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The Atlas Obscura Guide To Washington

276 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Washington

Updated May 29, 2023

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Cities

Top Cities
All Cities
  1. Anacortes
  2. Ashford
  3. Bainbridge Island
  4. Bellingham
  5. Colfax
  6. Coulee City
  7. Eastsound
  8. Federal Way
  9. Forks
  10. Friday Harbor
  11. Goldendale
  12. Granite Falls
  13. La Push
  14. Leavenworth
  15. Long Beach
  16. Monroe
  17. North Bend
  18. Olympia
  19. Port Angeles
  20. Port Orchard
  21. Port Townsend
  22. Poulsbo
  23. Pullman
  24. Renton
  25. Richland
  26. Seattle
  27. Sequim
  28. Spokane
  29. Tacoma
  30. Twisp
  31. Vancouver
  32. Vashon

Unusual Attractions in Washington

See All 276 Things To Do in Washington

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Washington

See all 10 Places to Eat in Washington
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Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

Atlas Obscura Itineraries

A Feminist Road Trip Across the U.S.

Atlas Obscura has a tradition of exploring the stories of women who changed the world, from wildlife biologists and mountain climbers to Civil War spies and tattoo artists. To celebrate these daring women who struck out on their own, we’ve put together a cross-country road trip. Over 12 stops and more than 3,000 miles, this route will give you a front-row seat to women’s history in America.

View Itinerary

Explore Washington

Art 28
Shops 24
Plants 19
History 19
Collections 18
Parks 16
Nature 15
Unique Restaurants & Bars 15

Washington Leaderboard

Recent Washington Activity

Stories About Washington

Kelps provide food and habitat for myriad coastal creatures.

Kelp Seed Banks Save Biodiversity and Indigenous Traditions

In Washington State, a new preservation facility offers a back-up plan for an uncertain future.
by Natalia Mesa
Scientists have long known that cougars, like this animal spotted in British Columbia, will swim short distances to find food or mates—but no one expected the cats to brave more than a kilometer of chilly Puget Sound.

A Cougar Swam Puget Sound, Making a Splash Among Scientists

The young male known as M161 kitty-paddled his way through chilly waters full of orcas, raising questions about the animals' potential range.
by Ashley Stimpson

Washington's 'Washaway Beach' Experiment Is Reshaping Ideas About Coastal Erosion

In 2016, a concerned local dropped $400 worth of rock on a vanishing beach to see what would happen. Now engineers are watching, too.
by Sarah Trent
Families were raised and communities created in the migrant camps of Yakima Valley, Washington.

How Photos Tell the Story of a Migrant Farm Community to a New Generation

“I see the collection as a tool for uncovering what is already there."
by Line Sidonie Talla Mafotsing
Methow Valley resident Ken Bevis salvages a deer that was recently struck by a car.

The Changing Landscape of Eating Roadkill

One way to make sense of the senseless slaughter of roadkill? Salvage it for food.
by Ben Goldfarb
The Maiden of Deception Pass.

Podcast: The Maiden of Deception Pass

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.
by The Podcast Team
An unblemished ancient oyster (left), and an ancient oyster showing signs of the mystery parasite (right).

A Mystery Worm Is Threatening the Future of Washington’s Oysters

Clues from 1,000-year-old shells could reveal the parasite’s past—and portend the future.
by Carly Cassella
“There are so many good things in there that we can explore,” says soil ecologist Korena Mafune, pictured here high in the canopy of the Hoh Rain Forest.

Canopy Soil Is an Exciting Frontier in Forest Science

High in the branches of the Pacific Northwest, entire ecosystems know nothing of the ground below.
by Ella Morton

Lists Featuring Washington

Rats of Karni Mata Temple
Paxton Gate Exterior
Albino Squirrels of Olney, Illinois

A Rat Lover's Tour of the World

15 places where rodents are celebrated, feared, preserved, and studied.

15

Including Karni Mata Temple, Nutty Narrows Bridge, and Paxton Gate

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