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Hosted by:
  • Greenlake Boathouse
  • 351 E Green Lake Drive North - Seattle
  • Washington - United States
  • (206) 527-0171
  • [email protected]
  • http://greenlakeboathouse.com/

A state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States

From its lively cities to its tranquil islands, from the Columbia Plateau to the Cascades, Washington is a state blending uncommon natural beauty and abundant human spirit. To many people, Washington is Seattle -- Pike Place Market, the Puget Sound ferries, the Mariners' Ken Griffey Jr. To others, elusive Mount Rainier best represents the state. Still others consider the velvety brown hills and brilliant green and gold farmland east of the Cascades to be "their" Washington. To find your Washington, choose your area of interest below -- and get set to explore the Evergreen State in all its diversity.

Tourism regions

Washington has no officially designated tourism regions, but Washingtonians often think of their state as having two sides: Western Washington and Eastern Washington, somewhat lopsidedly divided by the Cascade Range. The western part of the state includes Seattle, the San Juans, the coast, the Olympic Peninsula, and the Cascades. Eastern Washington takes in Spokane, the Columbia River basin, the Yakima Valley, Tri-Cities, and Lake Chelan.

Road trips

Because Washington is a fairly compact state, you could spend a week's vacation here and see a wide array of scenery, everything from volcanoes to vineyards. Here are a few suggested scenic drives around the Evergreen State:

  • The Cascade Loop -- Best done over a long weekend (but possible to drive in a day), this 400-mile route across northcentral Washington crosses the Cascade range twice, leading through Leavenworth, the Methow Valley , North Cascades National Park, and Fidalgo and Whidbey islands. Mountain passes along the drive may be closed in winter.
  • Columbia River Gorge -- Interstate 84 on the Oregon side of the Columbia River is the way to make time, but if you'd rather see the sights, Washington's State Route 14 is the better bet. Highlights include the Maryhill Museum, Beacon Rock State Park, and the new Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center at Stevenson.
  • Olympic Peninsula Loop -- U.S. Highway 101 circles most of the way around the peninsula. Interesting towns dot the route, including Forks, a former timber town now known as launching point for the "Olympic West Arttrek," a 27-stop self-guiding tour that visits artists' studios, country stores, herb farms, even a cattle ranch.
  • The Toutle River Road -- Also known as State Route 504 or the Spirit Lake Memorial Highway, this route takes motorists into the redeveloping Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. The new Hoffstadt Bluffs Visitor Center at milepost 27 includes a restaurant and picnic area.
  • Mount Rainier Loop -- It's possible to drive almost all the way around Washington's signature mountain. Together with park roads, state routes 706, 123, and 410 combine to lend access to such scenic points as the Paradise and Sunrise visitor centers, the ancient forests of Ohanapecosh, and Chinook and Cayuse passes.

As Washington's population grows, so does the traffic on its freeways. Consider these alternatives to the "beaten path":

  • State Highway 9, beginning near the Seattle suburb of Bothell, parallels Interstate 5 to the Canadian border.
  • Chuckanut Drive (State Route 11) is the scenic route between Bellingham and Burlington, with good views of the San Juans, parks and pullouts, and restaurants en route.
  • The Old Yakima Canyon Highway (State Route 821) is an alternative to I-82 between Yakima and Ellensburg. Great tubing in the Yakima River on hot summer days. Southeast of Yakima, the Yakima Valley Highway winds through the region's fields and orchards, again paralleling Interstate 82.
The great outdoors

Outdoor pursuits as complex as scaling a Cascade peak or as casual as a walk in the woods are yours for the finding in Washington. Here are a few highlights:

  • Boating -- Water, water everywhere... it's no wonder Washington loves to boat. Whitewater rafting, sea kayaking, canoeing, tubing, jet-boating, and sailing are among the many waterborne activities.
  • Hiking and camping -- With three national parks, six national forests, about 100 state parks, and numerous other "official" recreation areas, Washington has plenty of places to pitch a tent, park a trailer, and swing on a knapsack. Check our "Don't Miss" section for some outdoor playgrounds you won't want to pass up.
  • Fishing -- Cast for trout in a Cascades stream or crab for Dungeness in the San Juans.
  • Winter sports -- Some parts of the Cascades get 200 inches of snow each year, making spots like Crystal Mountain, White Pass, and the cluster of Snoqualmie Pass ski areas popular with downhill devotees. Other alpine ski areas around the state include Mount Spokane, 49 Degrees North, Loup Loup, and Mission Ridge. The Methow Valley near Winthrop and the Colville National Forest in northeast Washington are among the many great places for cross-country skiing.
  • Hunting -- Big game like bears, deer, and elk are plentiful in Washington, as are game birds ranging from ducks and geese to pheasants and chukar.

Other Washington recreational highlights include stunt kite flying on the Pacific coast, heli-skiing and llama trekking in the North Cascades, and windsurfing in the Columbia Gorge.