Part of the Pacific Northwest region of the United States, Washington is separated into three different climate regions. Western Washington can have up to a nine-month rainy season from fall to spring and is known for its lush and green summers. Eastern Washington has more temperate weather, with autumns and springs optimal for farming. Central Washington, with its Cascade Mountain range, receives steady snowfall throughout the winter and is good for both athletic and leisurely vacationing.
The Summit at Snoqualmie has over 1,900 ski-able acres on four different mountains. Activities offered on the mountains include skiing, snowshoeing, snowboarding, and tubing. You can rent your equipment there for just a day or the entire season. Instructors offer lessons for everything from beginning skiing to double-black diamond trails. 17 bars and restaurants are sprinkled throughout the four peaks. The Summit at Snoqualmie is located less than an hour from Seattle on I-90. The season begins with the first heavy snowfall in December and can go until mid-April.
The Summit at Snoqualmie
1001 State Route 906
Snoqualmie Pass, WA 98068
425-434-7669
summitatsnoqualmie.com
Leavenworth, Washington, was a dying logging town before it remade itself into an Alpine resort in the 1960s. A little Bavarian village at the foot of the Cascade Mountain range, Leavenworth is surrounded by Washington's natural beauty. Leavenworth has many unique attractions such as the Nutcracker Museum and a nine-acre garden tucked high into the mountainside. Winter festivals include the Christmas Lighting Ceremony and the Bavarian Ice Festival in January. Also during the winter you can participate in dog sled racing, go on a sleigh ride, and ski until your heart is content.
Leavenworth Visitor Center
940 Highway 2
Leavenworth, WA 98826
509-548-5807
leavenworth.org
Located west of Seattle in Puget Sound, Bainbridge Island is the perfect choice for a winter vacation without the winter weather. The temperate weather of the island doesn't restrict outdoor activities, and you can sail on Puget Sound in the middle of January. The town is a full of boutique stores, bed and breakfast hotels, and restaurants for all tastes. Winter festivities include an indoor farmers' market, an artists' winter market, firefighter carolers, the Chilly Hilly bicycle race, a film festival and a Japanese New Year celebration.
Kitsap Peninsula Visitor and Convention Bureau
9481 Silverdale Way N.W., Suite 281
Silverdale, WA 98383
800-337-0580
visitkitsap.com
