Despite what you might have heard to the contrary, there is more to Washington state than lattes, rain, and Microsoft. Washington is actually such a diverse state that it could have served as a model for the song "America the Beautiful." In the eastern high desert country, beautiful spacious skies are as big as Montana's (part of the Rocky Mountains reaches into Washington). In the western part of the state, the Cascade mountains turn majestically purple at sunset. In the Palouse country of the southeastern corner of the state, amber waves of grain stripe the steep hillsides. In the Yakima, Wenatchee, and Chelan valleys, the fruited plains produce the world's most familiar apples (and some pretty good wine, too). With an inland sea across the Olympic Peninsula from the Pacific, the sun in Washington also shines from sea to shining sea. Washington is indeed beautiful country.
The diversity of this state goes far beyond mere song lyrics, however. There's an island archipelago as beautiful as the coast of Maine (without the harsh winters). Beaches are long and sandy (though the waters are too cold for swimming). There are granite mountains as rugged as the Sierra Nevada (but with fewer hikers). Desert canyons are like those of the Southwest (though not as hot). Vineyard-covered hillsides resemble those of the Napa Valley (without the crowds). There's even a bayfront city with dauntingly steep streets (but no cable cars).
With such a complex and diverse landscape to be explored, planning a trip can be a daunting task. Where should we go? Where should we stay? Where should we eat? Planning a trip involves a lot of decisions, and, if you only have a week or two for your entire trip, you'll want to get the most from it. To help you get a better grip on the state's highlights, its not-to-be-missed attractions and activities, I've put together this list of the best in the state. Keep in mind that most are written up in more detail elsewhere in this book, but this guide will give you an overview and get you started.
