2016 events Fireworks: May 27; Starlight Parade: June 4; Junior Parade: June 8; Fleet Week: June 8-13; Rose Show: June 9-10; Grand Floral Rose Parade: June 11

Goldendale Observatory State Park is notable for its unusually large public telescope. The state park occupies 5 acres atop a 2,100-foot hill. The site includes a small picnic area, interpretive center, amphitheater, and the observatory. The telescopes include portable Dobsonians, a permanently mounted Hydrogen-Alpha solar telescope, and the main 24.5 inch reflector. Site gets 30-40,000 visitors annually. WA or OR state park pass is required, $10-12/vehicle on-site.

Scenic Snoqualmie Falls, a half hour east of Seattle. In nearby Snoqualmie, the Northwest Rail Museum is also worth a visit!

Northwest Trek Wildlife Park is a 723-acre wildlife park located near the town of Eatonville. Its primary feature is a tram tour which takes visitors through a 435-acre free-range area. NW animals include wetland animals, bears, canines, forest animals, insects, reptiles, birds, and large cats. A treat for the whole family!

From early aviation through space travel, this museum boasts the actual Spruce Goose, and you can go in it and see just how large it is. A new water park is now operational, too!

Whether you just want a relaxing drive through an amazing geologic wonder, an exploration of the area history, or you hanker for some outdoor adventure, the Columbia River Gorge has it all: bird-watching, boating, fishing, hiking, mountain biking, zip-lining, parasailing and more. Bring your camera!

Why would anyone need such odd boots as these? The answer to this and many other questions will be found at the Cranberry Museum!

From early spring and continuing into summer, the more than 2,500 rhododendrons, azaleas, and companion plants in the garden provide a magnificent display of color, giving visitors the opportunity to view many varieties rarely seen in the Pacific Northwest. A must see!

On your way to the DeGoede Tulip farm, check out this very interesting facility!

Near Vancouver, the Pendleton Woolen Mills tour at Washougal is very interesting. The only part of the milling process omitted is the shearing & cleaning of the wool and the fabrication of clothing, which to be competitive, is done overseas. Blankets are still made exclusively in the US. There are also retail outlets at the Washougal site and at Centralia, Washington.

Note that Vancouver, Washington, about 30 min. from the festival site, has a number of historical, arts, and cultural attractions to visit.

Its 2.5 acres of indoor hangar facility houses 111 airplanes, 135 vehicles (cars, trucks, Jeeps, etc.), 32 motorcycles, bicycles, classic kids toys, and fishing lures.

Inside and outside, the Water Center is brimming with things for visitors of all ages to do and see. Adjacent to the center is one of the area's few remaining natural Columbia River riparian areas - nearly 50 acres of protected wetlands representing some of the most significant and fragile natural resources within the region. An interesting and beautiful attraction!

Among the diverse displays are a train, steam donkey, antique truck, local native & pioneer history. JF Kennedy's WW II rosary is among 4,000 from many faith traditions and cultures. This museum's got it all!

Standing above the city–600 feet above sea level to be exact–the Astoria Column unleashes an unrivaled view of Young’s Bay, the Coast Range, the mighty Columbia River, and in the distance—the Pacific Ocean.

Explore the lands and structures at the center of fur trade and military history at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site. The only National Park site in the Vancouver-Portland metropolitan area, Fort Vancouver has a rich history as one of the first permanent settlements west of the Rockies. Visitors are engaged year-round through costumed performances and interpretive talks at events such as Tales of the Engagé and lantern-lit tours of Fort Vancouver.

"This is one of the best museums in the state."—Frommer's Oregon Located on the Columbia River, the museum includes a walk-aboard lightship, the Columbia, a floating lighthouse marking the approach to the Columbia River (the deadly Columbia River bar) and the first vessel in Oregon to be placed on the National Register.

Need information to plan a trip to the Oregon Coast? This is the place! Just open the link.

The history of Clark County is on display at the Clark County Historical Museum, which is housed in a former Carnegie Library. Built in 1909, this building is on the National Register of Historic Sites. Exhibits feature a Native American gallery, railroad exhibit, American military memorabilia and other artifacts dating back to the 13th century. Visit an old country store, country kitchen and doctor’s office.

Founded in 1892, the Portland Art Museum is one of the oldest art museums in the United States and the oldest in the Pacific Northwest. The Museum’s collection of 42,000 objects reflects the history of art from ancient times to today. The collection is distinguished for its holdings of arts of the native peoples of North America; modern and contemporary art; Asian and American art; photographs, prints, and drawings; and English silver.

Several parks make up this diverse urban wonder!

See animals from the world in habitats. Learn about the veterinary practices that include physical therapy, medical marijuana, acupuncture, chiropractic, and more.

Beginning in 1971, Powell’s has grown into a Portland landmark and one of the world’s great bookstores. On an entire city block, Powell’s City of Books contains more than 1.5 million books in 3,500 different sections. At the in-store coffee shop, you can peruse up to three books. Ride the three-door elevator, one of only a few in the country, grab a map of the nine color-coded rooms, and lose yourself in the largest used and new bookstore on Earth!

Across the Columbia River, Portland, Oregon is known as the Rose City. Smaller than Seattle, it has a charm of its own with many cultural and historic sites to enjoy.

Lan Su Chinese Garden is one of Portland's greatest treasures and most interesting sites to see while visiting Portland. A result of a collaboration between the cities of Portland and Suzhou, our sister city in China's Jiangsu province that's famous for its beautiful Ming Dynasty gardens, Lan Su was built by Chinese artisans from our Suzhou and is one the most authentic Chinese gardens outside of China.

Vietnam Veterans of Oregon Memorial in Washington Park, Portland

Our capitol sets on a hill overlooking Olympia, a small city in a beautiful setting on Budd Inlet. Free tours are available, or you can just stroll around on your own.

A place of beauty and serenity, The Grotto includes forest paths, gardens, sanctuary, and sculptures.

In nearby Portland, Oregon, OMSI offers tours on the USS Blueback, the decommissioned Barbel-class submarine used in the film, The Hunt for Red October. OMSI also offers a variety of other attractions for the family including an observatory.

LeMay's America's Auto Museum, Tacoma

Whether your interest is touring the Concorde, early flight, space travel, spying or war aircraft, or Alaskan bush pilots, this museum, located right at Seattle's Boeing Field airport, is the place to visit. Experience a flight simulator, rent a biplane ride around the Seattle area, or just sit and watch the planes take off and land while enjoying a coffee, there's something for every flight enthusiast!

Check out a variety of freebie attractions in and around Tacoma!