Northwest Washington Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

La Conner featuring boating and a bay or harbour
Photo provided by Expedia Search Team
Bellingham featuring a bay or harbour and a marina
Coupeville showing rocky coastline, sailing and a bay or harbour
La Conner featuring street scenes as well as a couple

Beautiful views of the Cascade Mountains, roaring waterfalls and rural towns built with a pioneering spirit make this region one of Washington’s treasures.

Visit the rugged Northwest Washington region, which shares a border with Canada, to sit at the foothills of the local mountain ranges, cycle along the oceanfront and watch children splashing in the surf in small seaside villages.

On the banks of the Skagit River is Sedro-Woolley, a community started in 1914 by explorers who were traveling through the local forests. See the cedar statues and gas lamp replicas downtown and venture inside the Sedro-Woolley Museum to see photos of the first residents. From there, take Highway 20 to explore the vast wilderness of the North Cascades National Park.

For a delightful college town atmosphere, head to Bellingham, which also provides easy access to Mt. Baker and the San Juan Islands. Hike to the Whatcom Creek Gorge to see four unique waterfalls and go for a swim in Whatcom Falls Park. Children will enjoy inspecting model trains at Bellingham Railway Museum and playing with the hands-on exhibits at Mindport Arts and Sciences Museum.

Founded in the 1860s, the small town of La Conner is one of the oldest towns in Skagit County. Walk across the Rainbow Bridge and observe fishing boats come in to shore. Restaurants line the waterfront of Downtown La Conner, where locally owned boutique shops sell crafts and quality wares. A similar atmosphere exists in Mount Vernon where most shops and seafood restaurants have beautiful views of a river.

Take a ferry out to the San Juan Islands for an outdoor adventure. Bring your bicycle to enjoy the trails on Lummi Island, which is just a 10-minute journey across Bellingham Bay.

The rural atmosphere and prevalence of small towns means that renting a car is your best option when traveling around the region. Fly into Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and take Interstate 5 up north to Mount Vernon and Bellingham. Buy your tickets onboard local ferries to head to the San Juan Islands.

For a unique view of Northwest Washington, consider traveling in the winter months when you can snowshoe across miles of trails.

Where to stay in Northwest Washington

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Fairhaven

Restaurants, shopping and spas are just a few things travellers enjoy about Fairhaven. Check out Bellingham Cruise Terminal or Bellingham Bay while you're exploring the area.

Fairhaven
Bellingham which includes a waterfall

Bellingham City Center

While visiting Bellingham City Center, you might make a stop by sights like Marine Life Center and Mount Baker Theatre.

Bellingham City Center
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Puget

While there might not be top attractions in Puget, you can explore the larger area and discover places like Mount Baker Theatre and Cornwall Beach.

Puget
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Samish Hill

While visiting Samish Hill, you might make a stop by sights like Lake Padden Park and Lake Padden Golf Course.

Samish Hill
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Sehome

While Sehome may not have many sights to explore, venturing just a little farther will lead you to top things to see and do like Cornwall Beach and Mount Baker Theatre.

Sehome
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York

When in York, you can plan a visit to Mount Baker Theatre and Depot Market Square, some noteworthy sights in the nearby area.

York
Clarion Pointe Mount Vernon - Burlington
Clarion Pointe Mount Vernon - Burlington
2.5 out of 5
300 W College Way, Mount Vernon, WA
The price is NZ$167 per night from 28 July to 29 July
NZ$167
28 July - 29 July
includes taxes & fees
Book a stay at this business-friendly hotel in Mount Vernon. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Popular attractions Lincoln Theater and RiverBelle ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (64 reviews)
"Very nice hotel. Good breakfast. It was quiet."

Reviewed on 9 Jul. 2025

Clarion Pointe Mount Vernon - Burlington
La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Marysville
La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Marysville
3 out of 5
11430 38TH DRIVE NE, Marysville, WA
The price is NZ$253 per night from 10 Aug to 11 Aug
NZ$253
10 Aug - 11 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3-star hotel in Marysville. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in our reviews. ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (1,738 reviews)
Good Place to Stay
"Quiet, clean and comfortable. I would recommend this hotel. The only thing I can say was a negative was the breakfast, not enough choices plus they ran out of a couple of things that took a long time to replenish. The breakfast was good for what they offered."

Reviewed on 7 Jul. 2025

La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Marysville
Wingate by Wyndham Bellingham Heritage Inn
Wingate by Wyndham Bellingham Heritage Inn
3 out of 5
151 E McLeod Road, Bellingham, WA
The price is NZ$187 per night from 27 July to 28 July
NZ$187
27 July - 28 July
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3-star business-friendly hotel in Bellingham. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful ...
7.2/10 Good! (1,009 reviews)
"Great breakfast"

Reviewed on 8 Jul. 2025

Wingate by Wyndham Bellingham Heritage Inn
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Postcard Cabins Skagit Valley
Postcard Cabins Skagit Valley
2 out of 5
21802 Washington 9, Mount Vernon, WA
Stay at this cabin in Mount Vernon. Enjoy free parking, patios, and climate control. Popular attractions Lake McMurray and Big Lake Wetlands Conservation Area ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (16 reviews)
Awesome and tucked away
"What an amazing getaway. Glamping done in absolute style with such thoughtful touches like a campfire starter kit, a smores kit, a small bluetooth speaker, cards and more. Thanks for such a beautiful stay."

Reviewed on 7 Jul. 2025

Postcard Cabins Skagit Valley
West Beach Resort
West Beach Resort
3.5 out of 5
190 Waterfront Way, Eastsound, WA
Stay at this 3.5-star beach cabin in Eastsound. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a private beach. Popular attractions Orcas Island Golf Course and North Beach ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (99 reviews)
"Rustic resort with beautiful sunsets and amenities. We did have someone lurking around our cabin one evening-claimed to be looking for someone who worked at the property. It was very suspicious. He left our place but hung around the resort for some time. I did not report it at the time as no one ..."

Reviewed on 24 Jun. 2025

West Beach Resort
Waterfront cottage - Free Wi-Fi - fully fenced backyard
Waterfront cottage - Free Wi-Fi - fully fenced backyard
Freeland
Stay at this vacation home in Freeland. Enjoy free WiFi, a garden, and laundry facilities. Popular attractions Blooms and Goss Lake are located nearby.
7.4/10 Good! (38 reviews)
Review for VRBO
"General: Stayed for 6 nights. When we arrived for a time of solitude and study we found there was no toilet paper in the home, and several lightbulbs were burnt out making it impossible to get enough light in any area for the work we had rented it to accomplish. After our arrival I contacted the ..."

Reviewed on 10 Nov. 2024

Waterfront cottage - Free Wi-Fi - fully fenced backyard
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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Cities near Northwest Washington