“Doesn’t it rain there a lot?” “I couldn’t handle that much rain.” “I think I’d rather have snow than rain.” “That would get so depressing.” Often accompanied by a look of pity. 

I take a deep breath and gear up to convince whoever that it’s not that rainy in Washington. 

And seriously, folks, it’s not. Sure, the winter season is damp, but having lived in WI for 25 years, I’ll take the rain and puddles any day over shoveling snow for the 5th night in a row and white-knuckling it down the highway. 

Still, no matter what I say, I don’t think I’ve convinced too many people that Washington’s not that bad. But maybe this article will change your mind. 

Side Note – How much has it really rained?

Don’t care? Skip ahead to my favorite things to do.

In my line of work, we like to say, ‘Perception is reality.’ As I was thinking about the rain here and reflecting on my three winters, I wondered if my perception of the rain matched the reality.

I don’t have a great way to measure my perception other than vague terms, but I figured I’d start by providing some background on my three winters here.

Winter 2020

I arrived in Olympia, Washington, in November 2020, heartbroken from a breakup and pretty down about having to crash with my sister as a 30-year-old woman. Thankfully, By January, I had my own place, and things were looking up.

I don’t recall the weather being terrible or hating the rain, especially since I had to move. In fact, it was sunny and crisp on the day my moving pod arrived in January. When it did rain, I recall it being a light drizzle on and off throughout the day. It was still comfortable to go outside and not too cold.

Winter 2021

My second Winter in Washington was not so great. My parents decided to come for Thanksgiving. It just happened to be the same week we got an atmospheric river, which is, like it sounds, the sky dumping a river down on you. The Hoh RAIN-forest was closed – due to rain. The rest of the Winter seemed rainier and grayer than I remembered the year before.

Winter 2022

Ugh. This one was the worst. Bruno had passed away in the Summer. I was still grieving when Winter hit. By October, I had decided to become a digital nomad and started prepping. Well, kind of. I remember it constantly pouring. I had to drop things off at my storage unit, pack the camper, and install a tonneau cover – nothing I wanted to do in the rain. Plus, it was cold. There were mornings I woke up with sheets of glass covering my Subaru. It was far easier to sit in my cozy house and play fishdom.

Shout out to my sister and good friend Natalie, who, upon seeing the state of my house the day before I was supposed to leave, stuck around and helped me finish packing and cleaning. Love you guys 🙂

Perception vs Reality

I went back each year and got the average highs, lows, number of rainy days, and inches of rain for the period of November – February.

	Perception	Temp High	Temp Low	Days of Rain out of 119	Inches of Rain
Winter 2020	Not too bad. There were light, misty rains that cleared up in the afternoon.	64	22	93	36
Winter 2021	Atmospheric river. Rainy most days, not heavy but not light.	61	8.9	83	37
Winter 2022	Rained every damn day. Poured. Cold.	57	17	86	23

In Conclusion

If we can trust the data, my perception of Washington weather isn’t entirely accurate. In 2020 and 2021, they had nearly the same amount of rain; however, 2020 had more rainy days, which I take to conclude that while it rained more often, it was lighter rain. Whereas in 2021, there were fewer rainy days but equal amounts of rain. 2023 is where I was way off. It had the LEAST amount of rain by quite a bit. However, it was far colder.

The lesson: your attitude towards the rain and the season can make all the difference. If you go into it hating rain, hating getting wet, expecting it to ruin your trip, it will. But, if you come, and just accept that some things are better wet, you’ll have a fun time.

If I still haven’t convinced you that the weather isn’t reason enough to dismiss this fantastic state. Check out my top things to do in Washington, in no particular order.

My Favorite Things to Do in Washington State

Clamming

AKA’ digging for clams’ is a fun way to spend a couple of hours on the beach, feeling like a kid again, digging and getting dirty in the sand. The first time I did this, I was delighted at how easy it was to dig up these little treasures. We had plenty of clams for a fresh dinner within an hour or two. 

Our favorite beach to go to in Olympia is Tolmie State Park. We usually get our limit here. Plus, if you like oysters, you can find them here too. Unfortunately, they are usually pretty picked over, but if you look hard enough, you can manage to snag a couple. 

There are different varieties of clams you can dig for throughout Washington’s beaches. We generally go after the ‘steamer’ clams, aka littleneck and manilla. They’re typically just a few inches under the sand and easy to find. Plus, they all clean and cook the same. If you go after the razor or geoducks, they are typically further down and require a special clam-digging tool. They also take a bit more work to clean and ready for consumption.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has excellent articles on the types of clams you can harvest. Plus, a list of beaches you can dig at. They also work with the DOH (Department of Health) to check water for toxins regularly to ensure clams are safe to harvest. You can visit this map to see which beaches are open and closed to clamming based on toxin levels. 

Keep in mind that you’ll also need to purchase a license for this activity.

Crabbing 

When I moved to Washington, I wasn’t the biggest fan of crab legs. That was until my sister fed me some fresh ones they had pulled up. I was hooked. 

This is a great way to spend a day on the water, plus have a decadent dinner afterward. 

We’ve always rented a boat from Point Defiance Marina and dropped our crab pots. While we waited for our crab pots to fill, we cast a line in. In the best-case scenario, we would have pulled in some cod or salmon, but instead, we pulled in flounder after flounder. While a mess to filet – pan-fried, they make for tasty little snacks. 

Now, while I enjoy this activity, I’m admittedly no pro. Luckily, some other Washington residents are also fans and have written about this. 

• Crabbing Hub has all sorts of spots listed in this article you can go crabbing from, including piers, so you don’t have to rent a boat. 
• Riptide Fish also has great advice on navigating to the perfect spot for Dungeness when crabbing from a boat. 
• And, of course, I’d feel guilty if I didn’t put this here, but the WDFW will be your most accurate source of information regarding crabbing. 

Olympia, Washington

Okay – maybe I’m partial to Olympia, having lived here three years, but it’s totally worth visiting if you’re in the area. The downtown area is very walkable and offers views of the State Capitol Building and Puget Sound. It’s full of fun shops like Compass Rose, Psychic Sisters, and many more. After working up an appetite, stop for fresh seafood at the Oyster House or head to Budd Bay for some of the best clam chowder around. If you’re not a seafood fan, Old School Pizzeria serves up large slices of traditional pizza, or if you’re craving a fancier slice, La Pizzeria Gitana is my favorite. If none of these appeal to your tastebuds, there are plenty of other options in the downtown area, ranging from burgers to Thai food.

It’s the water

By now, you’ve probably noticed the ‘Olympia Beer – It’s the water’ signs. You can tour the part of the river that inspired this motto at Brewery Park at Tumwater Falls. It’s a nice, leisurely walk that is accessible to all. If you go in the fall, you’ll be able to see some of the thousands of salmon that pass through, making their way back to their birthplace to spawn eggs themselves.

While Olympia Beer is no longer produced, Well 80 in downtown Olympia continues the tradition of using the artesian wells to brew good beer. If you’re interested in just trying the water, you can do that too through a pump at 415 4th Avenue E.

If you’d rather be out on the water, Tugboat Annies rents kayaks. Your chances of seeing seals swimming are very high. If you’re hungry after, they also have delicious food! Boston Harbor is another great place to rent a kayak, take a dip, and grab a drink.

I could keep going on and on and on and on about Olympia. If you’re planning a visit, feel free to reach out to me for recommendations.

Seattle, Washington

As Washington’s largest city, Seattle warrants an article all to itself. While you could spend weeks exploring the different neighborhoods, restaurants, museums, and attractions, one day is just enough to see all the major attractions.

Space Needle Neighborhood

The Space Needle is an iconic Seattle image. A visit to the spaceship-shaped building will take you through its history, and a clear elevator will take you to the top. Once there, you can walk on rotating glass floors and take in the city’s sights, water, and mountains.

In the same area as the Space Needle is the Museum of Pop Culture (MoPop) & the Chihuly Glass Garden. MoPop will walk you through the lives of local artists such as Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Jim Hendrix, plus various other artists, movies, and pop culture phenomena. The Chihuly glass garden will leave you awe-struck at the colorful creations. 

With the Seattle City Pass, you can access 5 of the city’s top attractions at a less expensive price. 

Pike’s Market

From the space needle, you can take the monorail over to Pike’s Market. The bustling market is full of unique shops and food. While there, stop by the Pike Place Fish Market. It’s one of the only seafood places I know that routinely throws fish through the air and makes for quite the spectacle.

It’s also close to where the infamous and, quite possibly, the world’s most disgusting attraction, the Seattle Gum Wall, stands. Grab a quarter for a gumball and make your contribution.

The boardwalk next door offers views of the water, and if you’re lucky, Rainier will also be out. The Great Wheel is a fun way to take in more panoramic city views. There are also several shops and restaurants to explore. Ye Olde Curiosity Shop is one of my favorites to browse.

As you’re walking around the city, you may notice purple tiles on the sidewalks. Those are not just for decoration but once served as skylights to an underground city that Seattle was built on. You can tour the now buried city, learn about why it exists, the madames that used to fund the city, and so much more.

Again, Seattle has so much to do that this is nowhere near a comprehensive list. I can say that I’ve done all these things several times with family and friends, and I still always have a good time. If you are looking for something less busy, Chinatown is always great to walk around and grab some dim sum or tea. There are also a ton of museums, events, and different neighborhoods to keep a person entertained for days.

Olympic National Park – Hoh Rainforest

The forests in Washington are like something out of a fairytale: lush, green, and overgrown. They are downright enchanting. The Hoh Rainforest inside the Olympic National Park is possibly one of the best in the state. The 14 feet of rain it receives a year allows the moss, trees, and other plants to grow into surreal quantities and sizes.

The trails off the visitor center are short and easy to do. If those aren’t enough for you, plenty of other trails in the Olympic National Park offer views of glacial lakes, old-growth forests, and mountains. All Trails lists the top 10 most highly rated trails to do.

Forks

If you’re a Twilight fan, going to Forks is a must and just a stone’s throw away from the Hoh Rainforest. You’ll see why this Washington city made the perfect sleepy small-town set for the movie series. Browse the shops and head to LaPush to check out werewolf territory.

First Beach is a quick walk from the parking lot to enjoy the views. If you’re feeling like a longer hike, head to Second or Third Beach. As one of the rainiest places in America, be sure to bring rain gear.

Coastal Visits 

The beaches on Washington’s Pacific Ocean shoreline are about as rugged as they come. Littered with rocks and massive driftwood, they are perfect for beach combing, flying kites, or just watching the waves come in and out. The coastal towns are abundant in fresh seafood, local arts, and shops.

If you start at Cape Flattery, you’ll be in the north-westernmost point of the continental U.S. From there, you can decide to head East, visiting towns along the coast of the Salish Sea shared with Canada. While I haven’t made it up this way, Port Angeles has been on my list since moving out here.

If you head South, just north of the LaPush beaches made famous by the werewolves of Twilight, is Rialto Beach, best known for ‘The Hole in the Wall’ rock formation.

An hour more down the coast, you’ll come to the Kaloloch beaches, home to the Tree of Life. The tree stubbornly hanging off a cliff, roots exposed, attracts people from all over who want to admire the wonders of nature.

Continuing down 101 will take you inland for a bit and then back to the picturesque coastal town of Seabrook. The small downtown area is precisely what you’d expect to see in a seaside village and offers shopping and food options. I highly recommend stopping at Rising Tides Tavern for a bite and a drink.

As you continue the journey South, there will be no shortage of beaches, trails, and lighthouses to keep you entertained. Ocean City, Ocean Shores, Gray’s Harbor, Westport, Twin Harbors, Grayland, Oceanside, Long Beach, and finally, the Washington / Oregon border, the Cape Disappointment, and the Columbia River Gorge.

Many of the cities host art, seafood, or kite festivals throughout the year. Whether you decide to wing it or plan around a festival, you’re sure to have a good time.

Mount Rainier National Park

“Look! Rainier’s out!” is a common thing to hear in this area. The big, beautiful, active volcano is visible all over the Olympia, Tacoma, and Seattle area but is sometimes covered in fog. It is always a treat when the fog lifts and you can see her. Not only is the sight of Rainier a cause for joy, but visiting is also one of my favorite things to do. Up close, Rainier is even more stunning and has plenty of hikes appropriate for any fitness level. We always enter through the Nisqually Entrance off Hwy 706. From there, Paradise Road will take you past several scenic stops. 

A day in Rainier

Kautz Creek Trail	This trail makes for a great first stop in the park to stretch your legs and use the bathroom. A short trail takes you through some Rainier history and to a creek.
Carter Falls	After passing the Historical District of Longmire- you’ll come to the Carter Falls Trailhead. This is my favorite, only because I’m partial to rock hopping, and there’s lots of that on this trail. Plus, you cross over a river on a sketchy log bridge. What’s not to love about that?
Christine & Narada Falls	As you continue your journey toward Paradise and the Henry M Jackson Memorial Visitor Center, there will be two stops to see gorgeous waterfalls.
Henry M Jackson Memorial Visitor Center	Once you reach Paradise, there are trails for every experience level.
Skyline Loop	One of my favorite memories is when my brother visited with his kids. The kids were six and thirteen and not thrilled with hiking. We started on the Skyline trail, promising them only a mile or two, but after every corner, stunned by the views, we kept convincing them to go ‘just past the next bend.’ Eventually, we did the whole 5.5-mile loop. It was 80 degrees that day and sunny. The hike’s highlight for everyone was finding a patch of snow we could lay in and cool off on.
Reflections Lake	After a hike, continue along the road to Reflections Lake for scenic views of Rainier in the lake.

Typically, with the stops and hikes you’re doing, this will take up a whole day, and you’ll definitely have worked up an appetite. As you’re leaving Rainier, there is a fantastic Ukrainian restaurant, Paradise Village Restaurant, that I’d highly recommend trying. Their servings of perogies are enormous in size and flavor and hit just right after a long day.

Tubing 

In the ‘snow vs rain’ debate, there’s usually one thing I’ll agree that snow gets points for – there are more activities to do in the snow. Unless you live in the mountains or Eastern Washington, you’ll likely not be surrounded by snow for more than a few days. But luckily, the mountains are only a couple of hours away if you ever feel the need to get your snow fix. At least once a winter, we head up to the mountains to tube. The snowbanks, as tall as the buildings, definitely set the mood for tubing, snowboarding, or skiing. The Summit at Snoqualmie has 20 lanes for tubers and an escalator to save your legs and help you up the hill.

Hiking

I already have Rainier and the Olympic Forest listed, but there are many more places to hike outside of those. Recently, I took a trip to North Cascades and was in awe of the mountain views our hikes led to. We did the Maples Pass Loop, Lake 22, and Sauk Mountain. Colchuk is another favorite in the Snoqualmie area and was my first hike to a glacial lake.

The Wandering Queen has a ton of lists of Washington Trails for every season and every type of hiker. No matter where you go – there’s sure to be a hike within driving or walking distance to hop on.

Please remember, as with anything you do in nature, please pick up after yourself and leave things the way they were. Nothing ruins being outdoors, surrounded by lush greenery and mountains, then spotting someone else’s trash on the trail.

Eastern Washington remains an unexplored frontier for me hiking-wise, but driving through gives you amazing views of canyons, and I’m sure hiking it would yield some spectacular views too.

The To-Do List

Between work and life, three years has not been enough time to explore everything I’ve wanted in Washington, but I have compiled a healthy list.

• Port Angeles
• Snowboarding in the mountains
• Leavenworth – going this Christmas! I did a quick stop here after a hike once, too, but it’s best known for Christmas.
• Exploring the Salish Sea region more
• Lake Cushman
• Ferry to Bainbridge Island
• Ferry to Canada
• Northwestern point of the continental U.S
• Whale watching
• Columbia River Gorge
• Crab Festival
• Sol Duc Falls
• Mt. Baker / Artist’s Point
• Olympic Hot Springs
• Plus, the 1000s of hikes I have yet to go on

This is in no way a complete list, and I’m always adding things to my notes. Luckily, with family here, I have plenty of opportunities to continue exploring this beautiful state.