Every Family’s Northwest Bucket List

• Christmas Ships. Gather on a dark beach for live music broadcast to shore from decorated ships, and (if you’re lucky) enjoy a bonfire. Christmas Ships pass locations all around Puget Sound, Dec. 1–23. You can book a tour on the boat, but it’s free to stand on the shore, watch the parade of ships and enjoy the music.
• Santa Train. Make some ho-ho-holiday memories by riding in an antique train car from North Bend to Snoqualmie to meet Santa. Trains typically run weekends from late November through mid-December. Buy your tickets early, as they often sell out.
• Model Train Festival. Washington State History Museum has one of the largest model train displays in the region, and it celebrates all things choo-choo during this December festival — with Santa himself in attendance on select days.

Editor’s note: This article was originally published in 2018 and updated for 2023.