4 Best Sights in Washington Cascade Mountains and Valleys, Washington

Just 3 miles south of downtown Bellingham and at the beginning of Chuckanut Drive (Highway 11), this bustling historic district was an independent city until 1903 and still retains its distinct identity as an intellectual and artistic center. The beautifully restored 1890s redbrick buildings of the Old Fairhaven District, especially on Harris Avenue between 10th and 12th streets, house restaurants, galleries, and stylish boutiques. The action is centered on Fairhaven Green, the site of festivals, concerts, outdoor movies, and other fun gatherings throughout the year.

Of Woodinville's four main clusters of wineries, the Hollywood District, named for the historical former schoolhouse that anchors it, is by far the most picturesque and pedestrian-friendly. A good strategy is to park at one of the clusters of tasting rooms just off the traffic circle in the center of this neighborhood, and then hop out and stroll around. More than 40 tasting rooms are within a short walk of one another, along with a handful of restaurants. Some of the state's heavy hitters are here, including Alexandria Nicole, Betz, Cougar Crest, J. Bookwalter, Novelty Hill–Januik, and Pepper Bridge. 

Developed on the site of a copper-smelting plant that in the 1990s was demolished and turned into a huge Superfund cleanup site, this thriving mixed-use development on the Commencement Bay waterfront began opening in phases in the late 2010s and now consists of condos, restaurants, shops, a culinary-oriented marketplace, an upscale hotel, and a multiplex cinema. Linear and paved Ruston Way path runs for 2 miles alongside the waterfront, connecting the neighborhood with the city's North End and, by way of a pedestrian bridge, nearly adjacent Point Defiance Park (and the ferry terminal to Vashon Island). The development includes Dune Peninsula, a new waterfront park with beautiful views of the harbor.

Located just northeast of downtown Woodinville and comprising the largest concentration of the town's wineries and tasting rooms, the Warehouse District lacks curb appeal—it's mostly a warren crisscrossed by rows of single-story industrial buildings with garage-door facades and, occasionally, outdoor seating areas. Still, this is where many of the smaller and most innovative vintners in Washington are creating outstanding wines, many with very limited releases. Some standouts are Adrice Wines, Damsel Cellars, Efeste, Obelisco, Patterson Cellars, Quiddity Wines, and Tinte.