experience. Take an elevator up 520 feet to the top of the Space Needle. See Seattle from above through the glass floor and the Skyriser glass be

• Enjoy panoramic views. Visit the Space Needle after your cruise with a Princess excursion and see the glittering city through complimentary telescopes. On a clear day, you’ll be able to see Mount Rainier! 

• Visit the Chihuly Glass Museum. Go next door with a Princess Seattle excursion to the art museum where you can see every shade of the rainbow twisted and rounded into artwork that looks like it came from a Dr. Seuss book. When you’re in the glass house, look up, and you’ll see the Space Needle through the bright red installation.

Picture this: standing in the shadow of a snowcapped volcano surrounded by lush green valleys and wildflowers. That’s the beauty of Mount Rainier National Park, home to a 14,410-foot volcano covered in ancient glaciers. Don’t worry about venturing near Mount Rainier — it hasn’t erupted since 1450, and scientists don’t expect it to anytime soon!

The park is home to more than 144 lakes, the Nisqually River and 1,000 plant species, including the avalanche lilies and lupine that bloom in the summer months. Since Mount Rainier National Park spans some 230,000 acres, it’s divided into five areas: Longmire, Paradise, Ohanapecosh, Sunrise and Carbon River & Mowich. The most popular and accessible are Paradise and Sunrise — home to some of the best views of the volcano. 

Time from Seattle

• By car: approximately 3 hours, depending on the region of the park you choose

Things to do

• Hike the Skyline Trail. This path gives you a little bit of everything the park has to offer: mountain views, wildflowers (if you’re there in the summer), mountain goats and waterfalls. 
• Drive Skate Creek Road from Packwood to Paradise. Though a little bumpy, this drive is full of breathtaking views of Mount Rainier with scenic rivers vistas and low traffic. There’s no gas available on the road, so fill up before you head out. 
• Visit Christine Falls. If you’re heading into the Longmire area, stop at this stunning waterfall. It’s accessible from a short and easy path to a bridge that overlooks the water. 
• Stop at the Henry M. Jackson Memorial Visitor Center. This is a good spot to get all the information you need for your activities, including if there are any trail closures. Don’t forget to go around back and take in the stunning views of Mount Rainier. If you’re feeling more adventurous, hike 1 mile up a paved trail to see Myrtle Falls. 

If your Princess cruise is in the winter, you can still visit, as the park is open year-round. Check for any road closures from adverse weather, and don’t forget your coat! If you plan on hiking any of the trails, consider crampons and hiking poles to help you stay balanced.

All aboard! Take a ferry with some of the best views of the Seattle skyline to scenic Bainbridge Island. According to sports enthusiasts, this island is where three dads — Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell and Barney McCallum — invented pickleball, a popular sport that almost 40 million people play regularly. Whether you’re a pickleball fan or not, you’ll find something you love, from the scenic views of Puget Sound and delicious seafood to cute downtown shops.

Time from Seattle

• By boat: approximately 35 minutes from the Seattle waterfront — once you’re on the island, you can walk to all the best spots

• By car: approximately 2 hours

Things to do

• Visit Lytle Beach. This is a favorite spot among locals for good reason: It sits on Rich Passage, which is one of the warmest bodies of water surrounding the island with a sandy beach. See if you can spot sea lions or catch views of Mount Rainier on a clear day. 
• See Pia the Troll. This 18-foot art display is a classic photo op on Bainbridge Island in Sakai Park. 
• Get lost in the labyrinth. Halls Hill Labyrinth park is a stone maze that kids and adults alike will love to wander through. Walking these types of labyrinths has long been considered a meditative activity. 

Eat at Proper Fish. Grab some hand-cut fish and fries with a side of mushy peas before strolling Waterfront Park for ocean views.

This chain of 177 islands is home to the most nesting bald eagle pairs in any county in the country and has no traffic lights or fast food restaurants! The San Juan Islands are a famous archipelago connected to Seattle and Canada by the largest ferry system in the U.S., which makes them a perfect spot for a daytrip from the hustle and bustle of the city. 

Time from Seattle

• By boat: 45 minutes to 3 hours

• By air: approximately 45 minutes

Nearly everything you want to see will be within walking distance of the ferry harbor. If there are farther regions you’d like to explore, there are shuttle buses and trolleys to take you around the island. 

Things to do

• Go whale watching. Seattle whale watching season runs from April to October, with the chance to spot humpbacks, orcas and gray whales.
• Kayak the coast. Rent kayaks and head out to the south side of Lopez Island, a wildlife preserve where no one is allowed on the island but where you can spot nesting birds like bald eagles from the water. Or, check out Orcas Island, which offers 125 miles of gorgeous coastline and opportunities to spot orcas!

Visit Friday Harbor. Wander the streets of this charming and historical seaport, where you’ll find the Whale Museum, the San Juan Islands Museum of Art and the San Juan Community Theatre. If you’re there in the beginning of November, don’t miss the world-renowned documentary film festival.

Ready to see a waterfall twice as high as Niagara Falls? Snoqualmie Falls is the second most-visited nature site in Washington state (just after Mount Rainier), and it also features in the iconic television show Twin Peaks.

Time from Seattle

• By car: approximately 45 minutes
• By bus/van: approximately 45 minutes

Buses drop visitors off at the parking lot, from which guests can head to the waterfall overlook and hike.

Things to do

• View the falls from the lower level observation areas. From the lower parking lot, you’ll find an accessible gift shop and an area to see Snoqualmie Falls from below. 

• Hike the trail to the top of the falls. Stroll along the half-mile trail to get entirely new views of the waterfall. The walk itself isn’t difficult, but is a dirt trail that isn’t stroller  — or wheelchair — accessible. 

• See the 280-foot drop from the observation deck. Stand above the falls on the observation deck and watch thousands of gallons of water pour over the cliff. There’s a reason this waterfall helps power Western Washington! 

• Have a picnic. At the base, there are picnic tables where you can enjoy lunch in the shadow of the waterfall. Didn’t bring your lunch? No worries! There’s a cafe on-site where you can grab a bite to eat. 

If your cruise is in the winter, you can rent snowshoes at the giftshop to hike up the trail and enjoy winter wonderland views from the top of the falls. 

Enjoy a slice of Bavaria, Germany, in Washington! Spend the day experiencing the village's charming shops, indulging in authentic German cuisine, sampling locally brewed beers and feeling like you’re in the Alps. 

Time from Seattle

• By car: approximately 45 minutes

• By bus/van: approximately 45 minutes

The downtown area is best enjoyed by foot, hop off the shuttle and start exploring. 

Things to do

• Visit Christkindlmarkt. If your cruise is in December, don’t miss this German Christmas market with German food, handmade arts and crafts, a lantern parade and Christmas-themed entertainment — plus, thousands of lights. 

• Pet a reindeer. Visit the Leavenworth Reindeer Farm for the opportunity to pet and even feed these beautiful animals. You can see the reindeer year-round, but only on weekends in the summer. 
• Taste the local brews at Icicle Brewing Company. This brewery is located right downtown, and from the patio, you can see the water used in making the beer. Enjoy your drink by the outdoor fire or take a beer to go and ride the nearby historic Stevens Pass chairlift.
• Eat at München Haus. Try an authentic German bratwurst with sauerkraut or enjoy a Bavarian soft pretzel. Take your food to go and wander around the nearby riverbank for beautiful views as you munch your way through the classics of German cuisine. 

Venture north to a city with the most restaurants per capita in Canada and the oldest Chinatown in the country. In Victoria, you can stroll the narrowest alleyway in Canada, and get out on the water to spot three different species of orcas. 

If you’re heading to Victoria, don’t forget your passport, because you’ll be crossing the Canadian border! 

Time from Seattle

• By boat: 1–3 hours

• By air: approximately 1 hour

Once you arrive in the city, there’s public transportation that can take you anywhere you want to go. Victoria is also the bicycle capital of Canada because of its extensive network of paths and bike lanes, so you might also rent a bike and blend in with the locals. 

Things to do

• Stroll the Butchart Gardens. In 1904, Jennie Butchart began to plant flowers and beautify an old mine quarry. Today it’s 55 acres of dazzling floral displays. This garden is a little outside the city, so you’ll want to take a bus or the narrated shuttle from downtown. If you’re on an Alaska cruise, you can explore these gardens with Princess during a port stop.

• Explore the Royal BC Museum. Step into Canadian history and explore exhibits on everything from the British Columbia forests and innovative Canadian midcentury homeware to bone and shell artifacts from First Nations cultures.

• Visit Victoria’s Inner Harbour. This historic district houses all the parliament buildings in British Columbia and is usually bustling with local artisans, buskers and food trucks.

Have a traditional afternoon tea at Pendray Tea House. Enjoy your selection of tea alongside pastries, finger sandwiches and scones, a tradition Canada inherited from England. Try the West Coast version and enjoy fresh-caught salmon and tuna sandwiches; it’s the perfect combination of British and Canadian cultures. 

Tacoma gets its name from the Native American word for Mount Rainier — and for good reason, because you can see the towering peak on a clear day. Come see the City of Destiny or experience world-renowned glass art before strolling the downtown area. 

Time from Seattle

• By car: approximately 40 minutes

• By train: approximately 1 hour

Once you arrive in Tacoma, you can take the local bus system or a taxi to reach any of the spots you want to explore. 

Things to do

• Museum of Glass. Legendary glass artist Dale Chihuly is from Tacoma, and you can see some of his best work here — twisting and colorful pieces that look like they came straight from a Dr. Seuss book! There are also workshops you can sign up for in advance to learn how to blow glass. 

• Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium. See green sea turtles, a hammerhead shark, seals and even a tiger! Don’t miss the keeper talks, where you can watch the handlers feed the animals and ask exactly how fast a cheetah can run and how much a bear eats in a day. 

LeMay - America’s Car Museum. This museum is a member of America’s Automotive Trust, which makes it an internationally recognized destination for car lovers everywhere. Inside the museum, you can see old classics from the 1920s, a large collection of Porsches, real Nascar racers and more.

Beaches, tide pools and rainforests, oh my! The Olympic Peninsula is across the Puget Sound from Seattle and home to some of the best beaches in the state. It also contains the Hoh Rainforest, the only temperate rainforest in the contiguous U.S.It Twilight fans will want to stop in at Forks and LaPush Beach while nature lovers won’t be able to get enough of Olympic National Park. 

Time from Seattle

• By car/boat: 2–5 hours, depending on the destination

• By bus/van: 2–5 hours, depending on the destination

Your non-car options will vary depending on where you visit. For example, you could take a bus from Seattle to Lake Quinault in Olympic National Park and have no need for a car. However, much of Olympic National Park doesn’t have any public transportation, and there are some areas inaccessible without a car. 

Things to do

• Explore Olympic National Park. This park and designated UNESCO World Heritage Site features three distinct ecosystems: temperate rainforest, rugged coastline and glaciated mountains. Hike the Hall of Mosses Trail in the Hoh Rainforest or find bright green anemones in the tide pools to experience the wide variety of the Olympic Peninsula. 

• See Lake Crescent. This lake was formed thousands of years ago and is the only place in the world where you can find Beardslee and Crescenti trout. Walk the Moments in Time Loop trail along the edge of the water or visit Marymere Falls to see a 90-foot waterfall. 

• Visit Forks. This tiny town is the setting for much of the Twilight books and film series, and fans have been making pilgrimages here since 2005. Fans will love touring their favorite Twilight spots as well as visiting the Forever Twilight in Forks Collection for a glimpse behind the scenes at costumes and props from the movies.

Experience Cape Flattery. This is the northernmost point in the lower 48 states. See the iconic lighthouse and keep a watch out for wildlife like eagles, sea otters, octopuses and gray whales.

With 300 glaciers, this national park is home to more glaciers than Glacier National Park and any other park outside Alaska! There are old-growth forests that are hundreds of years old, dazzling waterfalls and rock flour — a mineral created when glaciers scrape over bedrock — lakes so blue you’ll hardly believe they’re real. 

Time from Seattle

• By car: approximately 3 hours

Note: There isn’t public transportation to this park because it’s quite remote. 

Things to do

• Stop at the North Cascades National Park Visitor Center. Chat with the rangers and get an idea of current conditions, as well as tips on where wildlife has been spotted recently. 

• Hike Thunder Creek Trail. Explore ancient forests and see a cloudy-blue, glacier-fed river in the heart of the park. If you’re looking for more adventure, continue on to Fourth of July Pass. 

Hike Diablo Lake Trail. Spend the day at the base of Sourdough Mountain, passing by dazzling alpine waterfalls with periodic peekaboo views of the stunningly blue Diablo Lake. You’ll see why this park is often dubbed the American Alps!

See where the legendary May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens eruption occurred and the 900-foot lava dome it left behind. The mountain’s slopes used to be densely forested, but volcanic activity in the 1980s left behind a gray landscape, and the environment there has been left to recover naturally. Today, you can see the newer plant growth peeking out of what used to be a desolate site. 

Scientists are constantly monitoring Mount St. Helens for any volcanic activity, so unless you hear a warning, you’re safe to visit this active volcano. 

Time from Seattle

• By car: approximately 3 hours

Things to do

• Windy Ridge Interpretive Site. Johnston Observatory is closed until 2026, so stop at this overlook to get some of the best views of the crater, Spirit Lake and the pumice fields left by the 1980 eruption.

• Hike the Lewis River Falls trail. This hike is a tour de force of waterfalls, with five falls with drops higher than 30 feet. You’ll hike through old-growth fir and cedar, and if you’re there in the summer, there are meadows of wildflowers. 

• Visit Ape Caves. Just south of the mountain, you can find the third largest lava tube in North America — and climb inside! This does require some dexterity and ability to scramble over rocks, but you’ll get an insider’s look of the volcano. 

• Climb Mount St. Helens. If you’re a mountain climber (or want to be), Mount St. Helens is one of the easiest volcanos to scale in Washington and can be done in around eight to nine hours. Be prepared to scramble up steep hills and adapt to weather conditions as necessary — don’t forget crampons for a winter ascent! If these crater-side views are on your bucket list, book a permit in advance to secure your spot. 

If you don't have time to stay in the city before or after your cruise, there are still great sites to explore. If you have an hour or two before embarkation, Pioneer Square is a must-see. This one block used to be the downtown area in the earliest days of Seattle, and now it’s home to a vibrant arts scene. 

Time from port

• By bus: approximately 35 minutes

• By foot: approximately 1 hour

From the Princess terminal at Port 91, you can stroll along the waterfront of Seattle and see the stunning skyline as you make your way to Pioneer Square. 

Things to do

• See the historic area. Pioneer Square used to be the starting point for prospectors during the 1860s Klondike Gold Rush. As you wander the area, look for the Smith Tower — which was the tallest building in 1914. 

• Take an underground tour. Step into history by going underground! On these tours, you’ll explore the subterranean passages that once were the main roadways and first-floor storefronts of old downtown Seattle. 

• Shop. This area is known for its quaint boutiques and luxury stores. Take a retro fashion journey at Bon Voyage Vintage or shop for flannels and old baseball caps at Ebbets Field Flannels. 

• Eat. Pioneer Square has food from around the globe like chili oil-drizzled carrot tartare at Darkalino’s and the vegan tacos from Rojo’s.