weekender.
Weekend trips from Pacific Lutheran
Hidden spots near Tacoma, day trips and weekend road trips from Pacific Lutheran in November, scored 1–10 on price, timing and what's happening, with gas, park fees, a campsite or room and food included.
Plan your own trip from Pacific Lutheran →Local finds near campus
Bainbridge Island ferry
The ferry ride gives the best Seattle skyline view, then a small island town of bakeries.
Day trips
Leavenworth
A whole mountain town dressed as a Bavarian village, with river tubing and alpine lakes.
Hood River
Kiteboarders on the Columbia and a loop of farm stands and cideries under Mount Hood.
Columbia Gorge & Multnomah Falls
A river canyon lined with waterfalls, the tallest 620 feet, 40 minutes from Portland.
Seattle
Pike Place's fish throwers, the Fremont Troll under a bridge and the skyline from Kerry Park.
Olympic National Park
Moss-draped Hoh Rain Forest and Rialto Beach's sea stacks and driftwood, in one weekend.
Deception Pass
A high bridge over a churning tidal channel, with madrona-tree trails and driftwood beaches.
Weekend trips
Leavenworth
A whole mountain town dressed as a Bavarian village, with river tubing and alpine lakes.
Columbia Gorge & Multnomah Falls
A river canyon lined with waterfalls, the tallest 620 feet, 40 minutes from Portland.
Lake Chelan
A 50-mile glacier lake with sunny beaches and wineries, Washington's summer escape.
Silver Falls
The Trail of Ten Falls, where you walk behind several of the waterfalls.
Painted Hills
Hills striped red, gold and black that change color with the light. Free.
Smith Rock
Golden river cliffs where American sport climbing began; Misery Ridge has the view.
Long weekends
Silver Falls
The Trail of Ten Falls, where you walk behind several of the waterfalls.
Lake Chelan
A 50-mile glacier lake with sunny beaches and wineries, Washington's summer escape.
Painted Hills
Hills striped red, gold and black that change color with the light. Free.
Smith Rock
Golden river cliffs where American sport climbing began; Misery Ridge has the view.
Bend
Float the Deschutes through town, then a lava tube and a mountain of breweries.
Ashland
The Oregon Shakespeare Festival (Feb–Oct, cheap student rush tickets) in a small town with no sales tax.
Personalize it
Set your budget, how many friends are coming, your car (or no car: train and bus), and what you're into (hiking, beaches, camping, stargazing, food and more), and Weekender re-ranks every trip for you, with a day-by-day plan, directions and campsites.
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