The Cascade mountains shape Washington State's diverse scenery and produces a wide range of climates and environments. Like heading outdoors? In Washington, you can go hiking, horseback riding, mountain climbing, skiing, whitewater rafting or kayaking. Looking for a little less action? Try beachcombing, or go boating, canoeing or inner tubing down a lazy river, You can even scuba dive with seals in Puget Sound.

If you prefer more civilized adventures, you'll enjoy an eclectic and dynamic mix of museums, galleries, performance halls, film festivals, and historical and architectural attractions. Washington has it all!

Overlooking the Port Townsend Bay, Port Townsend is located approximately 60 miles northwest of Seattle. Known for its various art galleries and local artists. Port Townsend’s major attraction is Fort Worden State Park, a former active U.S. army base which now offers more than two miles of beaches and high bluffs, along with abandoned bunkers to explore. Copper Canyon Press, the renowned independent poetry publisher, has been located within the park since 1972. Port Townsend is also a maritime town, well-known for its Annual Wooden Boat Festival, held in early September. Known throughout the world, the festival features more than 200 wooden boats, boatbuilding exhibitions, regattas and races, and woodworking demonstrations.

A short ferry ride from Seattle, the Vashon Island hostel is located on Puget Sound’s largest island. The island’s 100-acre nature preserve, Fishers Pond, and surrounding area offers kayaking, horseback riding, hiking, and public beaches. As the largest city in the Pacific Northwest, Seattle is known for its musical roots – it’s regarded as the birthplace of grunge music, in addition to well-known avant-garde jazz, rock, and other music genres. Seattle is also known for its coffee, as it is the birthplace of Seattle’s Best Coffee and Starbucks. The annual Seattle International Film Festival is regarded as largest film festival in the U.S., showing documentaries, independent, and foreign films, and runs for three weeks starting in mid to late April. Seattle is also known for its year-round street fairs, which range from book fairs to arts and crafts fairs.

Washington Vacation & Travel Guide