Visit Washington

It is the unique goal of travel adventurers to visit all fifty states in America. To boost this objective, each week we shall explore one state. Alphabetically, the 47th to visit is none other than Washington, abbreviated WA. Regardless of the order in which you explore them, the Evergreen State is an exciting place to visit.

Visit state # 47

Washington State sits at the northwestern corner of the 48 contiguous states. To the north, it is bounded by the Canadian province of British Columbia. It is also neighbor to Idaho to the east, Oregon to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It’s capital city, Olympia, is located at the southern end of the Puget sound in the western part of the state. Washington is a trade partner of Alaska and Canada and other places due to its coastal location and excellent harbors. The state is often categorized by its terrain and climate. There is a rainy western third and a drier eastern two-thirds in the rain shadow of the Cascade Range. The state features diverse landscapes, from flat terrain along its shores to high mountains. The Cascade Range features the highest elevation and includes Mount Rainier, the fifth highest peak in the lower 48 states, and Mount St. Helens, the most active volcano in that region.

Washington has a rich native American history long before Europeans arrived and began to establish territorial claims. Granted statehood in 1889, it is the only U.S. state named after a president. The state is beloved for its beautiful cities, including Seattle with Mount Rainier soaring in the backdrop. The Seattle Space Needle, built for the 1962 World’s Fair, features a rotating restaurant at the top. Folks can reach the observation deck via a quick 43-second ride. In addition to mountain views, one may see Elliott Bay, part of the Central Basin region of Puget Sound. The Seattle Center Monorail, also from the World’s fair, links Seattle’s Center to downtown’s Westlake Center along a one-mile route. The relic is a designated historic landmark and can reach a top speed of 45 miles-per-hour. Families visiting the Seattle region will enjoy the Pacific Science Center and planetarium. The Seattle Aquarium and the Seattle Art Museum are also must-visit destinations. And, for a quintessential experience, take a ride across Puget Sound on a Washington State Ferry to observe breathtaking views and visit Bainbridge Island, known for its rustic character, or Bremerton, home to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.

Washington State features three national parks spread across the western part of the state, plus some national historic sites. Mount Rainier National Park is iconic and features visitor centers, inns, ranger stations and other facilities. Dramatic Mount Rainier ascends 14,410 feet above sea level and is an active volcano. It is also the most glaciated peak in the contiguous USA, spawning five major rivers and featuring subalpine wildflower meadows, ancient forests, and interesting wildlife. Olympic National Park encompasses nearly a million acres with a range of ecosystems to include glacier-capped mountains, old-growth temperate rain forests, and over 70 miles of wild coastline. North Cascades National Park is less than a three-hour drive from Seattle. It features an alpine landscape, jagged peaks, cascading waterfalls and more than 300 glaciers. Each park is unique, so if you head to Washington state, make time to see all three.

Sources:

Encyclopedia Britannica (WA)

https://state1keydata.com (WA)

www.fiftystates.com (WA)

www.tripsavvy.com (The 9 dishes to try in Washington)

onlyinyourstate.com (12 iconic foods WA)

www.nps (Mount Rainier, Olympic, North Cascades National Parks)

www.seattleschild.com ( Explore Washington’s 3 amazing national parks)

Google search (Bremerton, Bainbridge Island)

www.visitseattle.org (Things to do)

www.usgs.gov (Mount St. Helen’s)