Five parks near Seattle
Saint Edwards, 25 min.
What to do: Pretend you're a character in Downton Abbey. Explore the 81,000 square-foot seminary building, designed by legendary architect John Graham in the Late Romanesque Revival style in 1931. Have a meal or a drink and learn about the history of this park on Lake Washington. You can even stay the night, as it is now a boutique hotel.
Squak Mountain, 30 min.
What to do: Hike, run or horseback ride the 13 miles of winding trails. But, if you're a first-time visitor, you’ll want to head straight for the Bullitt Fireplace trail. An enormous stone fireplace stands in the middle of a glen – the remains of a 1952 cabin.
Lake Sammamish, 30 min.
What to do: Go kayaking for the first time or for the 500th time. The calm lake makes it an ideal spot to learn, and rentals are still available through October, weather permitting. But before you go, make sure you're prepared. Here are some water safety tips you should know before hitting the water.
Cama Beach and Camano Island, 80 min.
What to do: Bring binoculars and try to spot passing gray whales and, if you're lucky, orcas from the beach. Then, head up to the Cama Cafe for a delicious meal and beautiful views of Saratoga Passage. Finally, hike the one-mile trail to Camano Island State Park and spend the night in a gorgeous campsite by the water.
Mt. Pilchuck, 90 min.
What to do: Make the 2,300-foot climb up the 2.7-mile trail to the summit and historic fire lookout to see 360-degree views of Mount Baker, Mount Shuksan, Mount Rainier and the Olympic Mountains.
 Willapa Hills State Park Trail
Millersylvania, 20 min.
What to do: Take advantage of the calm waters of Deep Lake and practice standup paddleboarding. The parking lot is near the lake so you won't have to carry your board far, and the water access point is friendly. If you're looking to stay dry, the park also has miles of stunning trails that wind through old growth forest and wetlands. After you're done with your hike or trail run, be sure to take a look at one of the historic Civilian Conservation Corps kitchen shelters.
Tolmie, 20 min.
What to do: Scuba dive. Tolmie is a popular spot for Scuba divers who love to explore its underwater artificial reef. It's also a favorite place for families to swim and explore the salty beach.
Willapa Hills Trail, 40 min.
What to do: Use this converted rail trail to hike, bike or ride horses between Chehalis and the Washington coast. The trail rolls through farmland, small towns and coastal forests. Fall colors and restored railroad bridges make for fabulous photo ops. If you’d rather be in the Chehalis River than above it, you can fish or swim from gravel bars below the trail.
Lake Sylvia, 50 min.
What to do: Live the lake life. It's a popular spot for anglers who cast lines from the fishing bridge and a favorite place for paddlers and families to get into the water to beat the heat on warm, sunny days.
Rainbow Falls, 50 min.
What to do: Get a little R&R off the beaten path. Arrive by bike, foot or horse from the Willapa Hills Trail (WHT), or travel by car on Hwy 6. Set in a stand of old-growth, you’ll find tent, RV and equestrian camping plus fishing, horseshoe pits, an open ballfield ringed by trees beside the waterfall for which the park is named. Unpack a picnic or explore the WHT on both sides of the park. You may have that section of trail to yourself.
 Scenic Beach State Park
Illahee, 10 min.
What to do: Work your way from the top of the park to the bottom. Start upland with a picnic lunch in one of the Civilian Conservation Corps-era picnic shelters in the forest. Then, see the two huge Naval guns that were donated from the U.S.S. Virginia. Head down to the water where you can fish from the pier, go crabbing, launch your kayak or swim.
Manchester, 25 min.
What to do: Check out its signature feature, the Torpedo Warehouse. Before Manchester became a state park, “Middle Point” had a brief stint as a military fort. Then, enjoy stunning views of Rich Passage and Puget Sound from its 3,400 feet of saltwater shoreline.
Scenic Beach, 30 min.
What to do: Get off the beaten path. The campsites here are well spaced out with trees surrounding them, so they feel private. It's a brief walk from the campground to the beach, and you can't beat the sunsets over the water with Olympics towering across the Hood Canal. Enjoy the playground and picnic area or walk near the 1911 Emel House and marvel at the park’s historic buildings.
Kopachuck, 35 min.
What to do: Load your kids into the car and head straight to the playground. This park just reopened this summer after extensive renovations, so you don't want to miss all the new amenities it has to offer. Your kids will love the new cabin-inspired playground, its easy hiking trails and the new amphitheater.
Twanoh, 40 min.
What to do: Plan a family gathering. With 125 picnic tables, two reservable kitchen shelters and sport courts begging to unearth deep-seated rivalries à la Ross and Monica, Twanoh is the ideal locale for that get-together you've been meaning to have. If cooking isn't for you, the Posh Pescatarian is serving up fresh dishes for a little while longer. Try their house-made shrimp ceviche or Caribbean Grilled Shrimp with Mango Salsa before they close for the season on Sunday, Sept. 28.
 Battle Ground Lake State Park
Paradise Point, 25 min.
What to do: Play the park’s nine-hole disc golf course with its mile-long flat walk and a few challenging tees. Once you've beaten all of your friends, hop into the East Fork of the Lewis River and cool off.
Battle Ground Lake, 30 min.
What to do: Spring-fed Battle Ground Lake was once a caldera at the foot of the Cascades volcanoes. Now it's a great spot for swimming, fishing and paddling as well as hiking, horseback riding and picnicking.
Beacon Rock, 40 min.
What to do: Split your time between waterfalls and volcanoes. This park is famous for the 848-foot-tall Beacon Rock, a 57,000-year-old basalt volcanic cone, but it's worth heading across the highway to check out the 2,000-foot hike up Hamilton Mountain in the upper park, which takes you to dramatic waterfalls and stellar views of the Gorge.
Seaquest and the Mount St. Helens Visitor Center, 1 hour
What to do: Go to the newly-renovated Mount St. Helens Visitor Center. After you've made your own earthquake, explored the inside of the volcano and watched the new feature film, take a walk on the Silver Lake trail, which includes a boardwalk over a wetland with excellent birding opportunities. Finish your visit by taking the underground pedestrian tunnel across the highway to Seaquest State Park. This green, forested park has camping, yurts and a great playground for the kids.
Fort Columbia and Cape Disappointment, 2 hours
What to do: First, head to Fort Columbia. It was built between 1896 and 1904 and decommissioned in 1947. Nowadays, it's one of the most intact forts from its time. Wander through the old gun batteries and even stay the night in one of the two officer's homes. Then, head to iconic Cape Disappointment and explore not one, but two lighthouses. Hike stunning seaside trails and check out the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, the spot where their expedition ended its westward journey.
 Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park
Lincoln Rock, 20 min.
What to do: Launch your boat or kayak and see if you can make out the namesake rock formation. The best views of Honest Abe can be had from the middle of the river.
Squilchuck, 20 min.
What to do: Go mountain biking. While this park is a lesser-known gem, it's a well-known icon in the mountain biking community. It's also a stunning spot for hiking, trail running and wildflower viewing. You're sure to find a little peace and quiet in nature while you enjoy towering ponderosa pines and balsamroot flowers.
Daroga, 35 min.
What to do: Go for a swim or a paddle in this sagebrush-surrounded oasis in the golden hills of Entiat.
Ginkgo and Wanapum, 1 hour
What to do: Visit the Ginkgo Petrified Forest Interpretive Center where you will view the scenic Columbia River, touch petrified wood and see the landscape carved by the Ice Age floods. Then, head down the road to Wanapum and cool off in the river or camp there after catching a show at The Gorge Amphitheatre.
Bridgeport, 90 min.
What to do: Fish for rainbow trout, silvers and walleye. Then, tell your friends about the 50-pounder you swear was just about in the boat over a picnic lunch. When you're ready to get back to reality, bike the three-mile paved trail to Chief Joseph Dam. Be sure to check the schedule and attend a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers talk while you’re there.
 Spokane River Centennial Trail
Riverside, in Spokane
What to do: Where do we start? Everything? Boating, paddling, swimming, mountain biking, off-roading, horseback riding, rock climbing, visiting historic sites and scenic overlooks or napping in dappled sunlight — Riverside is our kitchen sink park. If it's your first visit, we recommend starting at the churning Bowl and Pitcher area on the Spokane River, where you can cross the suspension bridge originally built by the Civilian Conservation Corps.
Spokane River Centennial Trail, 25 min.
What to do: Start at the western end of the trail next to Nine Mile Falls and ride bikes to the Idaho border and beyond! First you’ll cruise through Riverside State Park. The trail then passes through historic downtown Spokane and then eastward into the Spokane Valley. Extend your ride by continuing on the Northern Idaho Centennial Trail, which crosses the Trail of the Coeur d’ Alenes six miles east of Coeur d’Alene.
Columbia Plateau Trail North, 35 min.
What to do: Cycle the northern portion of this long-distance trail, starting at Fish Lake, riding south and west through the Turnbull Wildlife Refuge to Amber Lake. This makes for a 20-mile ride with a car shuttle, or up to 40 round-trip. The Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge is a lesser-known gem. It sees over 200 species of birds as well as moose and elk.
Palouse to Cascades Trail East, 50 min.
What to do: Take a short drive south to Malden and ride to Tekoa near the Idaho border. If you like riding solo, recruit a friend for a key swap bike ride, or leave a second car at Tekoa at the eastern end of the trail and bike together through golden fields, granaries and small towns of far eastern Washington. Finish your ride by crossing the historic Tekoa Trestle for a bird’s-eye view of Tekoa amid rolling hills that turn green in spring and mauve on late summer evenings.
Mount Spokane, 1 hour
What to do: Chip away at the miles and miles of trails to explore. Mount Spokane has over 90 miles of hiking and mixed-use trails in the Selkirk mountains. You could come back again and again and never see them all. In winter, the park stays open but becomes a Sno-Park with snowshoeing. Many of the trails are also groomed for Nordic skiing, and the Mount Spokane Ski Area operates a downhill ski resort on slopes that hold excellent powder.
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