The holiday season, as magical and wonderful as it is, can be a little overwhelming. Trying to find the perfect gifts for everyone in your life, maintaining contact with family and friends when you can’t be with them in person, and making your home feel merry can feel like a lot. Take a break and get into the holiday spirit while leaving your worries behind with these great getaway ideas for you and your loved one.
6) Embark On A Snowshoeing Date
Give the gift of togetherness. Visit Washington’s most popular outdoor winter attractions while having these places to yourself. Discover icy waterfalls, frozen mountain lakes, and mossy trees that appear to glow under a blanket of snow. Climb to Artist’s Point on Mt. Baker, snowshoe to one of Washington’s 93 standing fire lookouts, or revisit your favorite trails in the heart of winter and see them in a completely new light.
5) Go Gift Shopping in Walla Walla
Skip the lines at the big box stores this holiday season and shop at independently-owned businesses. Plan a little getaway to the quaint town of Walla Walla. This small town boasts an impressive variety of stores from boutiques to gift shops to specialty stores with high quality gifts. Take your time browsing the shops and find the perfect gifts for everyone in your life. Plus, a bottle of Walla Walla wine is always a great idea for those hard-to-gift friends and family on your list.
Stay and shop at the Inn at Blackberry Creek. Treat yourself to a little getaway before the holidays take over. Shop all day, pick up a delicious dinner from one of Walla Walla’s finest establishments, and spend your evening relaxing by the fireplace. Holiday shopping has never been so enjoyable!
4) Cut Down Your Own Christmas Tree
Bundle up and take to the woods this holiday season to find your very own Christmas tree. For just a $5 permit fee, you can have a fun adventure in the forest and bring home a piece of the holidays. Pick up a permit in almost any National Forest in the state. The Department of Agriculture appreciates people helping thin the woods to create a healthier ecosystem. Some popular spots for Christmas tree hunting include Olympic National Forest near Aberdeen, Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest outside of Leavenworth, and Gifford Pinchot National Forest which stretches from the Columbia Gorge up to the base of Mt. Rainier. Permits are available online, over the phone, or in-person at local ranger stations.
3) See WildLanterns at the Woodland Park Zoo
WildLights at the Woodland Park Zoo is an annual tradition for families across the Puget Sound. This year the zoo is switching things up. WildLanterns will take over the park after the sun goes down. Stunning lanterns depicting exotic animals from across the world light up to create an engaging experience for visitors of all ages. Reservations are required to ensure that everyone has enough time to enjoy the park. Grab a couple tickets, your partner, and stroll around the park hand in hand.
Greenlake Guest House is the perfect place to stay during a holiday getaway to Seattle. Tucked into the charming Greenlake neighborhood, you’ll be minutes away from shopping, dining, and the Woodland Park Zoo. Enjoy morning walks around the lake and get into the holiday spirit with all of the stunning Christmas displays around the neighborhood. Plus, the inn is known for their annual selection of delicious, home-baked cookies they prepare throughout the holiday season.
2) Snowy Sleigh Ride in Leavenworth
Who doesn’t love a snow-dusted Bavarian town during the holiday season? Leavenworth, known as one of the most Christmas-y towns in the country, is a sight to behold during the entire month of December. The downtown is adorned with thousands of lights, wreaths, and holiday decorations covering every square inch of the town. The most magical experience takes you out of town and into a dreamy winter wonderland.Take a private sleigh ride with Leavenworth Sleigh Rides and make your holiday dreams a reality. Bundle up and take in the sights while sipping on hot cocoa or apple cider and snuggling up to your loved one.
Take your time exploring Leavenworth this holiday season with a stay at Abendblume. This bavarian-style B&B overlooks the valley and offers an old-world charm that you rarely find outside of Europe. Walk to downtown and stroll through the shops, listen to carolers, and snuggle up each night in your cozy suites.
1) Stay at a Cozy Bed & Breakfast
Can’t be with your family for the holidays? Create new traditions by taking a romantic trip to a cozy Washington Inn. Choose a visit to a secluded scenic island, or a cabin nestled in the snowy mountains or a guest room off the coast. Pack your bags and arrive at an inn that looks like something out of a Hallmark Channel movie. Your innkeeper hosts love to create breakfasts and goodies using seasonal ingredients like cranberries, oranges, and gingerbread. With a getaway like this, your holiday season will be one to remember.
If your holiday season is packed tighter than a stocking full of goodies, then opt for a Washington INNSiders Gift Certificate. These make the perfect gifts for your special loved ones. Choose from any of our wonderful inns to stay at, any time of year. The best part? These certificates never expire so you can always save it for a rainy day.
