About 52,000 people call Burien, Washington, home. This small city sits on the shores of Puget Sound. If you have ever watched Twin Peaks, then you'll recognize the nearby Snoqualmie Falls from the show's opening credits as you arrive in town from the east. The city's main draws for visitors are the large selection of boutique shops, the farmer's market, and the collection of restaurants that feature cuisines from six of the seven continents. The weather is mild in all four seasons, rarely dropping below freezing during the winter and generally staying below 85 degrees in the summertime.
Canadian George Ouelliet was the first colonist to own land in what is today considered Burien. He arrived in 1864. A few years later, European colonists began building roads, which would be instrumental in the town's growth. The railroad arrived in 1915, but the winter weather made it untenable. Today the only rail travel is a connection to Seattle's public transit.
If you're looking to try a great meal during your visit, the Centro Neighborhood Kitchen is quite popular on Tuesdays because of its superlative array of tacos. If you'd like to try coffee from around the world, then the Burien Press is the place to spend an afternoon. The Burien Fish House serves crunchy fish and chips that would be at home in any pub in England.
Because the city is a suburb of Seattle, sports are a big part of the city's psyche. The Seahawks, Mariners, Kraken, and Sounders all play at stadiums that are no more than 20 miles distant. Within the city itself, you can catch a roller derby or even tackle football with female players by attending the games of the Seattle Majestics. The Highline Bears are there for baseball lovers on a budget. They're a collegiate-league team, and some of their players have made it to the major leagues in the past.
Campgrounds Near Burien, Washington
The Vasa Park Resort is a small park that contains 16 RV sites, six of which are full sites that can accommodate rigs up to 75 feet long. It's only 18 miles from Burien. The sites have full hookups, and the resort features Wi-Fi throughout. Lake Sammamish is in the park, and there are water slides and a boat launch available.
The 50 RV campsites at Manchester State Park are just an hour's drive away from Burien. The RV sites feature both 50-amp and 30-amp electrical hookups, and there are also water and sewer connections at each site. Restrooms and showers are available, and there's even a dump station for your convenience.
Lake Pleasant RV Park is just 30 miles to the north of Burien, Washington, and it has 196 RV campsites available. The sites each have full hookups, including both common amperage electrical connections, and the campground features both pull-through sites and back-in sites. Pets are allowed as long as you leash them and keep them inside each evening.
State Parks Near Burien, Washington
Saltwater State Park is just seven miles from Burien, Washington. Seashell hunting is popular on the beach within the park. If you're SCUBA-certified, then take a dive on the coral reef that makes this state park unique in the United States. If you'd like to hike, then there are three fairly short hiking trails within the park.
A half-hour of city driving will bring you to Dash Point State Park. It's a small park of some 400 acres right on Puget Sound. The beaches and water make for terrific boating, kayaking, and swimming. Even though the weather is mostly mild, you should still bring warm clothing during the winter because of the wind. The park has 11 miles worth of hiking trails and eight miles of bicycle trails. If you'd like to catch your dinner, then get a Washington fishing license. You can also get a license for shellfish in every season except for summer.
Manchester State Park is tiny at just 111 acres, but it's worth the 57-mile trip even if you don't stay at the RV park contained therein. The 3,400-foot beach on Puget Sound is fine for a volleyball game or for swimming. There are two miles of hiking trails in the park. Birders come from all over to see the eagles, hawks, and owls.
National Sites Near Burien, Washington
San Juan Island National Historical Park lies 120 miles from Burien, Washington. Americans and British subjects fought over San Juan Island because of the death of a pig. Today you can see remnants of the Pig War. Killer whales swim off the coast of the islands, and you can spot them with a good pair of binoculars. As you walk the hiking trails of the islands, you'll notice the many species of waterfowl and songbirds that make these islands a great place for birdwatchers.
The Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park in Seattle covers two floors of exhibits that show what it was like for prospectors who were just starting out. The exhibits show how the prospectors were crucial for the development of Burien's economy. Should you want to take a trip to see the other three sites that are part of the memorial, you can make the nearly 1,700-mile journey northward to Skagway, Alaska.
A little less than 80 miles to the north, you will find Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve. The Ebeys were the first European colonists to land in Seattle, and the reserve is dedicated to them. The hiking trails within the reserve are either easy or moderately difficult. If you take the Bluff Trail, then you can sometimes spot gray whales off the coast. The Ebey's Prairie Trail takes you to the homestead of Jacob and Sarah Ebey.
National Forests Near Burien, Washington
An hour's drive away, you will come to the Mount Baker–Snoqualmie National Forest. This forest contains 1,500 miles of hiking trails, many of which wind among the more than 200 glaciers in the forest. If you visit during salmon season, then you can go fishing for some sockeye salmon for your grill. Be sure to prepare properly for bear encounters if you choose this activity.
Gifford Pinchot National Forest covers 1.3 million acres about 135 miles from Burien. The hiking trails within this forest are mostly of moderate difficulty. Some of them are quite long, however, and might require more than one day to complete. One of them, the Lava Canyon Trail, even crosses a 125-foot rope suspension bridge. Huckleberries grow wild in the forest for you to collect while hiking the trails. Their peak season is August until September.
Olympic National Forest is just about a two-hour drive from Burien. The Colonel Bob Trail is 14 miles of very challenging hiking, but the view and picnic opportunity atop Colonel Bob is worth the trip. Conversely, the Native American Nature trail is barely 600 feet long and nearly flat. This national forest contains a small rainforest, too, and if you're a plant lover, then you will enjoy exploring the ferns, lichen, and moss that grow nowhere else in the state.
