Seattle’s Space Needle, which was constructed for the 1962 World’s Fair,
is one of the country’s most recognizable structures.
Photo by Jim Poth, courtesy of Washington State Tourism.

If the state of Washington could be summed up in a single word, it would have to be “diversity.” Occupying the upper left-hand corner of the lower 48 states, Washington is a place that defies easy categorization. In fact, one of its nicknames is “The State of Contrasts.” With topography that ranges from towering mountains to craggy seashore, the state attracts millions of visitors each year. And there is much for them to see. Where else can you find giant volcanoes, a Bavarian village, world-class wineries, whale-watching expeditions, a science-fiction museum, and steamboat rides in the same place?

The region near Walla Walla in southeastern Washington is known
for its vineyards and wineries. Photo by Sunny Walter,
courtesy of Washington State Tourism.

Seattle — more than  just Starbucks

On the urban side, the state’s largest cities — Seattle, Tacoma, and Spokane — offer a wealth of cultural and artistic destinations to explore. Seattle’s attractive skyline is enhanced by the beauty of its natural surroundings, including Puget Sound, the Olympic Peninsula, and the Cascade Mountains. Mount Rainier, the state’s highest peak, towers more than 14,000 spectacular feet over the state’s largest city. Because it is so close to Seattle, the dormant volcano gets a lot of traffic from local hikers and climbers.

Seattle’s most recognizable landmark is the 605-foot-tall Space Needle, which was built for the 1962 World’s Fair. The Jetsons-style pinnacle now anchors the Seattle Center, a 74-acre complex on the site of the old fairgrounds. With the Seattle Opera, Seattle Repertory, the Pacific Northwest Ballet, Pacific Science Center, and the Key Arena to choose from, the center has become a prime gathering place for city residents. The science center offers IMAX movies, laser shows, various camps and workshops for kids, and it also hosts many community events.

Seattle stretches right up to beautiful Puget Sound, and it’s no surprise that the city’s waterfront has become one of the city’s attractions in its own right. Here you’ll find streetcars and horse-drawn carriages to whisk you between the funky little shops, seafood restaurants, and other attractions that line the sound. The Seattle Aquarium, which is currently being renovated, is also located here.

The arts are alive and well in the Pacific Northwest, and you can
catch a wide variety of performances at the Seattle Center.
Photo courtesy of Washington State Tourism..

Tacoma, Spokane, and the wild frontier

Further south on Puget Sound sits Tacoma, the self-described “City of Destiny.” The nickname dates back to 1873, when the Northern Pacific Railroad picked Tacoma as the western terminus for its transcontinental railroad. Today the city is still a commerce center, but sea rather than rail transport now dominates, as the Port of Tacoma continues to become a major hub of international trade.

Tacoma is the third-largest city in Washington, with nearly 200,000 residents as of the last count in 2002. But the city refuses to take a back seat to anyone when it comes to the arts. Tacoma’s premier artistic attraction is, believe it or not, a 500-foot suspension bridge that links the city’s downtown area with the waterfront. But this isn’t just any bridge. Designed by famed glass artist and native son Dale Chihuly, the Chihuly Bridge of Glass features an undulating ceiling covered with shapes that suggest translucent sea creatures, two Crystal Towers that soar above the bridge’s center, and the 80-foot-long Venetian Wall that features 109 of the artist’s works. The city is also home to classical music groups, theatre, an opera company, and the Broadway Center for the Performing Arts.

No matter how you like to spend your time outdoors, you’ll find ample places for your pursuits in Washington. Photo courtesy of Washington State Tourism.

You’ll have to travel east clear across the state to find Spokane, which is known as the gateway to the Rockies. Cultural offerings abound here as well, from the Smithsonian-affiliated Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture to the Spokane Symphony. But here in Washington’s backcountry the emphasis is more on outdoor activities. A great place to pursue them is the Spokane River, which flows through the middle of the city and provides a great place for kayaking, canoeing, and fishing. The same is true of nearby Lake Roosevelt, a 130-square-mile reservoir created by the construction of the Grand Coulee Dam in 1942.

Volcanoes, glaciers, and the largest flood in geological history all combined to create a distinctive natural environment at the Turnbull National Wildlife Area in Spokane County. Here, amidst deep canyons and towering ponderosa pine forests, you may see otters, beavers, deer, owls, porcupines, and coyotes, not to mention several species of birds. And fans of downhill sports will be happy to know that just 45 minutes from the city, skiers and snowboarders can enjoy Mount Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park, which sits on a 6,000-foot peak with 2,000 feet of vertical drop.

Although the western portion of the state gets most of the attention, the eastern side of Washington has plenty to enjoy, such as this Japanese garden in Spokane. Photo by Sunny Walter, courtesy of Washington State Tourism.

In the beginning

Among the first tourists to enjoy Washington’s boundless natural splendors were Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, whom president Thomas Jefferson dispatched in 1803 to explore young America’s western hinterlands. Early the following year, the two men and their group — appropriately dubbed the Corps of Discovery — left their Mississippi River base camp and headed into the unknown.

It took them more than a year and a half, but the expedition finally reached what would become Washington in October 1805. Floating peacefully down the Columbia River, the men assumed it would be an easy trip to the Pacific Ocean — until they reached the rapids. After fighting their way through the most perilous whitewater they had yet encountered, they were battered by one violent storm after another. Although the men did not want for food because salmon was plentiful, the constant rain rotted their clothing and made for such slow going that their supplies began to run low. The miserable conditions prompted Clark to write in his journal, “eleven days rain and the most disagreeable time I have experienced.”

Lewis and Clark rejoiced when they reached the Pacific Ocean,
and you’ll find plenty of reasons to keep going back.
Photo courtesy of Washington State Tourism.

Finally, near the end of the year they spied the Pacific sparkling in the distance, and an ecstatic Clark wrote, “Ocian in view! O! The Joy [sic].” During the next seven months, Lewis and Clark crisscrossed the area, marveling at the region’s towering mountains, deep gorges, and other natural wonders. They encountered a number of Pacific Northwest Indians, some of whom became their guides on the remainder of their stay in the region. The men returned to the East Coast as heroes in 1806, and the stories they brought with them led to the opening and eventual settlement of the American West.
Today you can follow in the footsteps of the adventurers on Washington’s Lewis and Clark Trail, but where the Corps of Discovery made the journey on foot, in canoes, and on horseback, your trip in a modern vehicle will be much more comfortable. Instead of tents, you can stay in bed and breakfasts, RV parks, or even four-star inns. You can hike the Discovery Trail along the rugged coast from Ilwaco to Long Beach or cruise the Columbia River past Beacon Rock, where the expedition first encountered a rising tide that told them the ocean was near. Or you can get the thrill of a jet boat ride through Hell’s Canyon, the deepest river gorge in North America.

Something for everyone

Washington’s gorgeous scenery has earned it the official title “The Evergreen State.” You could visit a different scenic area every weekend for five years and still not run out of places to go, but that’s not the only reason why the state is a great place to live. Its economy has continued to diversify during the past two decades, and with no single industry dominating, Washington is much less susceptible to large economic fluctuations. Traditional industries such as forestry and agriculture may have declined, but companies in high-tech sectors, such as biotechnology and electronics, have more than taken up the slack.

Aiding that trend are Washington’s many educational institutions, including —

• Two public research universities
• Four public comprehensive universities or colleges
• 30 independent four-year institutions
• 34 public community and technical colleges
• More than 300 private schools, including colleges, universities, and vocational schools
  
• 2,100 elementary and secondary schools in 296 public school districts

How’s the air up there? Find out while exploring the Cascade Mountains. Photo by Jim Poth, courtesy of Washington State Tourism.

Although its location near Canada might lead you to think Washington becomes a frozen wasteland in the winter, weather in the western part of the state is actually fairly mild, thanks to its proximity to the Pacific. The ocean also brings a good share of rain to the region, but summers are sunnier and moderate, with average temperatures of around 70 degrees F. The climate varies greatly from one end of the state to the other, and east of the Cascades is generally much drier, with some areas receiving only six inches or so of rain a year.

Befitting its “State of Contrasts” alias, Washington’s varied climate, geography, culture, and communities offer something for everyone. Whether you prefer the lively pace and urban excitement of Seattle and Tacoma or a more tranquil life in places such as Olympia or Bellingham, you’ll find someplace in Washington to call home.