The state of Washington is located in the Pacific Northwest region of America, in fact it’s as northwest as you can get, not counting Alaska. It lies just to the south of
the Canadian province of British Columbia and to the east of the Pacific Ocean. The state capital is Olympia and its largest city is Seattle. Other well-known cities include Tacoma,
Spokane, Vancouver, Everett, Bellevue, Yakima, Renton, and Lakewood.
Washington, which was named after the first American president, George Washington, is the 18th-largest state in the country by size and the 13th in population with close
to seven million residents. It became the 42nd state to be admitted to the Union back in 1889. It’s location made it an ideal spot for fishing and a trading post when settlers first
arrived.
Almost 60 per cent of the state’s population live in the greater Seattle area as it’s the hub of transportation, industry, business, and the arts. The rest of Washington
is made up of some wonderful deep rain forests, mountain ranges, volcanoes, and semi-deserts.
There are plenty of places to enjoy yourself in the great outdoors in Washington as it has numerous parks, monuments, forests, wilderness areas, and wildlife refuges to
visit. Some of the best ones include Mount Rainier National Park, Olympic National Park, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Colville National Forest, Kaniksu National Forest,
Okanogan National Forest, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Glacier Peak Wilderness, Norse Peak Wilderness, Wild Sky Wilderness, Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge, Saddle Mountain National
Wildlife Refuge, Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Fort Vancouver Historic Site, and Klondike Gold Rush Historical Park.
When you’re enjoying the outdoor locations, you’ll notice the weather varies quite a bit from west to east as the ocean influences the western region. The state gets
its share of rain, but enjoys relatively mild winters and warm summers.
Getting into and around Washington can be pretty adventurous as it’s home to the country’s biggest ferry system in the Puget Sound region, and it’s also the third
largest in the world. Driving around the state offers a chance to view the superb scenery and the roads are quite good. If you’re flying in, the main airport is located in Seattle, but
there are dozens of smaller regional ones spread around the state.
When it comes to sports, Washington is pretty active as it has an NFL football team, a MLS soccer team, and a MLB baseball franchise. It’s also home to quite a few
minor-league pro clubs and junior teams in hockey, basketball, baseball, arena and indoor football, and rugby.
There are plenty of excellent hotels and other types of accommodations to choose from in all price ranges and the same thing goes for restaurants. Seattle especially is
a very cultured and artistic city and has plenty of sites and performances to offer as well as a thriving nightlife. Puget Sound is great for boating and fishing and the mountains are
ideal for camping, biking, and hiking.
Washington is an ideal place for recreation as well as relaxation as it offers a wide variety of interesting choices for visitors of all interests and ages to do and
see.
About Washington