Travellers looking for outdoor adventure and cosmopolitan culture, Washington State is the ideal destination. The state is home to vast National Parks, and peaceful rain forests, alongside buzzing cities and towns, visitors can truly experience the best of both when exploring the state.
Seattle to Whidbey Island
The state’s largest city towers over Puget Sound and is the ideal destination for foodies and coffee lovers. Home to Pike Place Market, one of the oldest continuously operated farmers markets in the United States, visitors can discover everything from locally sourced specialty foods and delicious beverages to artisan crafts and shopping stalls. The city’s location makes it an ideal starting point for outdoor adventures, a one-hour drive away is Whidbey Island and Deception Pass State Park, here visitors can hike the rugged cliffs of the island, kayak out to secluded beaches and set up camp with views out to the Salish Sea.
Tacoma to Mount Rainier
Tacoma sits just south of Seattle and offers visitors a thriving cultural scene to explore, alongside exciting dining options. The city’s world-renowned Museum of Glass sits on Tacoma’s revitalised waterfront. Here visitors will see a range of 20th and 21st century glass art in the museum’s permanent collections alongside new exhibitions. The museum is also home to the world’s largest Hot Shop Amphitheatre where visitors can watch the artists in action. Just over an hour’s drive away from the city is Mount Rainier, Washington’s tallest mountain and epic National Park. Perfect for all seasons, it is a haven for alpine climbers and the ultimate playground for skiers and snowboarders. For the less adventurous visitors there are stunning viewpoints to visit, and wildflower meadows to be explored.
Olympia to Olympic National Park
While it may be the state’s capital, Olympia has a laid-back vibe, a haven for creatives, its walls are covered in murals waiting to be explored. Visitors can discover art walks, galleries, theatres and music venues across the city. Not far from the city encompassing nearly one million acres of Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, Olympic National Park is the only place in the US where visitors will find coastal beaches, rain forests and glacier-capped mountains all in one park. The park’s rain forests offer a plethora of trails to be discovered on bike or on foot, and the ultimate escape from the busy city, Hoh Rain Forest is one of the quietest places in the nation undisturbed by human noise pollution.
Spokane to Mount Spokane State Park
Tucked into Washington’s north eastern corner is the state’s second largest city, Spokane, the city surrounds what is the world’s largest urban waterfall, Spokane Falls. Visitors can take the SkyRide gondola for a 20-minute ride across the falls with a bird’s eye view as the lilac gondolas slowly descend over 200 feet. Just an hour from the city is Mount Spokane State Park, with 100 miles of trails throughout its 12,293 acres visitors can take advantage of the park and its proximity to the city year-round. It’s fantastic ski areas attract winter sports enthusiasts in the winter, while hikers will enjoy panoramic views from the peaks of Kit Carson, Day Mountain and Mount Spokane.
