From Ferndale you can drive less than two hours find some wonderful sights to see! Just starting at Mount Rainier National Park, or driving about 2 hours to Olympic National Park, both worth every second of the drive. In Seattle alone, there are so many things to see, like Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area and many, many other beautiful sights. Within a tank of gas, you would be able to visit Puget Sound and stop on one of the many islands there that allow visitors.
San Juan Island National Historical Park is also only about a 3-hour drive from Seattle and well worth the visit.
And if you are in the mood for something different, take about a 4-hour trek on I-90 and I-82, going southeast of Seattle, visit the Yakama Indian Reservation and then go to Walla Walla. Reach the point of extraordinary in Walla Walla, where wine, culture, and the beauty of the outdoors meet. Eclectic, and full of energy, this small town is packed with big surprises.
Also, be sure to visit some of the highlights in Seattle itself including: the Space Needle, Pike Place Market and the Chihuly Exhibit.
Besides all the amazing National Parks (and see more about them in that section below), Seattle and surrounds have incredible whale watching opportunities from Everett, just a bit more than a half hour drive from Seattle, an hour from Ferndale, or from Port Townsend, which is just about a 3-hour drive from Ferndale and 2 ½ hours from Seattle.
Whale watching is one of many outdoor experiences you should try to enjoy while you’re in the Washington/ British Columbia area. Other places offer whale watching too, including boats that leave from San Juan Island, and others that are day trips, departing from Seattle that take passengers on a half-day trip which guarantees you’ll see whales or your trip is free. These depart from Pier 69 on the Seattle waterfront. The Whale Plane Package includes round trip air on a Kenmore Air seaplane from downtown Lake Union, Seattle to Friday Harbor for a San Juan Island Whale Watching and Wildlife Tour by boat.
Within 3 hours drive of Seattle you can also get to Beaverton, Oregon, or Moses Lake, Washington, as well as Wenatchee, WA and Vancouver, Canada. Make an itinerary and be sure to scope out some of the many RV parks with gorgeous views in this scenic part of Washington State.