If you need an excuse to explore Washington state or feel compelled to check out the region’s newest highlights, here are eight destinations featuring opening, renovated and rejuvenated ways to stay and play.

1. For slopeside thrills: Crystal Mountain

Warm up the AWD or prep to slip on chains for Crystal Mountain Resort , adjacent to Mount Rainier. For about 87 miles, take I-5, then southeast along a two-lane highway surrounded by snow-laden evergreens.

At Crystal, the handsome new 25,000-square-foot Mountain Commons Lodge just opened with scenic slopeside views. Find three new dining options, a beer garden, seasonal lockers, and weekend live music and DJs.

The resort’s new RFID gates offer shorter wait times and a quicker lift-loading process. New upgrades to runs, night skiing and lift access were completed as well.

Even if you don’t ski, snowboard or snowshoe, you can ride a scenic gondola up to the 6,872-foot Summit House Restaurant , Washington’s highest-elevation restaurant.

Investigate whether you need parking reservations for your date, and consider a stay in a hotel, which makes parking reservations for guests.

2. For no-pay parks: Pass-free state park day

Washington State Parks typically require a Discover Pass ($30) for visits. Visitors can sample the action with a road trip to our state parks on one of 12 Discover Pass Free Days when admission is free.

Free days include Nisqually Tribe leader Billy Frank Junior’s Birthday (March 9), Smokey Bear’s Birthday (August 9) and Veteran’s Day (November 11).

With planning, you can design a road-tripping route for a day’s worth of visits, such as hopping by ferry and car between the San Juan Islands’ lush Moran State Park, Lime Kiln State Park and Obstruction Pass State Park for beaches and hikes.

Or go further afield to Spokane County’s Riverside State Park, Mount Spokane State Park and three state-managed park trails.

3. For romance and farm-fresh food: Spokane

Speaking of Spokane, the town will soon open its first year-round farmer’s market, Scale House Market at the Quarry . Slated for an opening in May 2025, the open-air market plans to welcome up to 249,000 visitors annually, exploring vendors’ seasonal bounties, plus events, activities and cultural experiences.

While in Spokane, enjoy the upgraded pathways along the pedestrian suspension bridge and three-mile-plus Gorge Loop Trail. Renovations were carried out in 2024 for the city’s 50th anniversary hosting the World’s Fair. A new downtown zipline is also projected to open in mid-2025.

Then, snuggle in at the Davenport Lusso, reopening in 2025 as The Louie. The 19th-century boutique hotel’s swanky renos are taking place after a brief closure that started in fall 2024.

4. For peak experiences: Mount St. Helens

About two hours south, the Mount St. Helens Visitor Center is slated to reopen by May 18, 2025, just in time for the 45th anniversary of the mountain’s 1980 smoke-billowing history.

The center closed in September 2024 for a $1.19 million refresh of exhibits — most hailed from the mid-1980s, several years after the explosion rocked the region.

Unfortunately, the mountain’s Spirit Lake Highway won’t reopen past milepost 45 until 2027, pending repair from a 2023 landslide. The route led to the popular Johnston Ridge Observatory.

5. For luxe outdoor adventure: Columbia River Gorge

In May 2025, a new glamping-style Under Canvas stay will open in the Columbia River Gorge, known for its spring wildflowers and waterfalls amid basalt cliffs. Located about 3-4 hours southeast of Seattle, a visit requires a long weekend to soak up the atmosphere.

Half of the Gorge is the “wet side,” covered in lush evergreens and Seattle-similar precipitation. This glamping spot will sit on the dry side near White Salmon, where fresh winds, warm hiking trails and blue skies prevail. Tents host two or more people, with upscale furnishings, private ensuite bathrooms and organic bath products. Private decks and separate children’s tents are available too.

The stays fit into an outdoor-oriented destination ecosystem where other lodging includes the Skamania Lodge’s treehouses, glamping and cabins — plus more treehouses, glamping stays and yurts via Airbnb.

6. For hikes and hold ’em: Snoqualmie

Many Seattle residents have made the day road trip to spectacular Snoqualmie Falls, for late-spring and early-summer snowmelt.

But a new stay option will soon open nearby. The Snoqualmie Tribe’s 210-room luxury hotel opening in mid-2025, complete with an expanded gaming floor, indoor pool, sun deck, spa and two restaurants (a third will open later). Snoqualmie Casino and Hotel’s windows will incorporate luxe views over the Snoqualmie Valley and Mount Si.

Mount Si and sister Little Si are popular hiking destinations in the Cascade foothills; the region itself features dozens of outdoor experiences, including the famous Snoqualmie Falls.

7. For fresh views: Tacoma and Olympia

In Tacoma, the immense Washington State History Museum is undergoing grand renovations for summer 2025, when the almost 3,000 square foot exhibit “ This is Native Land ” updates the museum’s permanent exhibits.

The new exhibit will offer Indigenous perspectives on Washington state history with input and consultations from Indigenous curators, Native Advisory Committee members, and Washington Tribes. It will include a discussion of tribal sovereignty and culture alongside challenges such as boarding schools and removal from land.

While in Tacoma, immerse yourself in Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium’s reopened Tropical Reef Aquarium after significant renovations or the Eye-to-Eye Shark Dives (no diving experience necessary). Then, enjoy dinner at the new waterfront-area Woven restaurant, a partnership between celebrity chef Roy Yamaguchi and the Puyallup Tribe.

In nearby Olympia, the Capitol Campus’s oldest building recently reopened after two years and $33 million in updates. Visit the historic Washington Supreme Court structure, the Temple of Justice, and appreciate the renovations.

8. For a wild time: Ridgefield

In 2025, the little town of Ridgefield will host Washington’s first In-N-Out, the popular California-based burger chain. However, the Vancouver suburb offers more than one type of animal-style experience.

The Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge is one of the state’s best immersions into natural wonder, with more than 117 mammals, birds, fish and amphibians dwelling here part- or full-time. Enjoy a car safari of sorts along the year-round auto route, watching for critters from all sides.

Develop a crush on Ridgefield’s six vineyards and wineries, with wine celebrated at March’s Downtown Wine Walk 2025.

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