Washington

Nicknamed the Evergreen State for its abundance of natural beauty, Washington lies in the heart of the Pacific Northwest. With everything from sleek cosmopolitan cities to adventures in the great outdoors, Washington offers up a little something for everyone.

Seattle is the largest city in Washington, and this is usually the first point-of-call for tourists visiting the state. It’s hard not to love the vibrancy and buzz of activity that fills the city, and its many attractions, including the famous Space Needle and Pike Place Market, mean that there is always plenty to see and do here. Of course, the coffee shops and wineries are not to be missed either. With fresh coffee available on just about every street corner, along with 900 wineries to tour, you definitely won’t be going thirsty in Washington!

While Seattle might be the most famous city in the state, there are plenty of other smaller urban hubs worth visiting. The quaint Bavarian town of Leavenworth is known for enjoying around 300 days of sunshine a year, which is much more than many other parts of the state, while Winthrop makes you feel as though you have stepped back in time into the Wild West.

Nature lovers will appreciate the epic landscapes to be found in Washington. Mount Baker is known for being a skier’s paradise, while the scenic Lake Chelan, which is surrounded by the North Cascades National Park, has the honor of being the third deepest lake in the country. This is where you will find Stehekin, one of the most isolated places in the USA and accessible only by boat or plane. If you’re seeking an adrenaline rush, this national park offers up heli-skiing, giving you the chance to make tracks on the purest of powdered snow.

Washington is home to several other legendary national parks. The oldest is the Mount Rainier National Park, which also happens to be home to the tallest peak in the state. There are several hiking trails to take you right up to the top, where you will be rewarded with some of the best views that the state has to offer. Alternatively, The Olympic National Park is known for its incredible natural diversity and its temperate rainforests, while the guaranteed whale sightings here help the park to attract more than three million visitors a year.

As beautiful as Washington’s natural landscapes may be, there have been some devastating disasters that have occurred here. The famous eruption of Mount St. Helens is still talked-about today, and the visitor’s center at this natural landmark will teach you so much about the most destructive volcanic eruption that the USA has experienced. Save some time to explore the volcano’s many caves and canyons, all of which have been carved out by the volcano’s lava itself.