cool state washington

Washington State is far too

geographically diverse to present as one single entity. So, to assist with your travel planning, we have divided the state into eight regions—each with its own special and unique character. Oceans? Volcanoes? Scablands? Metropolitan? Start your Washington experience in any one of these regions; and plan enough time to get familiar with the people and the land that has sculpted their vision of life. You’ll no doubt mutter, “One region down— seven to go.” We know you’ll be back.

Seattle & Puget Sound
Seattle and the Puget Sound metro area (extending to Olympia and Mount Rainier in the south and Everett to the north) offer one of the most sophisticated and exciting urban experiences in the world. See our museums, sports teams, parks, galleries, and live performances. Then ply the waters of Puget Sound. Take a ferry to pastoral Bainbridge or Vashon islands or drive around the Sound through Tacoma and Gig Harbor. Drive into the towering North Cascades or to Paradise at the foot of Mount Rainer. “Metronatural” is Seattle’s theme because it’s literally all right here.

Northwest & The Islands
Nestled on the inlets of Puget Sound or at the foot of towering Cascade peaks, towns and villages offer glimpses of a resplendent past and a vibrant present. Ferry to the nearby San Juan Islands and enjoy kayaking or whale watching in these protected waters. Don’t miss touring the Skagit Valley and stopping at local farms, wineries, and the glorious tulip fields. Stroll in a park, eat a fine dinner, visit an art gallery in La Conner or go see a play in Bellingham. The excitement and fun are as tall as Mount Baker.

The mighty Columbia: lifeblood of our civilization for centuries

On the Columbia River, you’ll see a waterway that was a trade route for native inhabitants at least ten millennia before newcomers Meriwether Lewis, William Clark, Sacagawea, and the Corps of Discovery made their historic journey to the Pacific Ocean. Rich, ubiquitous and infinitely varied is the culture of Washington’s first residents. Whether you visit a gallery to buy a dance mask carved from cedar or alder, spend the night in a tepee in the Yakama Nation, or attend a powwow hosted by any of our 29 native tribes, you’ll be riveted by the beauty and depth of what you see, and you’ll feel welcome.

Fishing and timber heritage

Meander through our historic and pristine towns to see well-preserved remnants of the culture that came with the first European-American settlers. Venerable brick and frame buildings are now often home to restaurants, bed-and-breakfasts, shops and galleries. Bookstores are stuffed with volumes that celebrate the history and culture of the state, attesting to both the keen public interest in things Washington and the marketability of our heritage. Towns across the state celebrate their history with locals turning out in force for harvest festivals, pioneer days, logging shows, sea fests and ethnic festivals of all kinds.

There’s just more to see and do Congratulations.

You’ve landed in one of the richest, most geologically varied and culturally rich spots in North America. And all you really need is time and energy. Bargains abound, and if you visit and only see what is free, you’ll still go home wide-eyed and longing to return.

Mountains high and oceans deep

Hike the Olympic Mountains or the Cascades for spring bloom, summer balm or autumn color. Ski downhill or cross-country, snowshoe or snowboard when the snow flies. Walk the rocky (and sandy) Pacific beaches; listen to the waves pound in and explore tide pools. Our mountain-bike trails attract aficionados from the far corners of America, Europe and Asia. But they are seldom crowde.

Desert plains in Washington?
When you visualize Washington, do you immediately see green forests and rain? Think again. Head east, following the Columbia River Gorge. Or travel up and over the Cascades, on one of the passes, maybe following the North Cascades Highway. It leads through one of the state’s three national parks. There are also municipal, county and state parks by the hundreds. Once past the high rock wall that divides the state, you leave the mosses and ferns and towering timbers and enter a vast desert. Here tumbleweed rolls, piling up on weathered fence posts
and rusted barbed wire. In the shallow lakes scattered about the landscape, sandhill cranes and other migrating birds swoop down to sojourn. They are both handsome and graceful. A full two-thirds of the state looks like this; it will take your breath away!

Your Excellent Washington State Adventure Starts Here

Washington State is nestled in the northwest corner of the continental United States and shares a border with British Columbia, home to the 2010 winter games. We are the true northwest, bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean, the Olympic rainforest and the tiny San Juan Islands bobbing off the northwest shores. The towering Cascade mountain range with its four snowcapped volcanic peaks divides us in half from north to south; channeled scablands and fertile high-plains desert comprise our central regions. To the far northeast, you begin to feel the influence of the Rocky Mountains as sagebrush gives way to towering ponderosa pine, crisp streams and glacial lakes. To the southeast, you’ll find the rolling hills of the Palouse area. Here dunes of volcanic ash, sediment from the massive Missoula floods and irrigation courtesy of the Snake River combine to create some of the richest farmland in the nation Directly to the north and easily accessible, is Canada. Our southern border is defined by the mighty Columbia River, cutting a huge gash through the Cascades to create the famous Gorge, the only sea-level passage through the mountain range.
This geographic diversity creates perhaps the widest range of outdoor activities you’ll find anywhere in the world—winter and summer.