Last updated August 7, 2026 · Editorial policy
Things to Do in Washington State: What Is Actually Worth Your Time
Quick answer: This is an honest look at Washington State: which paid viewpoint to think twice about, the free one that beats it, and what the national park actually costs.
The Space Needle observation deck is the default Seattle purchase and the one to reconsider, because the view you are paying for does not contain the thing that makes the skyline recognisable. Kerry Park on Queen Anne costs nothing, and frames the Needle, the downtown towers and — on a clear day — Mount Rainier in a single composition. It is the shot you have already seen a hundred times, and it is free.
Olympic National Park is the trip most visitors underestimate. The National Park Service charges around $30 per private vehicle, $25 per motorcycle or $15 per person on foot or bicycle, and the pass is good for seven consecutive days — so it rewards staying rather than day-tripping. Rainforest, coastline and alpine ridge sit inside the same boundary, which is unusual enough to justify the drive.
- An annual America the Beautiful pass costs more than a single Olympic entry but pays for itself if you are also visiting Rainier or North Cascades on the same trip.
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John Morrison is the founder and lead travel writer at Packzup. Over the past decade he has explored destinations across Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Oceania — always self-funded, never on a press trip.
