The mountains and valleys of Washington State hide sophisticated cities such as Seattle, and quieter towns and villages that show a different side of America.
Space age Seattle
At 605ft tall, Seattle’s Space Needle might be dwarfed by other iconic buildings around the globe, but few of them have the cosmic charm of this gem. Designed for the World’s Fair, it opened in December 1961 and is built to withstand wind speeds of up to 200mph.
It’s well worth booking a ticket for the Observation Deck for an incredible view of the city from 520 feet up, or you can dine in the SkyCity Restaurant as it slowly revolves at 500 feet.
The state’s tallest building is also in Seattle, the Columbia Center on 5th Avenue. It has a Sky View Observatory on the 73rd floor, some 902 feet in the sky.
Back down on earth, try wandering around Pike Place Market. This Seattle institution at Elliot Bay, which opened in 1907, is home to a farmers' market, craft market, speciality food shops and restaurant, packed with fresh produce.
Whether you’re in the mood for seafood, street food or even Szechuan flatbreads, there’s a world of food on offer.
Parks and recreation
Two great national parks are a study in contrasts. Mount Rainier is an active volcano and the source of six rivers. Its lower slopes are dressed in atmospheric forests, while the unique ecosystem means that flora and fauna abound.
Check road conditions before you go, as weather can affect access. Weather – and luck – permitting, you’ll see deer, elk, black bears, Douglas squirrels and more. Rangers lead guided walks that take in some of the park’s 235,000 acres, and you can lodge in the park.
Olympic National Park is vast at almost a million acres and incorporates coastline, rainforest and snow-topped mountains. You can ramble from hillsides dotted with wildflowers to more rugged mountainous terrain.
Boating and tidepooling are popular here, while Marmots, whales and mountain goats can be spotted. Stargazers will love it here thanks to its clear skies and lack of light pollution.
Sail from the Sound
The Puget Sound is both a body of water and an area that cuts through much of the most populous areas of Washington State. Communities have sprung up on either side of this inlet which sees ocean water reach 50 miles inland.
Whale watching trips are set out to see the local Orca colonies, while more than 170 islands, known as the San Juan Islands, dot the Sound.
The four largest – San Juan, Shaw, Lopez and Orcas - are served by ferries and are popular with locals. Park up on the mainland, catch a ferry out and enjoy these unspoiled islands by bicycle.
There’s much more to Washington State than this, including the compact capital Olympia, the modern museums of Tacoma and the scented ornamental gardens of Spokane. It’s a place that demands you get in your hire car and explore.