Only a Road Trip Away, Our Team’s Favorite Summertime Destinations

Back by popular demand, we’ve assembled our team’s “Get Outside” recommendations. This edition we’re rounding up our favorite summertime getaways easily accessed from sweet home Seattle.

Road trips are a great way to enjoy Seattle’s best season! With access to so many amazing places, it’s easy to pack a bag, grab some snacks, and find yourself at a great Pacific Northwest destination in just a few hours (or minutes!). Plus, Seattle has more daylight hours than anywhere else in the lower 48. We think hitting the road is the best way to use them.

No road trip is complete without a good song on the radio. Check our our Spotify playlists, (especially “PNW Road Trip.”)

Sail Sand Point on Lake Washington

Recommended By: Marsha Swatosh, Structural Engineer
Distance from Seattle: 8 miles north
Area: Magnuson Park

Why I Love It: There’s nothing better at the end of the day than watching the sunset from the middle of the lake. Waking up early to enjoy the smooth-as-glass water in the morning is a close second! Sail Sand Point is the most convenient place for me to launch my paddleboard and enjoy Lake Washington. There’s always plenty of parking and space to hand launch paddleboards, kayaks, kite surf boards, etc. There are even rubber mats in the parking lot for unloading so equipment won’t get scratched on the pavement. It’s the little things!

Pro Tip: If you don’t have your own boat, Sail Sand Point has open boating hours every day and you can rent sailboats, kayaks, and SUPs from them. See you on the water!

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Walla Walla, Washington

Recommended by: Michelle Ruzicka, Civil Engineer
Distance from Seattle: 260 Miles east
Area: Walla Walla, WA

Why I love it: Walla Walla is a wonderful weekend destination in the summer. It has warm weather, a picturesque downtown, and of course, many wineries. There are more than 120 wineries in the area, many of which are downtown and within walking distance from each other. I can’t recommend it enough!

Pro tip: If you’re able to make your way a few minutes out of town, there are even more wineries to the south, east, and west that are surrounded by beautiful wheat fields and vineyards.

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Snoqualmie Alpine Lakes Hiking

Recommended by: Ryan Goodwin, Civil Engineer
Distance from Seattle: 45 miles east
Area: Snoqualmie Pass

Why I love it: There are a ton of trails that wind up and around the Snoqualmie alpine lakes. There are short, moderate trails for first time hikers and long trails that can challenge experienced backpackers for days. The scenery is phenomenal, with lakes, creeks, and waterfalls scattered all over the region. And my favorite part is that many of the lakes are stocked with trout that will willingly go after a fishing hook that mimics their favorite bug.

Pro Tip: All of the lakes are catch and release so make sure to pack a lunch for your trip! And don’t forget to bring a fishing license and National Park pass (or bring some cash to pay for a parking day pass).

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Recommended by: Jason Whitney, P.E., S.E. Structural Project Manager
Distance from Seattle: 14 miles north
Area: Shoreline, WA

Why I love it: It’s a beautiful park nestled into the hillside with amazing views of the sound and Olympic Mountains. And as an added bonus, the beach is accessible by a bridge over the train tracks. Lots of excitement for the little ones. (“Choo Chooo!”) During the summer, we love to bring an umbrella and lay out some chairs for a picnic on the sand. The kids on the other hand, love to play on the pirate ship playground and walk along the upper hillside trail scouting for dogs.

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