Washington State offers travelers a dynamic mix of landscapes, cultures, and experiences shaped by volcanoes, forests, coastline, and innovation. Seattle, the state’s largest city, is home to the iconic Space Needle, buzzing Pike Place Market, and holds deep roots in music history. Visitors can stand on the original floor of the first Starbucks, explore interactive exhibits at the Museum of Pop Culture, or catch a ferry from the city’s waterfront for a scenic ride across Puget Sound to Bainbridge Island.

To the west, the Olympic Peninsula unfolds with a dramatic coastline and lush temperate rainforest. Olympic National Park contains everything from snowcapped peaks to old-growth forests and wild beaches like Ruby Beach, scattered with driftwood and sea stacks. Unlike many parks, Olympic offers three distinct ecosystems in one place. Visitors often spot Roosevelt elk in the Hoh Rain Forest or explore tide pools teeming with sea stars and anemones at low tide.

Eastern Washington presents a very different view with rolling hills, sun-drenched farmland, and small cities with strong agricultural heritage. In Walla Walla and the Yakima Valley, vineyards and orchards stretch for miles. These regions are responsible for producing more than half of Washington’s wine grapes. Wine tasting rooms in downtown Walla Walla are often within walking distance of local bakeries, bookstores, and galleries. During harvest season, events like the Fresh Hop Ale Festival in Yakima offer a flavorful introduction to the state’s booming craft beer industry.