All the United States Washington

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Washington

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

Updated October 5, 2026
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Cities

State not visited
VISITED THIS STATE
Top Cities
All Cities
  1. Anacortes
  2. Ashford
  3. Bainbridge Island
  4. Bellingham
  5. Colfax
  6. Cougar
  7. Coulee City
  8. Ellensburg
  9. Everett
  10. Federal Way
  11. Forks
  12. Friday Harbor
  13. Goldendale
  14. Granite Falls
  15. La Push
  16. Leavenworth
  17. Long Beach
  18. Monroe
  19. Neah Bay
  20. North Bend
  21. Oak Harbor
  22. Olympia
  23. Port Angeles
  24. Port Orchard
  25. Port Townsend
  26. Poulsbo
  27. Pullman
  28. Renslow
  29. Renton
  30. Richland
  31. Seattle
  32. Sequim
  33. Spokane
  34. Tacoma
  35. Twisp
  36. Vancouver
  37. Vashon
  38. Walla Walla

Unusual Attractions in Washington

Places

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Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Washington

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Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

Atlas Obscura Itineraries

11 Out-of-This-World Places You Can Reach in Your Car

Sponsored by GMC Terrain

The best road trips are those that seem to take you to new worlds: surreal-looking beaches, wondrous parks, and roadside oddities that make you do a double take. For instance, in Wisconsin, a local plumber has rigged a natural aquifer into a series of ice sculptures; in Utah, erosion has created a series of rock formations that look like something between an army of goblins and a series of abstract landscapes; and in New Mexico, rippling white sands stretch out to the horizon as far as the eye can see. The best part? You can reach these—and eight more—places by car (with the occasional walk from the parking lot). So pack some snacks, pull up this itinerary, and hit the road.

View Itinerary

Explore Washington

Museums 31
Art 31
Shops 26
Architecture 22
Parks 21
Plants 20
History 20
Collections 19

Washington Leaderboard

Recent Washington Activity

Stories About Washington

Rock table

Ohme Gardens

Hidden garden in Wenatchee worth a visit
by mcm1954, Community Contributor
GPS-tagging whimbrels on Chiloé Island in southern Chile.

Wings of Survival

A world-first race with nature
by Timm Döbert, Community Contributor
Me and Myla exploring Cannon Beach, OR.

I Grew Up in Texas and Barely Left. Now I Want to See It All!

Solo festival trips, a handful of cross-country moves, a career change or two and now I'm chasing the weird and hidden corners of Washington State for Atlas Obscura. All 50 states, here I come.
by DeAndrea Cherry, Community Contributor
USDA and Washington State agriculture officials tagged this Asian giant hornet. Sept. 10, 2021.

What Ever Happened to the Murder Hornets?

Asian giant hornets, or murder hornets, are officially eradicated in the U.S. and Canada—for now.
by The Podcast Team, Atlas Obscura
Beeler in her studio.

The 'Mushroom Color Atlas' Captures the Palette and Potential of Fungi

Julie Beeler's work presents a sustainable alternative to synthetic fabric dyes.
by Lily Stewart, Atlas Obscura
Many-armed sunflower sea stars are fast-moving and can grow to the diameter of a bicycle tire, making them formidable hunters.

Baby Sea Stars Are Voracious Predators That Might Just Save an Ecosystem

Along the Pacific Coast, fast and furious sunflower sea stars are vicious hunters as adults—and they're even hungrier when young.
by Roxanne Hoorn, Atlas Obscura
John Horne has uncovered the stories of numerous people buried in Nothern State Mental Hospital’s cemetery, including this grave belonging to Jessie Comer, a 34-year-old housewife who died of uterine cancer in 1914.

One Man’s Fight To Save a Mental Hospital's Forgotten Cemetery

John Horne is determined to preserve the stories of those who were left behind.
by Bess Lovejoy, Atlas Obscura

New Clues Emerge About the Fluffy Dogs Once Bred for Their Wool

The story of these distinctive doggos is emerging from ancestral knowledge of the Coast Salish peoples and a new genetic study of the pelt of a pup named Mutton.
by Roxanne Hoorn, Atlas Obscura

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

11

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.

15

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

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
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