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The Atlas Obscura Guide To Washington

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

Updated August 17, 2025

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Cities

Top Cities
All Cities
  1. Anacortes
  2. Ashford
  3. Bainbridge Island
  4. Bellingham
  5. Colfax
  6. Cougar
  7. Coulee City
  8. Everett
  9. Federal Way
  10. Forks
  11. Friday Harbor
  12. Goldendale
  13. Granite Falls
  14. La Push
  15. Leavenworth
  16. Long Beach
  17. Monroe
  18. North Bend
  19. Oak Harbor
  20. Olympia
  21. Port Angeles
  22. Port Orchard
  23. Port Townsend
  24. Poulsbo
  25. Pullman
  26. Renslow
  27. Renton
  28. Richland
  29. Seattle
  30. Sequim
  31. Spokane
  32. Tacoma
  33. Twisp
  34. Vancouver
  35. Vashon
  36. Walla Walla

Unusual Attractions in Washington

See All 333 Things To Do in Washington

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Washington

See all 26 Places to Eat in Washington
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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

Art 31
Museums 29
Shops 26
Architecture 22
History 20
Plants 20
Collections 19
Parks 19

Washington Leaderboard

Recent Washington Activity

Stories About Washington

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
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
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
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

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
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
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

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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