11 Cool Things to Do in Raymond, WA

If you drive through Raymond, WA what will catch your eye first are the rusted steel sculptures along Highway 101.

If you drive-thru downtown, the vacant buildings downtown might make it look like not much is going on.

But, if you stop and do some exploring you’ll discover that there is actually quite a bit of cool things to do in Raymond, WA!

Best Things to Do in Raymond, WA

Check out the famed steel sculptures.

Of course, the thing that Raymond, WA is best-known for are its steel sculptures around the city.

They are part of the Wildlife Heritage Sculpture Corridor which you can find along the highway, which will draw your eye in before you even stop in Raymond!

Once you arrive in town, you’ll find even more — it’s like a treasure hunt.

Raymond, WA
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Grab a beer at Pitchwood Alehouse & Inn

The #1-rated restaurant on TripAdvisor in Raymond, WA is Pitchwood Alehouse & Inn.

It’s definitely a great place to grab a beer and relax for a bit! It reminded me of a cozy and eclectic Alaskan Roadhouse with added flairs of woodworking.

And order a fantastic meal there, too.

We ordered food while at Pitchwood Alehouse and we were so glad we did!

We suggest The Melt (roast beef, tomatoes, and bacon all grilled with mayo and lettuce!) and their Caesar salad.

Their mixed greens with goat cheese, grapes, sliced pears and candied walnuts with a balsamic dressing was also great.


Stay at the inn.

Being the nosy writer that I am, I asked about the Pitchwood Inn, and in the process ended up getting a tour by Joe, one of the owners!

When Joe and his brother Kaley bought the property it included both the restaurant/bar and a motel. They’ve turned a typical roadside motel layout into a really distinctive inn.

One room has hostel style bunks with a communal bathroom. The price is $25 a bunk or $20 if you BYO bedding — score.

The remaining rooms have traditional bed sizes – king, queen, two queens, and there will soon be a room with a small adjoining room with bunk beds. All rooms have bathrooms and a flat screen TV. A couple of the rooms have a kitchenette, and there is one pet-friendly room.

Prices range $75 to $90. Each room is unique with clean lines, beautiful reclaimed wood and woodwork.

I didn’t get to stay here on this trip, but it is on my list next time I’m in the area.

Get a dose of history at the Northwest Carriage Museum.

I’m a museum goer, but I have to admit I wasn’t sure I’d be into my visit at the Northwest Carriage Museum. But, once I got there and saw all the carriages (they have 48!) I quickly changed my mind!

When you walk in, the upper-class carriages will be the first carriages you see. The working and middle-class carriages are in the next section.

To the right of the counter is a gift shop, an interactive area with a carriage to climb on, a schoolroom, a dress-up area, and a mock carriage with a horse, as well as, two more carriages, and detailed information about the parts of a carriage.

Raymond, WA

Some of the carriages are from the U.S., others are from Europe, and some have been used in movies.

For those they’ve identified in the movies, they have segments of those movies playing!

We had a hosted tour, and I highly suggest calling ahead to arrange a tour, as you’ll get the most out of your visit.

Some of the carriage museum highlights:

  • Learning about where vehicle terminology came about, such as,
    • A glovebox was a box near the front seat and was for ladies to put their gloves inside.
    • Dashboard was a wooden board in front of the carriage right behind the horses. It would prevent mud and debris from splashing up onto the drivers.
    • On a stagecoach, riding shotgun meant you had the seat next to the driver on the outside of the carriage. If you had that seat, you had to carry a gun and be prepared to defend the stagecoach from robberies or raids.
  • Learning about the different types of carriages and how they were used, such as,
    • In a Hansom Cab, the driver locked the passenger inside until they paid.
    • John Deere started out making Deere and Weber Sleighs.
    • Mail Buggies had the right of way and were manned by six horses. These horses were changed out along the route so they did not get tired.
  • Having a hands-on section where you could climb on a carriage and man a mock carriage with a mechanical horse. (This area is great for kids!)

Other Cool Things to Do in Raymond, WA

Raymond, WA

That was all I had time for on my short day trip to Raymond, WA, but there are many more things to do in Raymond if you have time for two days or for turning it into a weekend getaway from Seattle.

Here are some ideas of other things to do in Raymond!

Pin This Guide to Raymond, WA

72 thoughts on “11 Cool Things to Do in Raymond, WA”

  1. There is so much to see in this beautiful country. I hope one day I’ll be able to say that I visited all the United States. So far I’m still missing a lot of them and despite the fact that I live on the West Coast, I still haven’t seen the state of Washington. Your blog is an inexhaustible resource for this great state and I will surely need a lot of the information you provide here when I’ll head that way. #TheWeeklyPostcard

    • Anda, I’m so glad you find the website helpful. There is so much to see in the world and right out our back door, isn’t there? Even I find new places to visit in Washington all the time.I hope you make it up here soon.

  2. Looks like a cute town! I think the Carriage Museum would certainly be interesting. Were you able to climb inside any of them, or are they for looking only?

    • They were for looking only, but they did have a wagon in the interactive area that everyone was encourage to climb up on.

    • They were for looking only, but they did have a wagon in the interactive area that everyone was encouraged to climb up on.

    • I live in this town, and I can assure you, the sandwiches at the Pitchwood are AMAZING! Definitely a must go if anyone ever visits Raymond!

      • Selena, Lucky girl to live there! There were so many things I wanted to try on this menu. Hopefully I’ll get to head that way soon.

    • Rhonda, The museum was fascinating, and there were so many carriages you got a good sense of how they evolved.

  3. They say you can’t judge a book by its cover. Judging by the pic of the exterior of the museum, I, too, was iffy. After seeing the pics, I’m certain this museum would pique my interest. If I’m ever in the area, I’m definitely stopping by!

    • Livi, That is so true. I think that could be said of Raymond overall. I hope you get to visit the museum one day. I certainly found it interesting and carriage culture is so many years behind the present day that there is a lot of interesting things to discover.

  4. The museum looks cool and I love learning about history but those meals are making my mouth water! Its been almost 2 years since I was stateside and one of the biggest things I miss is the food!

    • Mike, Overall the food scene in Washington, the Pacific Northwest really, is amazing. I hope you get to head back this way soon.

  5. That looks like a great place for a weekend getaway! All the food looks so yummy! I should have eaten before coming to read this ha! Lovely photos and a great read!

  6. My dad grew up in Raymond and South Bend, Washington, living in what is now the Russell House B&B. My great-grandmother, Ella Eichner owned it in the 1930s. I was born and raised in Benton County over here in the Tri Cities, but I have an on-going LOVE AFFAIR with ALL of Pacific County. I LOVE Raymond and South Bend, and their small-town charm!

    • JEB, It’s great to learn about your connection to Raymond and Pacific County. I haven’t heard of the Russell House B&B. I’ll have to check that out. Thanks for the tip and spreading the small town love!

    • Corinne, I’ve been to Bremerton only once and I really want to go back and explore that whole area more. There is so much to do in Washington, isn’t there?

    • Susan, I really wish I could have stayed longer. I’d like to SUP the river! And then, of course, eat at Pitchwood and stay there too. 🙂

  7. I was born in South Bend, 80 years ago. My husband and I lived on a hill in Garden Tracts, outside of Raymond, but in the city limits, for 17 years. We moved away in 1979. We stopped at Pitchwood Restaurant for lunch one day, and my husband recommends their oyster sandwich to anyone who likes oysters. We will certainly go there again.

    • Lou Ann, Thank so much for sharing your connection to Raymond. It is an area I want to explore more. I’m not an oyster fan, but I’m sure anything they make is amazing. Glad to hear you like it too.

  8. Having a girlfriend who hails from Bremerton, I’ve actually been lucky to experience much more of “small town USA” than many non-natives do and Washington really has some of the most beautiful scenery I’ve ever been lucky enough to see. But while I haven’t yet been to Raymond, it may well be on the agenda next time I visit the soon-to-be in-laws and the Pitchwood Alehouse really does look a treat. Thanks for continuing to shine a spotlight on the beautiful state

    • Gareth, Thank you. I’m glad you found my post helpful and have a new place to visit and eat great food at. I’ve been to Bremerton once, and want to go back and explore more.

  9. The Carriage Museum certainly caught my eye. What a quaint collection of vehicles from the bygone era! I’m sure people had the same carriage all their lives, in those days, unlike now 🙂

    • Punita, You are probably right and they made them last, especially the middle and lower class folks who spend a lot of their salary to buy one.

  10. I’ve never seen a carriage museum so far, probably I’ve never seen an old carriage live, now that I think about it. The hearse actually is pretty cool despite its function. But once you’re dead you don’t really mind about aesthetics.
    Really lovely the room at the Pitchwood inn with reclaimed wood on the wall!

    • Luca, What the owners are doing with Pitchwood Inn is remarkable. And, the carriage museum really taught me a lot about the days of no cars and all horses.

    • Emma, There are so many places to visit. What a fun itinerary to build!!! It will be a very worthwhile experience. Looking forward to reading more about it and seeing what small towns you discover.

  11. This seems to be a great road trip. I am fascinated by the museum and the different carriages on display. The stagecoach looks so intriguing. The food looks tempting too.

    • Vyjay, Thanks so much for commenting. The stagecoach didn’t sound like it would be too comfortable to be inside of, but it sure does create a sense of nostalgia for a different era, doesn’t it?

  12. What a cute little town with some hidden gems! The food and restaurant environment looked awesome! I love that you got to meet the owners of the hotel and get an inside story of their business. I love how they created a motel to look so cute and welcoming. The wood work is beautiful! I too would be hesitant about a carriage museum, but wow those were some historical and beautiful carriages! I would want to play cinderella if I went there. Great post!

    • Christina, I’m glad the excitement I felt about that day came through. I didn’t know what to expect and it turned out to be a really wonderful day with people that believe in making Raymond, WA. a great place to visit.

  13. What a unique town!! 😀 thanks for sharing this. Travel doesn’t have to mean spending thousands and flying to the other side of the world! Discovering cute little places near home can be just as exciting 🙂 I’m actually moving to the US next year and I’m really excited to explore and visit places just like this one!

  14. Looks like a cute little place. I am sure kids will have fun here…with all the carriages!
    The sandwich looks delicious…is there good vegetarian food available as well?

    • Sonia, There are salads and pizzas on the menu. Most places in Washington will accommodate vegetarians as there are so many that live here.

  15. what a nice town! 🙂 have to admit I prefer small towns over big, touristic places too.
    The food from Pitchwood Alehouse & Inn looks soooo delicious as well!

  16. That Pitchwood Alehouse and Inn looks very unique. It’s cool to see that owners fixed up the place. The Carriage museum does sound a bit boring but the photos are great so I can see how you had fun there. It’s fun learning about where terminology we take for granted like glove box comes from. Great post.

    • Wanderlust Vegans, It was really something to see what was being done with Pitchwood Inn. I think it is such a great thing when people invest in their towns.

  17. Whoa I just fell in love with the vehicular terminologies. This is such a beautiful place to explore. Will check out your suggestions while visiting.

  18. There s sometihing delghtful about not so big towns. This peace and ladback lifestyle can never be enjoyed in a metropolis. Glad to see you could also transport yourself to a different era, this always feels great, isn’t it?

  19. You have such a wonderfully quaint niche of travel, I love it! These are the sorts of places no one would really think of traveling to, but you have done such a great job showcasing them! The carriage museum looks super interesting, I’d love to go there.

  20. Those carriages look splendid! It’s really interesting to read about these smaller places of interest you highlight on your blog. It’s perfect for anybody looking to get to know the state in depth.

  21. You always do such an awesome job of showing off these little gems. Small towns can be big time destinations. Great info on Raymond. I’ll be stopping there my next time through the area… all because of you. 🙂

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