While a good part of the calendar in the Pacific Northwest is filled with dramatic overcast and/or rainy days, it also enjoys stretches that burst with sunshine, lush greenery and some of the most gorgeous blue skies around.
Keeping the weather in mind, Washington’s group-friendly pursuits and attractions are often best suited to one season versus another.
Following are many ideas, suggested by CVB and other tourism representatives throughout the Evergreen State, to keep groups entertained year-round.
Summer
Summertime in Seattle is the perfect time to visit Olympic Sculpture Park, where the Elliot Bay backdrop makes it a great spot to recharge in the fresh air. An outing aboard a ferry, which travels to nearby islands in the Puget Sound, is another popular Seattle option.
In Newcastle, located near Bellevue, is the Rusty Putter at the Golf Club at Newcastle. The picturesque 18-hole natural grass putting course, boasting views of Seattle, Lake Washington and the Puget Sound, is a fun post-meeting networking activity for groups.
Roughly 35 miles north of Seattle in Marysville, Tulalip Resort Casino is a hot spot for its Summer Concert Series, showcasing top-name performers in its intimate, 3,000-seat outdoor amphitheater. Still on the calendar for August are Sammy Hagar, Melissa Etheridge and Foreigner, while The Doobie Brothers and America will play in September.
From Tacoma, groups are encouraged to arrange a leisurely kayak outing from the seaside village of Gig Harbor, or if a team-building event is in order, attendees can race to a local lighthouse and enjoy a boxed lunch.
If the group meets in the San Juan Islands, an orca whale-watching outing is a must, either via a local tour boat, from land at Limekiln State Park, or in a kayak. It’s common to see other critters as well, including sea lions, bald eagles and great blue herons.
In Vancouver, groups might venture out on a tour with Wine Dirt, an outfitter that leads the way to wine tastings throughout Clark County’s burgeoning wine region.
Pybus Public Market, an outdoor space that opened in June in Wenatchee, is home to artisan and ethnic products, locally grown fruits and vegetables, and Washington wines. It is within easy access of the Apple Capital Loop Trail, a 10-mile paved path for walking, running or biking along the Columbia River.
Summer in Spokane isn’t complete without a visit to Green Bluff Growers for fresh-picked produce and a ride on the Fruit Loop Express. It’s also the season for a white-water rafting trip with ROW Adventures, which leads groups through the Spokane River Gorge and Riverside State Park. PageBreak
Autumn
Groups gathering in Seattle around Halloween might get a kick out of the Pike Place Ghost Tour, which provides a different and chilling experience of the popular market. These months are also well-suited for an outing with Seattle Wine Tours or Road Dog’s Seattle Brewery Tour, which showcases the craft ales, ambers and IPAs at local breweries.
To gear up for Thanksgiving, a group cooking class at Parties That Cook should provide some fresh ideas. And team bonding during a painting session with Seattle’s Corks & Canvas Events is another fun option.
One of the best ways to experience Bellevue’s fall colors and flavors is via a walk through the Mercer Slough Nature Park, a 320-acre wetland nature park that features fruit and produce stands as well as seasonal apple cider.
In Tacoma, home to glass art with displays throughout downtown, in local hotels and at the Museum of Glass, attendees can blow glass at a variety of studios and take what they create home with them.
Just outside of Port Townsend is Protection Island, a National Wildlife Refuge with nearly 70 percent of the nesting seabird population of Puget Sound and the Straits. For birders in the group, this is a fantastic place to visit, as it’s home to one of the last two nesting colonies of tufted puffins in the Puget Sound area.
During a Lantern Tour at Fort Vancouver, a seemingly Halloween-inspired outing, attendees carry their own lanterns and learn from a park ranger and costumed interpreters about activities that occurred once the sun set here in the past.PageBreak
Winter
There’s no better time than the winter months to explore Seattle’s terrific cultural establishments, including Seattle Art Museum, Experience Music Project Museum and the historic 5th Avenue Theater, which presents several holiday shows.
A spin aboard the Seattle Great Wheel, located on the waterfront downtown, offers views of the city skyline, Puget Sound, nearby islands and the Olympic Mountains.
Shopping is popular in Snohomish County, especially during the holiday season. Seattle Premium Outlets, Alderwood Mall and Everett Mall are filled with retail options, and antiques and collectibles can be found at Bothell Country Village.
Groups can warm up during the winter months with a brewery tour in the Tacoma area, which is home to several local beer purveyors, including Harmon Brewing, featuring brews named after local landmarks.
The Tacoma area also boasts Crystal Mountain, a wonderland for adventurous attendees who like to ski, snowboard and ride the gondola up to the Summit House Restaurant for breathtaking views of Mount Rainier.
Port Townsend has many restaurants of varying cuisines within walking distance of downtown hotels. Groups are encouraged to combine a meal with a show at the Key City Public Theatre or a movie at the historic Rose Theatre, one of the most treasured features of Port Townsend’s National Historic Landmark District.
Vancouver is home to Source Climbing Center, an indoor climbing facility that makes for a great team-building activity.
A seasonal Tri-Cities tradition is the Lighted Boat Parade on the Columbia River, which features yachts decorated in twinkling lights and holiday displays motoring along the shore. The area’s waterfront restaurants are among the best places to view this spectacle.PageBreak
Spring
Seattle’s Pike Place Market, though open and showcasing local food, apparel and handmade gifts year-round, is a popular stop on springtime itineraries. As is an outing at Safeco Field for a Mariners baseball game.
In Snohomish County, which sports many scenic hiking trails, gray whale tours departing from Everett are recommended during spring.
The San Juan Islands-based Orcas Island Shakespeare Festival is a unique, carnivalesque festival where groups can enjoy a production by the Seattle Shakespeare Company, parades and impromptu street performances.
Another popular springtime event is the Washington State Apple Blossom Festival, while Wenatchee Valley’s dozen or so wineries are in full bloom and ready for group visits and tastings during the spring.
Frequent contributor Carolyn Blackburn is looking forward to an early-autumn road trip to Seattle.
