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The Atlas Obscura Guide To Washington

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

Updated December 8, 2022

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Unusual Attractions in Washington

Seattle, Washington

Fremont Troll

A giant Troll lurks under one of Seattle's oldest bridges.

Seattle, Washington

Seattle Underground

A walk through the historic city center, under the streets of Seattle.

Seattle, Washington

Ye Olde Curiosity Shop

A 100-year-old purveyor of curiosities, curios, and kitsch featuring mummies, shrunken heads, and a Fiji Mermaid.

Forks, Washington

Hall of Mosses

Stroll through a wonderland of stupendous moss-covered trees.

Seattle, Washington

Museum of Pop Culture

A museum dedicated to the history and exploration of both popular music and science fiction.

Seattle, Washington

Seattle Meowtropolitan Cat Café

Make your reservation to have coffee with some kitties.

Seattle, Washington

'A Sound Garden'

A huge musical sculpture and other art installations on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration grounds.

Skamania, Washington

The Ape Cave

The longest continuous lava tube in the continental U.S. offers 2.5 miles of dark explorations for the adventurous.

See All 270 Things To Do in Washington

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Washington

Seattle, Washington

Seattle Meowtropolitan Cat Café

Make your reservation to have coffee with some kitties.

Seattle, Washington

Beacon Food Forest

This edible park is open to any and all foragers.

Seattle, Washington

Blue Moon Tavern

This popular bar has been blurring the line between normal and edgy for more than 75 years.

Seattle, Washington

Orient Express Restaurant

This Seattle joint serves food inside an old train car once used by FDR.

See all 10 Places to Eat in Washington

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In partnership with GetYourGuide

Guided Tours of Washington

Atlas Obscura Itineraries

A Feminist Road Trip Across the U.S.

Over the past month, Atlas Obscura has been exploring the stories of women who changed the world, from wildlife biologists and mountain climbers to Civil War spies and tattoo artists. To celebrate these daring women who struck out on their own, we’ve put together a cross-country road trip. Over 12 stops and more than 3,000 miles, this route will give you a front-row seat to women’s history in America.

Explore Washington

Unique Restaurants & Bars 15

Roadside Attractions 14

Outsider Art 13

Places To Stay 5

Washington Leaderboard

Places Added

Places Edited

Places Visited

Recent Washington Activity

C

cspainhour

wants to go to Seattle Metropolitan Police Museum
e1savage

has been to Hi-Life / Fire Station No. 18
e1savage

wants to go to Center of the Universe Sign
jusjuls

wants to go to Treehouse Point
jusjuls

wants to go to Snoqualmie Tunnel

Stories About Washington

How Photos Tell the Story of a Migrant Farm Community to a New Generation

“I see the collection as a tool for uncovering what is already there."

by Line Sidonie Talla Mafotsing

December 8, 2022

The Changing Landscape of Eating Roadkill

One way to make sense of the senseless slaughter of roadkill? Salvage it for food.

by Ben Goldfarb

Podcast: The Maiden of Deception Pass

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.

by The Podcast Team

A Mystery Worm Is Threatening the Future of Washington’s Oysters

Clues from 1,000-year-old shells could reveal the parasite’s past—and portend the future.

by Carly Cassella

Canopy Soil Is an Exciting Frontier in Forest Science

High in the branches of the Pacific Northwest, entire ecosystems know nothing of the ground below.

Welcome to the Bread Lab

These scientists want you to love whole wheat.

by Susannah Skiver Barton

February 15, 2022

Early On-Demand Music Streaming Required Lots of Nickels

In the Pacific Northwest 70-plus years ago, a telephone-based jukebox connected callers to their favorite tunes.

by Michelle Harris

November 10, 2021

These Farmers Want You to Drink Your Hops and Eat Them Too

Trashed in the U.S., hop shoots are treasure in parts of Europe.

by Catie Joyce-Bulay

Lists Featuring Washington

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.

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

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