The 7 Winter Trips In Washington You'll Want To Take Before Spring

Not many Washingtonians know this, but the beautiful holiday lights stay up in Leavenworth until mid-February. That means that even if you missed the Christmas Lighting Festival, you can still spend time in our most magical winter village while it's all decked out.

Valentine's Day weekend is a special time in Washington regardless of your relationship status. The Yakima Valley hosts the annual Red Wine & Chocolate event, with $30 passes that allow you access to tours, tastings, and delightful chocolates at some of the area's top wineries. This year's dates are February 16-17. Whidbey Island's Red Wine and Chocolate Tour is the same weekend, but if you want to attend both, you can also go to the Whidbey Island festival the weekend before.

If you don't ski or snowboard, winter can be a dull time. But snowshoeing is a beginner-friendly sport any able-bodied Washingtonian can do. Try Stevens Pass, Crystal Mountain Resort, or The Summit at Snoqualmie Nordic Center.

Most people visit the Peninsula in the summer or fall, but winter is an amazing time to explore. Not only will you experience a little bit of everything weather wise, but you can stroll along the beaches by yourself (or close to it). La Push is just as amazing in January as it is in July — just bundle up.

Throughout February, if you stay in Seattle at a participating hotel, you'll receive half-price admission to a whopping 40 of the region’s top museums. Winter may be a rainy time in the Emerald City, but you won't mind it one bit since you'll be exploring amazing art, history, science, and marine life.

This is another popular summer destination that's absolutely breathtaking (and uncrowded) this time of year. Rent a little cottage or cabin and disconnect for a weekend.