The Atlas Obscura Guide To Washington

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

Updated December 1, 2023

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Unusual Attractions in Washington

Seattle, Washington

Fremont Troll

A giant Troll lurks under one of Seattle's oldest bridges.

Seattle, Washington

Seattle Underground

A walk through the historic city center, under the streets of Seattle.

Medical Ed. Photo by Annetta Black

Seattle, Washington

Ye Olde Curiosity Shop

A 100-year-old purveyor of curiosities, curios, and kitsch featuring mummies, shrunken heads, and a Fiji Mermaid.

Hall of Mosses

Forks, Washington

Hall of Mosses

Stroll through a wonderland of stupendous moss-covered trees.

Seattle, Washington

Museum of Pop Culture

A museum dedicated to the history and exploration of both popular music and science fiction.

A "meowcha", get it?

Seattle, Washington

Seattle Meowtropolitan Cat Café

Make your reservation to have coffee with some kitties.

Seattle, Washington

'A Sound Garden'

A huge musical sculpture and other art installations on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration grounds.

Skamania, Washington

The Ape Cave

The longest continuous lava tube in the continental U.S. offers 2.5 miles of dark explorations for the adventurous.

See All 292 Things To Do in Washington

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Washington

A "meowcha", get it?

Seattle, Washington

Seattle Meowtropolitan Cat Café

Make your reservation to have coffee with some kitties.

Seattle, Washington

Beacon Food Forest

This edible park is open to any and all foragers.

Seattle, Washington

Blue Moon Tavern

This popular bar has been blurring the line between normal and edgy for more than 75 years.

Presidential Car.

Seattle, Washington

Orient Express Restaurant

This Seattle joint serves food inside an old train car once used by FDR.

See all 10 Places to Eat in Washington

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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.

Explore Washington

Art 29

Shops 25

Plants 19

History 19

Collections 18

Parks 16

Nature 15

Unique Restaurants & Bars 15

Outsider Art 14

Homes 14

Roadside Attractions 14

Geology 12

Places To Stay 5

Washington Leaderboard

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Recent Washington Activity

C

caleighfox

wants to go to Ballard Sip & Ship
cayahne

wants to go to Skagit-Squatch
Harley5150

has been to Amazon Spheres
Harley5150

has been to Bridge of Glass
Harley5150

has been to Satsop Nuclear Power Plant

Stories About Washington

Handler Collette Yee rewards detection dog Jack with a round of tug-of-war.

The Adventures and Trials of Jack, Scat-Sniffing Superdog

Jack and his handler Collette Yee found challenges, meaning, and each other in their work helping scientists better understand orcas, bats, and more.

by Roxanne Hoorn

December 1, 2023

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.

February 13, 2023

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

December 8, 2022

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

Lists Featuring Washington

World Famous Giant Shoe Museum

Gum Wall window ledge

The giant sequoia.

The 11 Best Places to Visit Near Pike Place for Curious Travelers

Including World Famous Giant Shoe Museum, Psychic Chicken of Seattle , and Gum Wall

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.

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

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