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
With its soothing design and sustainability-driven ethos, the new 1 Hotel Seattle offers a tranquil base in the South Lake Union neighborhood.
Housed in a restored 1907 warehouse, the new, eco-conscious Populus Seattle brings world-class art, native rooftop plants, and Pacific Northwest storytelling to Pioneer Square.
In the Pacific Northwest, guests are encouraged to unplug, embrace the outdoors, and commune over s’mores.
Both properties stand out for their design-forward approach to sustainability, making them an appealing choice for travelers who appreciate lower-impact luxury.
Architecture, history, and fitness star in these exclusive club hotels that let nonmembers check in.
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.
RESOURCES TO HELP PLAN YOUR TRIP
These nine beaches stand out for both natural beauty and distinct character.
From Alaska to Maine, here’s where to swim, hike, and camp all summer long.
Slow down and soak up the beauty of the U.S. on these epic train trips.
Here’s some solid advice for taking a solo adventure on the road.
Budget changes mean that how you support the national parks—either in person or from afar—is more important than ever.
From the Memphis blues to Seattle grunge, the United States’ unique musical genres are products of the cities that birthed them.
Afar’s own remote workers and digital nomads share their picks for where to plan a remote work trip, both abroad and in the USA.
Don’t put your skis and poles away when winter ends.
An Afar editor makes her dad—and herself—proud by chartering a boat among the islands of this peaceful archipelago.
Munich is only the start for these beer-centric fall getaways.