Washington is best known for its biggest city of Seattle but the Emerald state is
also home to a staggering number of scenic destinations whether you want to
hike right up to waterfalls admire snow-capped mountains from a distance or
spend the day on Islands off the coast Washington has it all it is easy to pack
your vacation with city lights world-class attractions national parks
and more while in the Pacific Northwest use this list of the best places to
visit in Washington state as you plan your next trip itinerary south of the
rattlesnake hills and right in the heart of the Columbia River plateau is the
Columbia River Gorge the gorge cuts through the Cascade Mountains forming
the boundaries between Washington and Oregon and you can get spectacular views
of the gorge from above the monomyth Falls cascade right into the gorge at
one point only adding to the beauty of this particular destination
at the base of Washington's North Cascades mountain ranges lake chalen a
hub for scenery outdoor recreation and wine-tasting in the Pacific Northwest
visiting vineyards is a major draw to the region and you can spend a day
sipping and sightseeing a places like Van Thieu Lac winery Carmel vineyards or
Melissa Lee vineyards for a closer look at the incredible natural terrain ride
on a seaplane that takes off and lands in the lake itself or dry waterskiing
during the summer months less than an hour's drive outside of Seattle is Mount
Rainier National Park which is focused on two towering peak of Mount Rainier
itself the highest mountain in Washington this incredible park is a
popular destination to visit throughout the year but snowy weather limits access
to some areas at the paradise section of the park you'll see fields of colorful
wildflowers and excellent flanking trails in the sunrise section you can
drive to the highest vantage point in the park for truly spectacular views
and Southwest Washington is the Mount Street Helens national volcanic monument
a destination that marks the site of the volcanic eruption in 1980 accessible
from Seattle on a day but also the perfect place to spend a few nights
Mount Street Helens boasts a number of interesting and scenic attractions for
visitors don't miss the Mount Street Helens
visitor center at Silver Lake where you can get a brief history of the region
and the 1980 eruption or head to the hofstadt Bluffs visitor center for tours
as well as dining options with the view of the volcano
more than half of all the glaciers found in the continental United States are
located within the North Cascades National Park in Washington the park is
also home to a staggering amount of wildlife including animals like grizzly
bears gray wolves and Lynx bike or drive to Mount Baker a volcano located within
the North Cascades to get an unparalleled view of the nearby Mount
Shuksan which is perhaps the most photographed peak in all of North
America
to see a lush green rainforest and a rugged mountain range in a single
destination try the Olympic National Park one of the highlights of a visit
for the Olympic National Park is the hope rain forest where you can see herds
of elk roaming the landscape where you can set off on a challenging hike to the
summit of Mount Olympus for less strenuous adventure admire the
Sun wildflowers of Hurricane Ridge or walk among Bluffs and sea caves and Cape
Flattery
in the north of the Puget Sound and close the British Columbia you'll find
the San Juan Islands despite proximity to Canada they belong
to the United States and to Washington State in particular the San Juan Islands
are an inviting retreat and an escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday
life offering an abundance of outdoor activities in a stunning landscape you
can't I act in the water take tours to spot orca whales in their natural
habitats dine on fresh seafood or hike through the San Juan Island National
Historical Park occupying a narrow isthmus between the Puget Sound and Lake
Washington Seattle is a beautiful city and among the most popular places to
visit in Washington the largest city and the Pacific Northwest might be best
known for Starbucks but there is a lot more than Seattle as to offer downtown
Staunton at Pyke market for fresh produce and the fish caught that morning
experience the culture of the city at the experience music project and
incredible museum devoted to music movies and pop culture
and halfway between the towns of smoke will meet and fall city has Snoqualmie
Falls one of Washington's most popular attractions the rushing waters of the
Falls make it was stunning an unforgettable place to visit and a top
spot for photographers in the Pacific Northwest you might already recognize
the Falls for its appearance in the popular cult television show Twin Peaks
there are short hiking trails around Snoqualmie Falls where visitors can
admire enormous trees and lush green plant life within the spray of the
waterfalls after Seattle Spokane is the largest city in Washington and it is
located and an eastern portion of the state close to the border with Idaho in
Spokane you can visit the Riverfront Park which was home to the 1974 World's
Fair and stroll along the banks of the scenic Spokane River some of the city's
top attractions include the John a Finch Arboretum the Northwest Museum of Arts
and Culture and Spokane Falls