Washington in the mid-winter months is lovely- despite the joke that it rains here 24/7 (which is simply not true). The weather is relatively mild which makes traveling to some of the most beautiful places in the state totally possible. I live up in the most Northwest part of the United States, in Whatcom County. Thankfully there are so many beautiful adventures within 2-3 hours from my own backyard. Without further ado, let me name a few…
First off, one of my favorite places to go year-round is a little Bavarian-style village that is nestled in the Cascade Mountain Range, called Leavenworth, WA. Personally I think the midwinter season is the best time to go… less tourists, beautiful snow, and a relatively clear pass and picturesque drive on Hwy 2. Some of the activities to enjoy in Leavenworth are horse drawn carriage rides, snowshoeing, shopping (covid restrictions apply of course), delicious Bavarian restaurants, and apparently, the Post Hotel, a beautiful hotel and spa that ALL my friends are raving about. You can’t go wrong with an VRBO or Airbnb either, there are so many cute quaint homes for you to enjoy. Just look for yourself and book quickly… Leavenworth is popular.
Another gem of Washington is the snow-capped volcano Komo Kulshan, also known as Mount Baker (see image above). The drive up to the mountain is scenic and relatively quick (a little over an hour from the main interstate). My favorite little place to stop on the way up the mountain is the Wake N Bakery, a quick but delicious cafe to grab breakfast sandwiches, baked goods, and coffee (also the last bathroom break before the ski area, especially important if you are snowshoeing). Mount Baker Ski Area Heather Meadows is where the Mt. Baker Highway terminates and the skiing and snowboarding begins. People travel from all over the world to ski here. I, however, prefer to snowshoe near the lower lodge (pro-tip: my favorite route is along White Salmon Rd). The upper lodge, Heather Meadows, has a bowl shaped sledding area that is perfect for families to enjoy! You can easily spend all day up on the mountain and on a clear sunny day (yes we have sunny days in the winter), the views are unbelievable.
Not only am I an hour away from snow-capped mountain adventures but I am also less than an hour away from multiple islands. The San Juan Islands to be exact (insert all the dreamy heart eyes here). Since our weather is mild, the islands aren’t covered in snow and are accessible all year long. Again, VRBO and airbnb rentals are ready to be reserved on these beautiful isolated islands that speckle the Puget Sound (see above image from the San Juan Island website). Ferry rides are an experience all on their own… getting there is half the fun, right?!?! If timed properly you can walk on the ferry and spend all day just island hopping and shopping the cute port towns. From Anacortes you can leave your car and walk on the ferry to visit Friday Harbor, Orcas Island, and Lopez Island all on foot or bike (a goal of mine is to take my bike sometime).
I have to give a shout out to my own hometown of Bellingham, Washington and the adventure it has in itself. Bellingham is equipped with countless attractions on it’s own; from hiking in the Chuckanuts, to sailing in Bellingham Bay, dining in local highly-rated restaurants, to multiple cute shopping areas- specifically downtown Bellingham and Fairhaven Village. Not to mention the mountain biking on Galbraith Mountain; so many trails for all skill levels! Bellingham is the city of subdued excitement (see video below), I am totally biased.
Not to mention that Bellingham is also home to WWU, where I met Kendall years ago.
There you go. Some of my favorite places in Washington to travel and enjoy in the midwinter months. I know, most people will tell you it rains here non-stop. It’s not true. Find out for yourself and visit if you haven’t before.
The Salty Exchange 