weekender.
Weekend trips from University of Washington
Hidden spots near Seattle, day trips and weekend road trips from University of Washington 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 University of Washington →Local finds near campus
Bainbridge Island ferry
The ferry ride gives the best Seattle skyline view, then a small island town of bakeries.
Snoqualmie Falls
A 268-foot waterfall and the lodge from Twin Peaks, 40 minutes from Seattle.
Mount Si
Seattle's training hike: 3,150 feet up to a rocky haystack summit over the valley.
Day trips
Leavenworth
A whole mountain town dressed as a Bavarian village, with river tubing and alpine lakes.
Lake Chelan
A 50-mile glacier lake with sunny beaches and wineries, Washington's summer escape.
Deception Pass
A high bridge over a churning tidal channel, with madrona-tree trails and driftwood beaches.
Olympic National Park
Moss-draped Hoh Rain Forest and Rialto Beach's sea stacks and driftwood, in one weekend.
Hurricane Ridge
Olympic peaks and glaciers above Port Angeles, with deer in the meadows and snowshoeing in winter.
Mount Rainier
A glacier volcano above meadows that explode with wildflowers in late summer.
Weekend trips
Leavenworth
A whole mountain town dressed as a Bavarian village, with river tubing and alpine lakes.
Lake Chelan
A 50-mile glacier lake with sunny beaches and wineries, Washington's summer escape.
Columbia Gorge & Multnomah Falls
A river canyon lined with waterfalls, the tallest 620 feet, 40 minutes from Portland.
Silver Falls
The Trail of Ten Falls, where you walk behind several of the waterfalls.
Deception Pass
A high bridge over a churning tidal channel, with madrona-tree trails and driftwood beaches.
Olympic National Park
Moss-draped Hoh Rain Forest and Rialto Beach's sea stacks and driftwood, in one weekend.
Long weekends
Columbia Gorge & Multnomah Falls
A river canyon lined with waterfalls, the tallest 620 feet, 40 minutes from Portland.
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.
Silver Falls
The Trail of Ten Falls, where you walk behind several of the waterfalls.
Bend
Float the Deschutes through town, then a lava tube and a mountain of breweries.
Astoria
The Goonies house, a hilltop column with a 164-step spiral, and the mouth of the Columbia.
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.
Find my trips from University of Washington →