Seattle and Olympic (Seattle; Port Angeles; Ashford), the United States: things to do, when to go and how to get there

Get to know the place

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

Seattle is the largest city in the State of Washington, in the northwest of the United States, between Puget Sound and Lake Washington. The city grew with the timber industry, its port and the Klondike Gold Rush at the end of the 19th century, when it served as a departure point for Alaska and the Yukon. Today it hosts large technology and aviation companies, and the downtown hills slope down to the pier.

The Seattle Center, site of the 1962 World’s Fair, includes the Space Needle, the Museum of Pop Culture and the Chihuly Garden and Glass, connected to downtown by a monorail from the same era. Near the water are Pike Place Market, the historic Pioneer Square neighborhood, and the ferry terminal that crosses the bay. To the south, by the airfield where Boeing began, is the Museum of Flight.

On the other side of the bay is the Olympic Peninsula, almost entirely occupied by the national park of the same name, a UNESCO site: in a single day you can go from snow-capped peaks to moss-covered forest valleys to a rocky Pacific coast. Port Angeles, on the peninsula’s northern shore, is the base for Hurricane Ridge, Crescent Lake and the Hoh Forest, and it also has a ferry to Victoria, Canada.

To the southeast, the white cone of Mount Rainier, at 4,392 meters with dozens of glaciers, appears on Seattle’s horizon on clear days. Ashford lies on the road to the park’s southwest entrance, on the way to Longmire and Paradise, with flower meadows in summer and abundant snow in winter.

This destination brings together 3 cities: Seattle, Port Angeles, Ashford.

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One destination, many paths

The cities on this trip

Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.

Where Seattle and Olympic (Seattle; Port Angeles; Ashford) is

Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau / geoBoundaries (public domain). Adapted by Cidade Turismo.

How to get there: Seattle and Olympic (Seattle; Port Angeles; Ashford)

✈ Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), in SeaTac · 20 km to Seattle

Seattle–Tacoma Airport (SEA), south of the city, has light rail service to downtown. King Street station receives trains from Oregon and Canada. To reach Port Angeles, the route combines a ferry and about two hours of driving; to Ashford and Mount Rainier, it’s about two hours by car southeast.

Suggested arrival point: Seattle

Estado de Washington · Seattle and Olympic (Seattle; Port Angeles; Ashford) Suggested arrival point

Seattle

Largest city in the State of Washington, spread over hills and isthmuses on the waterfront. Downtown slopes down to the waterfront, with Pike Place Market and the ferries; the Seattle Center, site of the 1962 fair, includes the Space Needle, the Chihuly Garden and Glass, and the Museum of Pop Culture; and to the south, the Museum of Flight is located at the airfield linked to Boeing's history. Pioneer Square preserves brick buildings from the late 19th century.

Estado de Washington · Seattle and Olympic (Seattle; Port Angeles; Ashford)

Port Angeles

Port city on the north side of the Olympic Peninsula, facing the Strait of Juan de Fuca, with a ferry to Victoria, Canada. It is the main base for Olympic National Park: the road up to Hurricane Ridge starts here; to the west lie Crescent Lake and, farther on, the Hoh Forest. The park visitor center is in town with information and maps, and the waterfront boardwalk leads to the pier.

Estado de Washington · Seattle and Olympic (Seattle; Port Angeles; Ashford)

Ashford

Settlement on Highway 706, a few kilometers from the Nisqually entrance, southwest of Mount Rainier. It has lodging, restaurants and gear rental shops along the road, and is the base for reaching Longmire and Paradise, the park’s meadows and glaciers. It is named after Walter Ashford, who settled there in 1888.

The local experience

Things to do in Seattle and Olympic (Seattle; Port Angeles; Ashford)

Port Angeles · Washington State · Viewpoint

Hurricane Ridge

A mountain ridge about 1,600 meters above sea level in Olympic National Park, 27 km from Port Angeles by a winding road. At the top, summer wildflower meadows, short trails and views of the snow-covered Olympic Mountains and their glaciers.

Ashford · Washington State · National park

Paradise (Mount Rainier)

Meadow area on the south flank of Mount Rainier, around 1,650 meters, with the park visitor center, trails through flowers in summer and glacier views. It is one of the snowiest places in the world in winter.

Seattle · Washington State · Viewpoint

Space Needle

The 184-meter tower built for the 1962 world’s fair, a symbol of Seattle. From the observation level, at 160 meters, the view covers downtown, Puget Sound and, on clear days, Mount Rainier; on the lower floor, the glass floor slowly rotates.

Port Angeles · Washington State · Lake

Lake Crescent

A very clear-water lake in a valley carved by glaciers, about 30 km west of Port Angeles in Olympic National Park. It has forested shores, the trail to Marymere Falls and an old railroad turned into a trail.

See 6 more places in Seattle and Olympic (Seattle; Port Angeles; Ashford)

Ashford · Washington State · Historic site

Longmire

The park’s former headquarters in the forest beside the Nisqually River, with rustic stone-and-wood buildings, a small museum and the Trail of the Shadows loop around the mineral springs.

Seattle · Washington State · Market

Pike Place Market

Seattle’s public market, opened in 1907 on the slope above the bay, with fish and seafood stalls, fruit, flowers, crafts and small restaurants, beneath the red Public Market Center sign.

Seattle · Washington State · Museum

Chihuly Garden and Glass

Exhibition of glass sculptures by Dale Chihuly, the Tacoma-born artist, shown in galleries, a glasshouse, and a garden at the base of the Space Needle.

Port Angeles · Washington State · Forest

Hoh Rain Forest

Temperate rainforest in the Hoh River valley on the west side of Olympic National Park, with firs and maples covered in moss. The Hall of Mosses and Spruce Nature Trail depart from the visitor center.

Seattle · Washington State · Museum

Museum of Pop Culture

Museum of music, film and popular culture in the colorful metal building designed by Frank Gehry, with the world’s largest collection of Jimi Hendrix artifacts, rooms for playing instruments and science-fiction exhibitions.

Seattle · Washington State · Museum

The Museum of Flight

Air and space museum at Boeing Field, south of Seattle, with more than 150 aircraft, the red barn where Boeing began, a Concorde, the first American presidential jet and a space shuttle simulator.

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

When to go

Summer, from July to September, usually brings little rain, long days and high park roads free of snow. Between October and April overcast skies and drizzle prevail, and snow closes mountain sections; in the city, winter is usually mild, between 3 °C and 9 °C.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

How many days to stay

Two days cover downtown Seattle, the Seattle Center and Pike Place Market. The Olympic Peninsula requires two or three more days, because park areas are far apart. Mount Rainier fits into a long day trip from Seattle, or two days with an overnight near Ashford.

Which city to stay in

In Seattle, downtown, between Pike Place Market and Pioneer Square, leaves almost everything within walking distance and near the airport train. Belltown and South Lake Union are on the way to the Seattle Center; Capitol Hill has bars and nightlife. On the peninsula, Port Angeles concentrates lodging near Hurricane Ridge and the ferry; Forks is closer for the Hoh Forest. For Rainier, Ashford and the cabins along Highway 706.

Respect the place

Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.

Get your questions answered

Frequently asked questions about Seattle and Olympic (Seattle; Port Angeles; Ashford)

How many days should I set aside for Seattle and the parks?

Two days for Seattle, two or three for the Olympic Peninsula and one or two for Mount Rainier. With five days you can do the city and one of the parks without rushing.

Do I need a car to visit Olympic National Park and Mount Rainier?

In practice, yes. Both parks have few regular buses, and the visitor areas are spread out. In Seattle a car is not necessary: there is light rail, buses, a monorail and ferries. In the United States you drive on the right.

What is the best time to visit Seattle?

From July to September, when it usually rains less and the roads to Hurricane Ridge and Paradise are open and snow-free. The rest of the year brings more rain and cold in the mountains, but the city operates normally.

What time zone is Seattle in?

Seattle follows Pacific Time: UTC−8 in winter and UTC−7 during daylight saving time, which runs from March to November.

What documents are required to travel to Seattle?

Entry requirements for the United States depend on your nationality, travel document and purpose of visit: some countries are visa-exempt with electronic authorization and others require a visa. Requirements can change: confirm before travel.

Seattle and Olympic (Seattle; Port Angeles; Ashford)

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

The cities on this trip