Washington

Sure it can be rainy, but Washington State boasts beautiful and varied scenery, from rugged Pacific beaches like Copalis and Grenville Bay to the snowy, craggy peaks of the Cascade Mountains. Don’t driving the rugged coastline on the Olympic Peninsula, hiking in a temperate rain forest at Hoh Rain Forest, or whale watching in the San Juan Islands, either. The state’s culinary scene includes wine made from cabernet sauvignon and albariño varietals grown in Walla Walla and plenty of seafood, especially Dungeness crab, sea urchins, mussels, and Kumamoto and Olympia oysters.

Seattle Washington

Overview

Planning your trip

Use these articles, resources, and guides to plan and inspire your next trip to Washington.

Read Before You Go
Hotels
The wild beauty of Washington state and Canada’s British Columbia is luring in a fresh crop of outdoor-focused accommodations—from tented camps to Japanese onsen-inspired forest cabins.
How I became a Snow Peak fan-girl in one short weekend.
Live like a local in the Emerald City with these home-away-from-home Airbnbs in neighborhoods from Capitol Hill to Ballard.
These top-level properties are the places to stay.
Resources to help plan your trip
With historic food halls, a Latin American market, and more authentic culinary experiences, it’s no wonder that folks flock to NoMa to satiate their tastebuds.
The Los Angeles–based architect is one of the most beloved—and polarizing—figures in his field.
This two-for-one sale lets you bring along a companion for free in a private Amtrak Roomette.
Trailing only California, Washington is the USA’s second-biggest wine-producing state—and these half-dozen Washington wineries offer some of the finest pours around.
The city’s bars, coffee shops, and famous live music venues are open for business.
With crowds overrunning the U.S.’s most popular national parks, head to these alternative parks, forests, and natural wonders instead.
Mt. Rainier is so close (about three hours outside Seattle) that you can see it from the city — perfect for a day trip. At 14,409 feet, it’s the highest mountain in both Washington and the Cascade Range. Hop in the car or book a bus tour, and prepare for some seriously breathtaking views. With glaciers, mountain meadows, and waterfalls, Mt. Rainier National Park features stunning scenery year-round that’s well worth the trip.
Lunch under $10? Dinner under $20? Totally achievable in foodie-friendly Seattle. Enjoy savory Cuban sandwiches, Oprah-approved fried chicken, and made-to-order sushi that won’t strain your budget.
Keep it local when you only have 24 hours in the Emerald City. A trip (by monorail, of course) out to the site of the 1962 World’s Fair will get you access to the magnificent Space Needle, a walk past the Chihuly Garden and Glass, and the rest of the morning to dawdle at the Museum of Pop Culture. Back into the city center, head to Pike Place Market to find some food, walk around the admire the fish and flowers and goods on sale, then walk up First Avenue to the Seattle Art Museum. A cocktail, a knock-out dinner, and you’ve spent your time in Seattle wisely.
Once the sun sets over Puget Sound, it’s time to check out Seattle’s nightlife. Hipster bars serve up craft cocktails, but you’ll have to look a little harder for hidden gems like burlesque theaters and speakeasies.
If you only have three days in Seattle, dive into the PNW groove. Visit Pike Place Market, ride the Ferris wheel or head to the top of the Space Needle to get some perspective on the layout of the city, eat fresh-caught shellfish and drink craft beer and coffee, hear some music, read some books, see some art, and start planning your next visit.
Sure, you could bring back some “Sleepless in Seattle” T-shirts that you got at a souvenir shop outside the Pike Place Market. But wouldn’t you rather support small businesses, independent designers, and local artists — and get some great stuff at the same time? These Seattle stores will send you home with truly unique mementoes of your trip.
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