Washington has a reputation for towering evergreens, dramatic mountains, coffee shops, and enough rain to make umbrellas a controversial fashion statement.
But here’s something the travel brochures don’t always tell you.
Washington is wonderfully weird.
I’m talking about giant trolls hiding beneath bridges, a full-size Stonehenge replica overlooking the Columbia River, a bridge built specifically for squirrels, and a forest where the trees have literally turned to stone.
And that’s just the beginning.
After more than 25 years of exploring backroads and unusual destinations, I’ve learned that the best travel stories often begin with one simple question:
“What in the world is THAT doing here?”
So forget the usual sightseeing checklist for a day.
We’re taking the strange route.
Here are 15 weird and unusual places to visit in Washington State that deserve a spot on your next road trip.
1. Fremont Troll — Seattle
📍 North 36th Street & Troll Avenue North, Seattle
<AsyncImage query=”Fremont Troll Seattle sculpture under Aurora Bridge Volkswagen Beetle” aspectRatio=”16:9″/>
Imagine walking beneath a bridge and discovering an enormous concrete troll clutching a Volkswagen Beetle.
Welcome to Fremont.
The Fremont Troll appeared beneath Seattle’s Aurora Bridge in 1990 and quickly became one of the city’s most recognizable pieces of public art.
It’s about 18 feet tall and looks like something that crawled straight out of a Scandinavian fairy tale.
Except this troll has developed an interest in German automobiles.
Why it’s unusual
Because most cities put murals under their bridges.
Seattle put a monster there.
The Mayor’s tip
Visit early in the morning for easier photographs, then explore Fremont’s other unusual public art.
Visitor information | Google Maps
2. Maryhill Stonehenge — Goldendale
📍 Stonehenge Drive, near Goldendale
<AsyncImage query=”Maryhill Stonehenge memorial Washington Columbia River replica stone circle” aspectRatio=”16:9″/>
No, you haven’t accidentally driven to England.
Standing above the Columbia River is a full-scale replica of Stonehenge.
The monument was commissioned by entrepreneur Sam Hill as a memorial to Klickitat County soldiers who died during World War I.
Unlike the original Stonehenge, Washington’s version was built from reinforced concrete.
And unlike the original, you can walk right up to it without buying a plane ticket.
Why it’s unusual
A prehistoric-looking English monument in the middle of Washington’s dry Columbia Gorge landscape?
That’s an unexpected roadside stop.
City Unknown tip
Combine this with the nearby Maryhill Museum of Art for a memorable Columbia Gorge day trip.
3. Seattle Underground — Pioneer Square
📍 Pioneer Square, Seattle
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Seattle has another city beneath its streets.
Well, portions of one.
After the Great Seattle Fire of 1889, the city rebuilt portions of its downtown at a higher street level.
That left behind underground passages and former street-level spaces.
Today, guided tours take visitors through some of those historic areas.
You can see old storefront remnants, passages, and evidence of a Seattle that existed before the modern city took shape.
Why it’s unusual
Most cities bury their past in museums.
Seattle left some of it underneath the sidewalks.
The Mayor’s tip
Book a guided tour rather than trying to explore on your own. These are controlled historic spaces, not an invitation to investigate random basements.
Bill Speidel’s Underground Tour | Google Maps
4. Nutty Narrows Bridge — Longview
📍 Downtown Longview
<AsyncImage query=”Nutty Narrows squirrel bridge Longview Washington hanging small suspension bridge” aspectRatio=”16:9″/>
Washington has bridges for cars.
Bridges for pedestrians.
Bridges for trains.
And in Longview?
A bridge for squirrels.
The original Nutty Narrows Bridge was built in 1963 to help squirrels cross a busy road safely.
It resembles a miniature suspension bridge suspended high above the street.
The idea sounds like somebody made it up over lunch.
But the bridge became so beloved that it earned a place on the National Register of Historic Places.
Why it’s unusual
Because somewhere in Washington, squirrels have their own infrastructure.
And frankly, that’s adorable.
City Unknown tip
The bridge is overhead, so look up when exploring the downtown area. Watch traffic and use safe pedestrian crossings.
Washington State historic preservation information | Google Maps
5. Ginkgo Petrified Forest — Vantage
📍 4511 Huntzinger Road, Vantage
<AsyncImage query=”Ginkgo Petrified Forest Washington ancient petrified logs desert landscape” aspectRatio=”16:9″/>
Imagine walking through a forest.
Now imagine that forest is millions of years old.
And made of stone.
Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park preserves fossilized trees dating back roughly 15 million years.
Long ago, this dry-looking region supported a very different landscape.
Volcanic activity and geological processes eventually preserved ancient trees as petrified wood.
Today you can explore interpretive trails and learn about one of Washington’s strangest natural landscapes.
Why it’s unusual
You’re walking through the remains of a forest that existed long before humans arrived.
That’s difficult to top.
The Mayor’s tip
Visit the Trees of Stone Interpretive Trail and check the interpretive center’s seasonal hours before traveling.
Washington State Parks | Google Maps
6. Dry Falls — Coulee City
📍 Highway 17, near Coulee City
<AsyncImage query=”Dry Falls Washington massive ancient waterfall cliffs Grand Coulee overlook” aspectRatio=”16:9″/>
This might be the strangest waterfall you’ll ever visit.
Because there’s no waterfall.
At least not anymore.
Thousands of years ago, catastrophic Ice Age floods rushed through central Washington, carving enormous channels into the landscape.
Dry Falls is the remnant of one of those gigantic ancient waterfalls.
Today you can stand above the cliffs and imagine water roaring over the edge on a scale far beyond most modern waterfalls.
Why it’s unusual
It’s a massive waterfall without the water.
And somehow, it’s still spectacular.
Important 2026 travel update
The Dry Falls Visitor Center and its parking lot are closed for renovations through 2026. Check Washington State Parks for current access and alternative viewing arrangements before planning a stop.
Washington State Parks | Google Maps
7. SPARK Museum of Electrical Invention — Bellingham
📍 1312 Bay Street, Bellingham
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Some museums display paintings.
This one makes lightning.
The SPARK Museum of Electrical Invention explores the history of electricity, radio, and early technological experimentation.
Its collection includes unusual electrical devices, historic instruments, and inventions that helped shape modern communication.
The highlight for many visitors is the high-voltage demonstration featuring dramatic electrical arcs.
Why it’s unusual
Because watching a machine throw artificial lightning around is considerably more exciting than reading about electricity in a textbook.
City Unknown tip
Check the demonstration schedule before visiting. Some experiences require separate admission or have limited showtimes.
Official SPARK Museum website | Google Maps
8. Marsh’s Free Museum — Long Beach
📍 409 Pacific Avenue S, Long Beach
<AsyncImage query=”Marsh’s Free Museum Long Beach Washington Jake the Alligator Man oddities museum” aspectRatio=”16:9″/>
Every great roadside attraction needs something completely ridiculous.
Marsh’s Free Museum has Jake the Alligator Man.
Part human.
Part alligator.
All roadside legend.
The museum is a classic Pacific Northwest curiosity shop filled with oddities, unusual souvenirs, historic objects, and the sort of exhibits that make you stop and stare.
Jake is the star attraction.
And no, you shouldn’t treat him as a real biological discovery.
That’s not the point.
Why it’s unusual
Because this is exactly the kind of wonderfully strange roadside museum that makes a road trip memorable.
The Mayor’s tip
Combine the museum with a visit to the Long Beach Peninsula and Cape Disappointment area.
9. The Gum Wall — Seattle
📍 Post Alley, Pike Place Market
<AsyncImage query=”Seattle Gum Wall Post Alley colorful chewing gum brick wall” aspectRatio=”16:9″/>
Seattle has public art.
Historic architecture.
Beautiful waterfront scenery.
And a wall covered in chewed gum.
Thousands upon thousands of colorful pieces of gum have been stuck to the brick walls of Post Alley over the years.
The Gum Wall began developing its strange reputation in the 1990s and has since become one of Seattle’s oddest photo stops.
The wall has been cleaned before.
It always seems to come back.
Why it’s unusual
Because somewhere along the way, Seattle collectively decided that chewing gum could become a tourist attraction.
And apparently it was right.
City Unknown tip
Look.
Photograph.
Try not to touch anything.
That last part shouldn’t need explaining.
Pike Place Market | Google Maps
10. Ape Cave — Mount St. Helens
📍 Gifford Pinchot National Forest
<AsyncImage query=”Ape Cave Mount St Helens Washington lava tube cave dark volcanic rock” aspectRatio=”16:9″/>
Washington has a cave that was formed by flowing lava.
And you can walk through it.
Ape Cave is a lava tube on the southern side of Mount St. Helens.
Thousands of years ago, molten lava flowed beneath a hardened surface, leaving behind a long underground passage.
Today, visitors can explore sections of the cave when seasonal access is available.
Why it’s unusual
You’re walking through a tunnel created by a volcano.
No decorations necessary.
Important safety note
Ape Cave is dark, cold, uneven, and requires proper lighting. Seasonal access, parking reservations, and cave rules may apply.
Bring multiple light sources, sturdy shoes, and warm clothing.
The Mayor’s tip
Don’t use your phone flashlight as your only light source.
This is not the place to discover your battery is at 4%.
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument | Google Maps
11. Fremont’s Waiting for the Interurban — Seattle
📍 N. 34th Street, Fremont
<AsyncImage query=”Waiting for the Interurban Seattle Fremont sculpture people dog public art” aspectRatio=”16:9″/>
Fremont apparently decided one strange sculpture wasn’t enough.
Meet Waiting for the Interurban.
This public artwork features a group of people waiting for a streetcar that no longer exists.
The sculpture has become famous for something else:
People dress it up.
Costumes.
Hats.
Scarves.
Seasonal decorations.
Political messages.
Whatever somebody decides the figures need that week.
Why it’s unusual
Because Seattle has a public sculpture that essentially serves as a community dress-up mannequin.
City Unknown tip
Combine it with the Fremont Troll and other neighborhood artwork for a self-guided weird Seattle walking tour.
12. The Museum of Flight’s Airpark — Seattle
📍 9404 E. Marginal Way S, Seattle
<AsyncImage query=”Museum of Flight Seattle Airpark Concorde Boeing 747 aircraft outdoor display” aspectRatio=”16:9″/>
An entire museum devoted to aviation is impressive.
But walking beneath a giant historic airplane?
That’s something else.
The Museum of Flight features an outdoor Aviation Pavilion with enormous aircraft, including a Boeing 747 and a Concorde.
You can see aircraft that once carried passengers across oceans and around the world.
And depending on exhibit access, explore selected interiors.
Why it’s unusual
Because standing beside a supersonic passenger jet makes you appreciate just how extraordinary aviation became.
The Mayor’s tip
This is a good rainy-day Seattle option, though parts of the outdoor collection are exposed to the weather.
Official Museum of Flight website | Google Maps
13. Goldendale Observatory — Goldendale
📍 Goldendale Observatory State Park
<AsyncImage query=”Goldendale Observatory Washington telescope dome night sky stars” aspectRatio=”16:9″/>
Want to see something truly strange?
Look up.
Goldendale Observatory is home to a major public telescope and astronomy programming.
On clear evenings, visitors may get the opportunity to observe celestial objects through powerful equipment.
Planets.
Stars.
Nebulae.
Galaxies.
Suddenly the universe feels a lot bigger.
Why it’s unusual
Washington has a public observatory where a casual road trip can turn into a tour of the cosmos.
City Unknown tip
Check current reservation requirements, public programs, and weather before visiting.
Clouds are not particularly cooperative with astronomy.
Washington State Parks | Google Maps
14. The Giant Red Wagon — Spokane
📍 Riverfront Park, Spokane
<AsyncImage query=”Giant Red Wagon Slide Riverfront Park Spokane Washington Radio Flyer sculpture” aspectRatio=”16:9″/>
Somebody took a child’s red wagon.
Made it enormous.
Then turned the handle into a slide.
And honestly?
Excellent decision.
The Giant Red Wagon, officially known as The Childhood Express, is one of Spokane’s most recognizable pieces of public art.
It sits in Riverfront Park and looks like a classic toy that somehow escaped from a giant’s bedroom.
Why it’s unusual
Because it’s a wagon.
But also a sculpture.
But also a playground slide.
Washington is efficient like that.
City Unknown tip
Riverfront Park has enough additional attractions to make this more than a five-minute photo stop.
Riverfront Spokane | Google Maps
15. The Trolls of the Pacific Northwest — Washington Locations
📍 Bainbridge Island, Seattle, Vashon Island, Issaquah, and West Seattle
<AsyncImage query=”Thomas Dambo giant wooden troll sculpture Bainbridge Island Washington Pia the Peacekeeper” aspectRatio=”16:9″/>
We’re finishing with something wonderfully strange.
Giant wooden trolls hidden around Washington.
Danish artist Thomas Dambo created a series of enormous recycled-wood sculptures throughout the Pacific Northwest.
The project includes several Washington locations, each with its own character and story.
These aren’t little garden trolls.
They’re enormous creatures assembled from reclaimed materials and placed in parks, forests, and public spaces.
Why it’s unusual
Because hunting giant wooden trolls through Washington sounds like something from a children’s adventure book.
Except the trolls are real sculptures.
Make it a road trip
Search for the Washington installations, then plan a self-guided troll-hunting adventure.
Respect posted hours and the natural environments surrounding each sculpture.
The Mayor’s tip
Bainbridge Island makes an especially fun starting point because you can combine a ferry ride with a search for Pia the Peacekeeper.
Northwest Trolls project | Google Maps — Pia the Peacekeeper
Three Weird Washington Road Trips Worth Taking
The Weird Seattle Day Trip
Fremont Troll → Waiting for the Interurban → Gum Wall → Seattle Underground
Start in Fremont.
Photograph the troll.
Visit the unusual neighborhood sculptures.
Then head downtown for the Gum Wall and Seattle’s underground history.
This is a great introduction to Seattle’s stranger side.
The Columbia Gorge Oddities Trip
Maryhill Stonehenge → Maryhill Museum → Goldendale Observatory
Ancient-looking monuments.
Unusual art collections.
And a chance to look into space.
That’s a surprisingly good combination for one weekend.
The Washington Coast Curiosities Trip
Long Beach → Marsh’s Free Museum → Cape Disappointment
Meet Jake the Alligator Man.
Explore the peninsula.
Then finish with dramatic coastal scenery.
Because a road trip should always include at least one stop that makes absolutely no sense.
What Makes Washington So Weird?
Washington has always attracted interesting people.
Inventors.
Artists.
Entrepreneurs.
Scientists.
Independent thinkers.
And people who apparently look at a bridge and think:
“You know what this needs? A giant troll.”
But the natural landscape is equally strange.
Volcanoes created underground tunnels.
Ice Age floods carved enormous dry waterfalls.
Ancient forests became stone.
The Columbia River cut through volcanic terrain.
So Washington’s unusual attractions fall into two categories.
The weird things people built.
And the weird things nature built first.
Both deserve exploring.
The Mayor’s Tips for Exploring Weird Washington
- Check seasonal access. Caves, observatories, and interpretive centers may operate on limited schedules.
- Bring layers. Western Washington can be rainy while eastern Washington is dry and sunny.
- Don’t trespass. Strange abandoned buildings aren’t automatically public attractions.
- Respect public art. Photograph sculptures without damaging them.
- Allow time for detours. The best roadside oddities are often the stops you didn’t plan.
- Take the backroads when practical. Washington has plenty of interesting small towns between major destinations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the weirdest places to visit in Washington State?
The Fremont Troll, Maryhill Stonehenge, Marsh’s Free Museum, Nutty Narrows Bridge, Ape Cave, and Seattle Underground are among Washington’s most unusual attractions.
Are there strange roadside attractions in Washington?
Absolutely. Maryhill Stonehenge, the Nutty Narrows squirrel bridge, and Spokane’s Giant Red Wagon are excellent examples.
What unusual places can I visit near Seattle?
Try the Fremont Troll, Waiting for the Interurban, the Gum Wall, Seattle Underground, and the Museum of Flight.
What are some unusual natural attractions in Washington?
Ape Cave, Ginkgo Petrified Forest, and Dry Falls showcase Washington’s remarkable volcanic and Ice Age history.
Are Washington’s weird attractions family-friendly?
Many are, including the Fremont Troll, Giant Red Wagon, and several museums. Some experiences, such as Ape Cave, require additional preparation and may not be suitable for every visitor.
Washington’s Weird Side Is Worth the Detour
The longer I travel, the more convinced I become that the strangest places often create the best memories.
You might forget another scenic overlook.
But a bridge for squirrels?
You’ll remember that.
A giant troll holding a car?
Definitely.
A museum with an alligator man?
That story is coming home with you.
Washington has plenty of famous attractions.
Mount Rainier.
Olympic National Park.
The Space Needle.
All wonderful.
But the next time you’re planning a Washington road trip, leave room for something a little unusual.
Take the unexpected exit.
Visit the strange museum.
Walk beneath the bridge.
Look for the giant troll.
Because sometimes the best travel stories begin with:
“You’re not going to believe what we found.”
Keep Exploring Washington With City Unknown
Continue your adventures with:
- 15 Seattle Hidden Gems That Feel Even Better in the Fall
- 12 Haunted Places Around Seattle You Can Actually Visit
- 12 Small-Town Washington Day Trips Worth Taking This Fall
- Things to Do in Washington in December: Christmas Lights, Snowy Mountains & Winter Adventures
- Washington Hidden Gems
- Washington Day Trips
And keep checking City Unknown as we explore more unusual roadside attractions, hidden destinations, independent restaurants, small towns, and forgotten places across America.
Because the world is far too interesting to keep visiting the same places.
