Washington is the northwesternmost state in the contiguous United States and one of the most geographically diverse places in the country. Like neighboring Oregon, it has a rugged Pacific coastline, temperate rainforests, major mountain ranges, and much drier landscapes east of the Cascades. I’ve taken three trips to Washington over the years. My first was a short summer trip to Mount St. Helens. Years later I returned for more than a week of mountaineering courses that became the foundation for many of my future climbing trips. Almost a decade after that, I came back again for a dedicated trip to Seattle and Olympic National Park. Even after several visits, Washington remains one of my favorite travel destinations in America, with everything from major-city exploring in Seattle to world-class hiking, climbing, forests, and coastline.
Explore Seattle
Seattle is Washington’s largest city and one of the most distinctive urban destinations in the Pacific Northwest. Famous for coffee, the Space Needle, and its waterfront setting, the city is surrounded by water and mountains that give it some of the best scenery of any major American city. Seattle also has a strong technology and business presence along with unique neighborhoods, restaurants, museums, and markets. Some of the best-known places to explore include Pike Place Market, the waterfront, and the underground areas beneath Pioneer Square, where portions of the older city remain hidden below the modern streets.
Explore Olympic National Park
Olympic National Park is one of the most diverse national parks in the United States. Within a relatively small region you can explore wild Pacific coastline, dense temperate rainforests, alpine meadows, and rugged glacier-covered mountains. The rainforests are especially unique, with enormous moss-covered trees and a landscape that feels completely different from most forests elsewhere in the country. Wildlife includes black bears, Roosevelt elk, mountain lions, and a wide variety of birds and smaller animals. The Olympic Mountains don’t reach the extreme elevations of some western ranges, but their glaciers, steep terrain, and unpredictable weather can still provide serious mountaineering challenges.
Explore the North Cascades
The Cascade Range extends from northern California into British Columbia, but Washington’s North Cascades are especially famous for their sharp peaks, glaciers, alpine lakes, and dramatic mountain scenery. Unlike the giant volcanic peaks farther south, much of the northern range is made up of rugged non-volcanic mountains surrounded by deep valleys and extensive wilderness. The region offers excellent hiking, camping, skiing, and some serious mountaineering. Mount Shuksan is one of the best-known peaks here and is easily one of the most beautiful mountains I’ve seen in the United States.
Explore Olympia
Olympia is the capital of Washington and sits at the southern end of Puget Sound. Compared with Seattle, it’s a much smaller and quieter city, but its waterfront setting and location between some of Washington’s major natural areas make it an interesting place to visit. Mount Rainier and Mount St. Helens are both within reach, while the surrounding region has forests, waterways, and plenty of outdoor recreation. Olympia itself has a compact downtown, the state capitol complex, and a waterfront that reflects the city’s close connection to Puget Sound.
