Without a doubt, the best time to visit the Puget Sound is mid-July to mid-August, when you are most likely to experience the bliss of blue skies and mountain views. Much of the rest of the year is dominated by seemingly ceaseless gray and drizzly weather, infrequently interrupted by a few days of glorious sunshine here and there.

If a little bit of cloud cover doesn't bother you, though, this is the mildest region of the state. The rain doesn't often pour, thunder and lightning are an anomaly, and it rarely snows. So live like the locals—throw on a raincoat and don't let a little mist get in the way of your fun.

Just about all of the cities and towns in this section are easy day trips from Seattle if taken individually. For a more thorough tour of the region, including all of the museums and historic sights of Olympia and Tacoma and the recreational opportunities in the north sound, visitors should consider padding their schedule with a week or more on top of their Seattle itinerary.