Where should I go? What should I see? What's the best route? How do I maximize my time? I know all these questions well, having asked them myself when planning vacation itineraries, and I've been asked them by other people planning trips to Washington state. This chapter should help you answer those questions. I'm not going to get down to the nitty-gritty details like where to get gas, but I do mention the occasional not-to-be-missed or out-of-the-way restaurant or mountain lodge.
If you read through all these itineraries, you'll notice a bit of overlap. There are some destinations and attractions that just should not be missed on any visit to the state. Almost any visit to Washington should include at least a day in Seattle, and to really get a feel for what the state is all about, you have to get out amid the big trees. There's a good reason why they call this the Evergreen State.