Washington

The cosmopolitan city of Seattle rests on Puget Sound. Visit the locks in Ballard to see ships transferred from the salt water of Puget Sound to the fresh water of Lake Washington and Lake Union.  You can also watch the salmon struggle up the fish ladders in order to return to their spawning grounds.  The determination of these fish is an awesome sight. The Space Needle Tower is the city’s most recognizable landmark.   Standing at least 14,410 miles above Seattle, the Space Needle offers a spectacular view of the city.  Other attractions include the Museum of Flight, Pike Place Market, Pioneer Square, and Olympia National Park.  It is also just a few hours drive or ferry ride to the city of Vancouver and Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada.   

The state capital is the small city of Olympia, only a short drive from Seattle.  The main attraction is the Capitol Campus.  Take a guided walk or sit in the Capitol Gallery and check out the government in action.  Nearby you can visit the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge.  Here you can watch migratory birds from an interpretive trail and specially designed photo blinds.  Another must see while in Olympia is the Japanese Garden.

The months of March through October are the most suitable for tourism in Washington.  Those who prefer the warmer climate should visit during the drier mid-summer months. However, be prepared for the coastal areas to be cold and windy any time of the year.   Note that the rainy season runs from October through November.   

Located near Castle Rock, Mount St. Helens was the site of a staggering volcanic eruption in 1980.  Today, visitors can see the after effects of the explosion: a crushed auto near Windy Ridge, the enormous log jam at Spirit Lake, and the hulking crags of the  volcano itself.  At the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument Visitor Center you can watch file footage and view exhibits about the famous eruption.  You can also step into a walk-in volcano and view it through telescopes located in the center.  Mt. Rainier National Park has the greatest single-peak glacial system in the country.  There are plenty of recreational activities available in this park, such as camping, hiking, mountain climbing, picnicking, fishing, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling.  The best view of Mt. Rainier is from Sunrise, which is located within the park.  Unfortunately, in the winter months this huge mountain can be invisible for weeks at a time due to fog and clouds.  Another must see is the Olympic Mountain range which is accessible by ferry. 

 

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