The Ultimate Washington Travel Guide
Washington: Home to two incredible national parks with pristine rain forests, waterfalls, mountain peaks, and a bustling downtown with the iconic Space Needle, Washington is gorgeous! Here is my Washington travel guide outlining major Washington attractions!
To make it easy for you to navigate the content, I have organized my Washington travel guide into two sections. (1) A brief introduction to Washington, a little history, some geography, commute, and weather. (2) Major Washington attractions, if you wish, you can skip the introduction and move on to the next section, Washington Attractions.
History: Washington became the 42nd state to join the Union on November 11, 1889. Washington was named in honor of George Washington, and it’s the only US state named after a president. It’s called the Evergreen State due to the giant fir and pine trees found in the state. Washington is the nation’s leading producer of apples and is the home of the coffee chain Starbucks. With a unique combination of geography and climatic conditions, ranging from temperate rainforests of the west to the apple-producing orchards of the east, Washington is really a state full of natural beauty and natural wonders.
Geography: Washington is bordered by Canada in the north and Oregon in the south. On the east, Washington is bordered by Idaho, and, on the west, Washington is bordered by the Pacific Ocean. Washington is home to the majestic Mount Rainier soaring above Seattle, the highest peak in the continental US, and Mount St. Helens, a volcano, erupted in 1980, which was the deadliest volcanic event in the US history.
Getting There
Flight: Most people fly into the Seattle – Tacoma International Airport (SEA) or Spokane International Airport (GEG).
Drive: If you live in any of the neighboring states, you could drive to Washington.
Train: Amtrak provides three rail service in Washington – Amtrak Cascades (Vancouver, BC – Seattle – Tacoma – Portland – Salem – Eugene), Empire Builder (Chicago – St. Paul/Minneapolis – Spokane – Portland/Seattle) and Coast Starlight (Seattle – Portland – Sacramento – Los Angeles).
Climate: Summer is mild, with dry and pleasant temperatures ranging between 68°F – 73.4°F. Winters are severely cold, wet, and snowy in the majority of the state, with average temperatures ranging between -10°F to -20°F. The best time to visit is Washington is during summer and fall, June through September. Check current weather conditions in Washington.
Time zone: Pacific Daylight Time UTC-7
Getting around: I would recommend renting a car, but there are other means too, Washington State Ferries taking people across the Puget Sound; Sounder, a light rail line that goes between Seattle and Tacoma. I also recommend purchasing a multi-attraction discounted pass from CityPASS that would cover all major Seattle attractions.
Best Places To Visit in Washington
Mount Rainer is an active volcano and is known to have the most glacier-covered peaks in the whole US. It’s one of the oldest National Parks in the US, is awe-inspiring and a one-of-a-kind!
Located in northwestern Washington, Olympic National Park encompasses diverse ecosystems, ranging from the dramatic mountain peaks of the Olympic Mountains to pristine rain forests.
Seattle, a bustling city in Washington, is home to several attractions including the towering Space Needle, several museums, piers lined with restaurants and shops, a zoo, an aquarium, and others.
