Hit the Road: Funky Family Road Trips From Seattle

For most family vacations these days, the journey is not the destination. We want to just hurry up and get there, already. But there was a time when piling into the car and hitting the open road was the quintessential family adventure, the kind of trip where bonding (and squabbling over what’s on the radio) was inevitable, where memories of mileposts and milkshakes were created. It’s time to bring back the family road trip!

These six driving routes from the Seattle area will immerse you in the heart and soul of Northwest landscapes and communities: You’ll feel the spray of waterfalls, smell the desert sage, stop at funky attractions for fun photo ops and fill up at fantastic roadside eats.

Each stop is handpicked to add a unique experience to your trip. Use the arrows above the image to choose your adventure, pick a weekend and hit the road.

Editor's note:This article was originally published in 2015 and updated in 2018.