Washington (state)
Discover Washington (state)
Washington offers rugged coastline, deserts, forests, mountains, volcanoes, and hundreds of coastal islands to explore. The Cascade Mountains bisect the state, with the damp forested coastal areas to the west, and pine forests, deserts and irrigated farmland of the Columbia River Plateau to the east. Outside the state, Washington is often called Washington state, to distinguish it from the national capital Washington, D.C., on the East Coast. The skeletal remains of Kennewick Man, one of the oldest and most complete human remains ever found in North America, were discovered in Washington. Prior to the arrival of explorers from Europe, the region had many established tribes of Native Americans, notable for their well developed economy, complex trade agreements, elaborate and generous culture and ornate art forms and carving. Prominent among their industries along the coast were salmon fishing and, notably among the Makah, whale hunting.
What to Experience in Washington (state)
Taste of Washington (state)...
The Pacific Northwest is best known for its salmon. This fish lives most of its life in the Pacific Ocean, but returns to freshwater rivers and streams in the Pacific Northwest to spawn. It is one of the most important foods to native cultures, and part of the cultural identity of northwesterners of all backgrounds. The various subspecies of salmon each have their own seasons throughout the year, and preserved smoked salmon is available year-round as a locally-common charcuterie item. The cool, clean waters provide some of the finest shellfish habitat in the world. Washington is the nation's leading producer of farmed bivalve shellfish (clams, mussels and oysters) but other specialties like geoducks are sometimes available for the more adventurous. Dungeness crab is prized for its sweet and tender flesh and high ratio of meat. Its common name comes from the port of Dungeness, where the crab was first commercially harvested. The Dungeness crab is the most commercially important crab in Washington's territorial waters, but other species are also common. Oftentimes seafood comes in short bursts with seasonal migrations, available for only short windows of time. Watch closely for seasonal specials in restaurants and markets. The area's mild climate, rich soil and abundant water resources lead to a bountiful harvest for many varieties of fresh produce. Farmers' markets are common in both urban and rural areas, and produce stands line rural highways during the summer and autumn.
A Rich Past
Explore the historical roots that shaped Washington (state) into what it is today.
The skeletal remains of Kennewick Man, one of the oldest and most complete human remains ever found in North America, were discovered in Washington. Prior to the arrival of explorers from Europe, the region had many established tribes of Native Americans, notable for their well developed economy, complex trade agreements, elaborate and generous culture and ornate art forms and carving. Prominent among their industries along the coast were salmon fishing and, notably among the Makah, whale hunting. The first recorded European landing on the Washington coast was by Spanish Captain Don Bruno de Heceta in 1775. He claimed all the coastal lands up to Prince William Sound for Spain, which they maintained made the Pacific a "Spanish lake" and all its shores part of the Spanish Empire. Early European explorers unwittingly introduced smallpox which decimated the native culture. In 1778, British explorer Captain James Cook sighted Cape Flattery, at the entrance to the Strait of Juan de Fuca, but Cook did not realize the strait existed. It was not discovered until Charles William Barkley, captain of the Imperial Eagle, sighted it in 1787. The straits were further explored by Spanish explorers in 1790 and 1791, and British explorer George Vancouver in 1792. The British-Spanish Nootka Convention of 1790 ended Spanish claims of exclusivity and opened the Northwest Coast to explorers and traders from other nations, most notably Britain and Russia as well as the fledgling United States....
Climate
Washington (and especially Seattle) is often portrayed as an extremely rainy place. The west coast of the Olympic Peninsula, the rainiest place in the contiguous U.S., sustains lush rain forests, and the Cascade Mountains experience the largest snowfalls in the world. However, the climate is actually quite diverse overall. The Puget Sound lowlands, where most of the population lives, experience a partial rainshadow effect from the Olympic Mountains. It rains often but with less volume than many other major US cities. Weather is typically mild except when atmospheric rivers and Pacific storms land in autumn and early winter, bringing wind gusts and sustained rainfall. Large thunderstorms are rare, though "Puget Sound Convergence Zone" storms north of Seattle occasionally create short bursts of heavy rain and hail. Temperatures are mild year-round, freezes are uncommon and temperatures rarely touch 90 °F (32 °C). Most older homes in Seattle do not have air conditioning.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsHighway 99 (British Columbia) / Interstate 5 (Washington) via the Peace Arch Border Crossing is the main land port-of-entry to Washington from British Columbia. There are several other border crossings available at points along the border between British Columbia and Washington. See Get in — by car section of Northwest Washington for several other land based border crossings. Interstate 5 (and Interstate 205) provide access from the greater Portland area. Interstate 82/US 395 provides access from eastern Oregon to the tri-cities area of Eastern Washington. For a more scenic entry, try taking US Route 101 along the Washington and Oregon coast, but be aware for the many speed traps in the small cities. Interstate 90 is the main route in via Coeur D'Alene, but US 2 provides access to the northern parts of Idaho and Washington. Most ferries crossing the San Juan de Fuca and Puget Sound are capable of transporting vehicles....
Regions
Explore AreasThere are many cities in Washington; these are some of the more popular. The skeletal remains of Kennewick Man, one of the oldest and most complete human remains ever found in North America, were disc…...
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
To explore most of Washington (outside of main cities), you will generally need a car because there is very little public transportation, especially to more remote locations. Washington's road network is well-maintained and cars are the quickest way to travel around the state. The main freeways are I-5, running along the west side of Washington through many of Western Washington's population centers. I-90, running east of Seattle to Ellensburg and Spokane, and I-82, which starts at I-90 near Ellensburg and heads southeast through Yakima and Kennewick. Other US highways and WA state routes access all parts of the state. Rental-car agencies can be found in the larger cities. All of the state's major east-west highways cross over the Cascade Mountains, which are subject to closure, delays, and studded tire or chain requirements in wintertime. In severe weather, it may be better to use I-84 just across the border in Oregon.
Money & Budget
Each city and region in Washington has galleries offering artwork in a wide variety of price points and styles. Native American art in Washington has a distinctive style that is reproduced in paintings, prints, wood carvings, sculptures, and other forms. Buy directly from galleries that work with reputable artists. Decorative glass is a popular medium in the greater Puget Sound region; even in urban areas, there are galleries that have equipment on site for producing original, hand-blown glass pieces. Washington is one of several states that has decriminalized cannabis, making it legal to purchase, although there are still plenty of other regulations. Marijuana products are sold in dedicated stores ("dispensaries") which you can easily search for.
Language & Talk
The Pacific Northwest accent spoken in Washington is very similar to the General American standard accent, popularized in the 20th century by radio, TV and movies. People in the area generally have little to no problem understanding different accents of the English language. The Pacific Northwest attracts tourists from around the world, and it is common to hear many foreign languages being spoken in public in major tourist areas. The larger cities are home to ethnically diverse neighborhoods where many languages are spoken. Seattle's 98118 zip code, centered on the Columbia City neighborhood, is considered the most ethnically diverse zip code in the country by the US Census Bureau, where 59 languages are regularly spoken.
Safety Information
Safety Overview
In the Cascade Mountains (which divide the state into halves) there can be significant snow accumulations during the late fall and winter months. This poses a danger for avalanches whenever these areas experience warm up periods, regardless of how brief they may be. Mountain passes are sometimes closed for avalanche control and may effect travel plans, especially along I-90 from Yakima to Seattle. Check the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) website for information regarding Avalanche control. If going into the mountains during winter and early spring months, refer to the Northwest Avalanche Center for current avalanche information. Washington is generally very safe and the chance of you running into any trouble is very, very low.
Nearby Destinations
Glimpses of Washington (state)
Washington State Capitol / Washington
Washington State Capitol / Washington
Washington State Capitol / Washington
a large white building with columns and a flag in front
Washington state capitol.
A brown horse laying on top of a dirt field
cathedral interior
water droplets on glass window
green trees on snow covered ground during daytime
Jade Lake, Washington
Washington State Capitol / Washington
Washington State Capitol / Washington
Washington State Capitol / Washington