Washington is a beautiful state, so it should come as no surprise that many Washingtonians are somewhat adventurous. That being said, our state is full of hidden gems that may of us have yet to experience. These are 10 of the many little known and underrated spots our state has to offer.
- Blue Lake Rhino Cave, Coulee City
Michael McCormack / Flickr The Blue Lake Rhino Cave is not named after a rhinoceros, it was one. It was formed by basalt that was once a Diceratherium bull, an ancestor of the rhino. The bull was killed by lava, and the lava that covered the bull cooled into molten rock and hardened into the shape that you now see today.
- Sacajawea State Park, Pasco
aprilwaikley / TripAdvisor This historical park has 9,100 feet of freshwater shoreline, and an interpretive center where visitors can learn about the story of the Lewis and Clark expedition through the experiences of Sacagawea.
- Stehekin Valley, Chelan area
samara_breeze / Flickr The Stehekin Valley is so remote that it’s only accessible by ferry or by a lengthy hike. It’s worth it.
- Melrose Market, Seattle
Dylan M / Yelp Melrose Market is an indoor food and retail market in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood. It’s located in a set of historic automotive buildings constructed between 1919 and 1926, and it’s full of charming little shops selling local meats, cheeses and artisanal products.
- Sucher and Sons Star Wars Shop, Aberdeen
Lexie R / Yelp You won’t believe the Star Wars collectibles you can find in this small Aberdeen shop. Most Washingtonians, including some Star Wars fans, don’t know it exists.
- Finch Arboretum, Spokane
James Hawley / Flickr This 56 acre park has over 600 species of trees, and it’s one of Spokane’s most underrated treasures.
- Waterfall Garden Park, Seattle
Ming-yen Hsu / Flickr This tranquil waterfall park is located in Pioneer Square, but it’s so well hidden that locals walk by every day without realizing it’s there.
- The Skyline Drive-In Theater, Shelton
Skyline Drive-In Theater Facebook Drive-In theaters are scarce these days, but The Skyline has been going strong for decades.
- Beckler Peak, Stevens Pass
Mary Taunton / Flickr You’ll see some of Washington’s best scenery on this 7 mile path, from the Wild Sky Wilderness to a waterfall.
- The Nutcracker Museum, Leavenworth
Brad R / Yelp Nestled among the shops in Leavenworth’s charming downtown area is a museum with thousands of nutcrackers from over 50 countries. It’s as awesome as it sounds.
One of the best things about Washington is that it’s full of surprises, even to those who have grown up here. Here are some hidden gems some people in Washington don’t know even exist.
Michael McCormack / Flickr
The Blue Lake Rhino Cave is not named after a rhinoceros, it was one. It was formed by basalt that was once a Diceratherium bull, an ancestor of the rhino. The bull was killed by lava, and the lava that covered the bull cooled into molten rock and hardened into the shape that you now see today.
aprilwaikley / TripAdvisor
This historical park has 9,100 feet of freshwater shoreline, and an interpretive center where visitors can learn about the story of the Lewis and Clark expedition through the experiences of Sacagawea.
samara_breeze / Flickr
The Stehekin Valley is so remote that it’s only accessible by ferry or by a lengthy hike. It’s worth it.
Dylan M / Yelp
Melrose Market is an indoor food and retail market in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood. It’s located in a set of historic automotive buildings constructed between 1919 and 1926, and it’s full of charming little shops selling local meats, cheeses and artisanal products.
Lexie R / Yelp
You won’t believe the Star Wars collectibles you can find in this small Aberdeen shop. Most Washingtonians, including some Star Wars fans, don’t know it exists.
James Hawley / Flickr
This 56 acre park has over 600 species of trees, and it’s one of Spokane’s most underrated treasures.
Ming-yen Hsu / Flickr
This tranquil waterfall park is located in Pioneer Square, but it’s so well hidden that locals walk by every day without realizing it’s there.
Skyline Drive-In Theater Facebook
Drive-In theaters are scarce these days, but The Skyline has been going strong for decades.
Mary Taunton / Flickr
You’ll see some of Washington’s best scenery on this 7 mile path, from the Wild Sky Wilderness to a waterfall.
Brad R / Yelp
Nestled among the shops in Leavenworth’s charming downtown area is a museum with thousands of nutcrackers from over 50 countries. It’s as awesome as it sounds.
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