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Nearby getaway spots for your family vacation
To get us through our dark and dreary winter (and rainy spring), many Seattle-area families plan vacations. If they’re lucky, this may include flying to a warm and sunny spot.
But due to budget considerations or young kids still waiting to be vaccine-eligible, many of us need to stick closer to home. But we still would like a change of scenery and a break from our humdrum daily life. What to do?
To help, we’ve gathered together some of our top local travel stories, each highlighting one or more nearby getaway destinations for Washington families. You can pile your fam into the car to get to these places, and bring along your own gear and food (and in a few cases even the family dog!).
Use the arrows above the image to take a cruise through nearby getaway ideas and see if one might suit your crew this season.
Mountains to beaches
Back in summer 2020, when everyone was about up to their eyeballs in quarantine, a few resorts and lodges around the state began to open up. We wrote up this list of seven family getaways for Washington families that includes beachfront spots and cozy mountain resorts. This kid-favorite spot puts your toes right into the mighty — and icy — Pacific.
Note that the list includes Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort, which is currently closed for winter, but it reopens in spring, right about the time you’ll really want to warm up!
7 more family getaway spots
The article linked on the previous page was so popular that we published a follow-up with even more ideas for family escapes around Washington. This list includes a very long beach, a posh, family-friendly resort on Hood Canal and a getaway to “school” with a pool.
As with all the places in this staycation planner, you’ll need to check on current COVID-19 safety protocols in place — and what amenities are open — at the destination you’re considering.
Cozy cabins
A stay in a cabin or cottage sounds so cozy and charming — and typically these have their own entrance, which is a big plus for many families. Our list of 10 nearby cabin getaways for families was a big hit with you. If you haven’t seen it, take a pass through to find lots of ideas, from rustic state park cabins to stunning waterfront locales in the San Juans. Then start imagining sipping cocoa and looking out at the amazing views.
Kid-friendly lodges around the Northwest
A ParentMap travel story highlighting kid-friendly lodges is full of great getaway ideas. A perennially popular one is Lake Quinault Lodge on the Olympic Peninsula. A few highlighted destinations, such as Lake Crescent Lodge, are closed for winter, but you could plan ahead for spring.
This article also contains a few ideas in Canada (on the last page), and travel to Canada is back open! Though keep in mind that crossing the border does require a little extra research and planning to comply with current regulations.
More quick getaways for Seattle-area families
Head over the mountains for Bavarian-style family fun in Leavenworth. You’ll see beautiful scenery en route and feel like you’ve plopped into a character-version of Europe.
Or saddle up for fun and sun over the mountains in Western-themed Winthrop, a great spot for kid-sized hikes and tasty treats.
Yet another sunny spot in eastern Washington, our state’s apple capital of Wenatchee delivers family fun in all four seasons.
Out on the coast, the resort town of Seabrook serves up manufactured charm that suits families with young kids looking for an easy vacation. The wide-open beach is a kid’s paradise in any season.
Our article on Bellingham presents it as a late-summer escape, but families will love the outdoor opportunities and great parks in this college town any time of year.
Editor’s note: This article was originally published in 2020 and updated for 2021.
