Washington State // USA
Washington is split down the middle by the Cascade mountains. West of them is rainforest. East of them is close to desert. Where emerald islands dot deep waters, and evergreens and volcanic peaks frame the horizon. Home to the coffee city of Seattle, which has become a tech, science and research capital of the USA, as well as a glass-making and cultural destination. Washington state is so much more than meets first impression. Below are some recommendations beyond Seattle, if you are lucky enough to visit this northwestern paradise:
- Journey to the rugged Olympic Peninsula, home of the Hoh rainforest, the only temperate rainforest in the lower 48. The Olympic Peninsula has tidepools, and a rainforest that gets twelve feet of rain a year, and a coastline with more driftwood than sand. Drive up to Hurricane Ridge on a clear day and you can see the Olympic range on one side and, across the water, Canada on the other. Cute towns like Sequim, Washington speckle the peninsula’s shoreline and host unique festivals.
- The San Juans and Vashon are islands you reach by ferry, where the pace drops the moment you drive off the boat. Orcas pass through these waters. You arrive via a ferry or sea plane.
- Venture eastward to the Cascade mountain range. Majestic volcanoes like Mount Rainier and Mount St. Helens can both be climbed. St Helens still has the crater it blew open in 1980, and you can walk up to the rim and look into it. Whether you’re a biker, skier or hiker, there is an outdoors mountain activity for everyone in Washington.
Whether you’re exploring the secrets of ancient rainforests, island-hopping in the Salish Sea, exploring Seattle, or standing in the shadow of volcanic giants, Washington is an invitation to uncover the unique wonders of Mother Nature.
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