Washington state offers a variety of aerial tours, scenic flights, and helicopter rides that provide breathtaking views of its diverse landscapes, including mountains, forests, coastlines, and cities. Here are some notable options:
1. Seattle and Surrounding Areas
Seattle Scenic Flights: Companies like Kenmore Air and Seattle Seaplanes offer floatplane tours over Seattle, giving stunning views of the Space Needle, downtown skyline, Puget Sound, and nearby islands.
Helicopter Tours: Helicopter companies like Seattle Helitours provide tours that fly over the city, offering unique perspectives of landmarks such as the Space Needle, Lake Washington, and Mount Rainier in the distance.
2. Mount Rainier and Mount St. Helens
Mount Rainier Scenic Flights: These tours, provided by companies like Rainier Flight Service, offer aerial views of Mount Rainier's majestic peaks, glaciers, and surrounding national park.
Mount St. Helens Helicopter Tours: Companies like EcoHeli Tours offer helicopter rides that showcase the dramatic landscape of Mount St. Helens, including the crater and the surrounding blast zone from its 1980 eruption.
3. San Juan Islands
San Juan Islands Scenic Flights: Kenmore Air offers floatplane tours to and around the San Juan Islands, providing picturesque views of the islands, marine wildlife, and coastal scenery.
Whale Watching from the Air: These tours
combine aerial sightseeing with whale watching, offering a unique vantage point to spot orcas and other marine life.
4. North Cascades and Olympic National Park
North Cascades Aerial Tours: These tours, offered by companies like North Cascades Heli, provide stunning views of rugged mountain peaks, alpine lakes, and pristine wilderness areas.
Olympic National Park Scenic Flights: Fly over the diverse landscapes of Olympic National Park, including the Olympic Mountains, temperate rainforests, and coastal beaches.
5. Wine Country
Walla Walla and Yakima Valley Wine Tours: Helicopter and plane tours over Washington’s wine country offer views of vineyards and the rolling hills of the Walla Walla and Yakima Valleys, often including stops for wine tasting.
6. Custom and Themed Tours
Custom Scenic Flights: Many companies offer customizable tours based on specific interests, such as photography, adventure tours, or romantic sunset flights.
Themed Flights: Some tours focus on specific themes, such as historical tours, nature and wildlife spotting, or seasonal events like fall foliage or snow-covered landscapes.
