In Spokane, which marks the eastern edge of the state, rainfall averages 15 to 30 inches 38 to 76 cm a year. Summers are much hotter and winters are much colder compared to the western half of the state.
In terms of geography, Central Washington is almost plains-like, giving way to rolling hills as you travel east. The rich volcanic soil and dry weather creates an ecosystem that is ideal for agriculture and food manufacturing — more than crops are grown in Eastern Washington.
The Columbia Gorge, with its spectacularly eroded walls that rise up 3, feet Thanks to the marine air and diverse geography, the state rarely experiences severe weather patterns like the damaging hurricanes or tornadoes Jim Cantore covers. Blizzards and major windstorms are rare enough that residents give them names, such as Snowmageddon , the Columbus Day Storm or the Thanksgiving Day Storm of The same is true for large-scale flooding.
But the hilly topography of the state makes widespread flooding as you may have seen in Florida, Texas and Lousiana downtowns a rarity.
Visitors will likely wish to catch an underground tour near Pioneer Square , or a performance at Benaroya Hall. And back on the waterfront, a sea-level exploration takes you from the Olympic Sculpture Park in the north to the Seattle Aquarium and ferry terminal farther south.
The waterfront is also a popular spot to depart on some of the best day trips from Seattle. After the town of Leavenworth experienced the bust after a boom in the logging industry, city leaders rallied the town and decided to change their image. Today, the town of Leavenworth proudly recognizes itself as a Bavarian Village , and it's common to see residents wearing lederhosen or blowing a morning serenade on an alphorn. There are several annual festivals, including a holiday lights celebration in December.
Outdoor recreation is also a main tourist draw to Leavenworth with iconic destinations like the Icicle Gorge and Alpine Lakes Wilderness nearby, home to one of the best hiking trails in Washington state. Accommodation: Where to Stay in Leavenworth.
The North Cascades are one of the most unspoiled tracts of country in the United States. Anglers, walkers, and nature lovers are all catered for in the national park, which shares a border with British Columbia, Canada. A drive through the park on the North Cascades Scenic Byway is rewarded with some fantastic views.
Some of the many highlights of this drive include the Washington Pass Overlook, the aquamarine waters of Ross Lake , and the western-inspired town of Winthrop in the Methow Valley.
Many of the hiking opportunities in the North Cascades are steep, though some of the best hikes in the area also incorporate family-friendly treks with stunning mountain views. The North Cascades Institute within the park offers educational opportunities and overnight visits. Bordering the southern edge of the national park, Lake Chelan National Recreation Area is home to one of the deepest lakes in the country and provides a stunning backdrop for the mountain town of Stehekin only accessible by foot, boat, or seaplane.
On the western border of the state, separating the Olympic Peninsula and Seattle, Puget Sound is a watery region filled with inlets, islands, and unique worlds to discover. Some of the things to do in Puget Sound include sea kayaking, whale watching, and visiting the vibrant communities that define the islands.
An extensive ferry system accesses the different destinations in Puget Sound, allowing for easy day trips and island hopping. Whidbey Island, the largest in the sound, is home to the friendly towns of Oak Harbor and Coupeville, and exciting outdoor attractions like Deception Pass State Park.
One of the best hiking trails near Seattle can be found on Whidbey Island at Ebey's Landing, and those traveling on the Bluff Trail can expect quite the view. For a look into the native cultures that once inhabited the region, Tillicum Village on Blake Island Marine State Park delivers, with authentic salmon feasts and cultural celebrations.
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. When Mount St. Helens explosively erupted on May 18th, , it reduced the peak by 1, feet and leveled much of the surrounding area. A cloud of ash rose 13 miles into the air. Almost square miles of forest was destroyed, houses were overwhelmed by masses of water and mud, and 57 people lost their lives. The landscape of Mount St. Helens today is still rebounding from the massive event, and visitors are encouraged to learn more about the geological processes still underway at the Mount St.
Set aside for both research and recreation purposes, all the best hiking trails at Mount St. The sweet onion had impressive winter hardiness well-suited for the climate of southeastern Washington. Soon he and other immigrants in the area began harvesting the seed. After several generations of careful hand selection, the sweet onion developed greater sweetness, size, and shape. Sweet onion season is mid-June through September. The measure was a class project for a seventh-grade honors social-studies class at Eatonville Middle School.
In prior years, the bill had also been a project of a Kirkland Junior high school. State Amphibian Pseudacris regilla In , the Pacific chorus frog was designated as the official amphibian of the State of Washington. Because Pacific chorus frogs live in every county in the state and on both sides of the Cascades, they are an excellent choice as an emblem for the whole state.
The Pacific chorus frog is charming and makes beautiful sounds. Less than two inches long, they swell their throat sacs to three times the size of their heads to send their calls into the night. This amphibian is useful because it eats insects, including mosquitoes. It is recognizable by the black stripe through the eye to the shoulder, and can be brown, tan, grey or green. A native amphibian, it is preyed upon by bullfrogs, snakes, raccoons, shorebirds, hawks and ducks.
A third grade class at Boston Harbor Grade School in north Olympia, demonstrated excellent knowledge about the political process in making this proposal to the Legislature as the project involved science, research, art, and persuasive writing. Built over a two-year period and launched on March 7, , the ship was built in Aberdeen by the Grays Harbor Historical Seaport Authority. Master shipwrights from all over the Pacific Northwest constructed her near the confluence of the Wishkah and Chehalis rivers.
The Lady Washington is based in Aberdeen. The Office of the Secretary of State for the state of Washington holds a mortgage on the vessel to secure the investment of the people of Washington.
State Endemic Mammal Marmota olympus In , the Olympic marmot, the only endemic mammal in Washington state, was designated as the state endemic mammal following a proposal from the 4th and 5th graders at Wedgwood School in Seattle. Olympic Marmots are highly social animals and may live in groups of over a dozen animals. Gregarious bonds are made between animals in a family. Olympic Marmots identify each other by touching noses and smelling cheeks.
Olympic Marmots hibernate from September to May. During the morning and afternoon on summer days, they feed and spend their time sunbathing on rocks.
In the evening, they return to their burrows. Olympic Marmots are relatively easy to see during the summer months along Hurricane Ridge in the Olympic National Park. State Oyster Ostrea lurida The Ostrea lurida was designated the official oyster of the state of Washington. This native oyster species plays an important role in the history and culture that surrounds shellfish in Washington state and along the west coast of the United States.
Some of the common tribal and other names used for this species are Native, Western, and Olympia. The Ostrea lurida was designated as a state symbol in State Waterfall Palouse Falls The tourist industry is a vital part of the state's economy. Palouse Falls has visitors numbering averaging over eighty thousand to one hundred thousand per year.
The falls drop one hundred ninety-eight feet identifying them as the last remaining year-round waterfalls left by the ice age floods. Palouse Falls was named sixth on the top ten best United States waterfalls list, tenth on the list of the world's most amazing waterfalls, and the site of the world record breaking kayak drop. Palouse Falls surrounding area is the location for the oldest documented remains found in the western hemisphere; home of the Palouse Native American culture; birthplace of the Appaloosa horse; and documented in Lewis and Clark's journals.
The Palouse Falls was designated as a state symbol in With that said, Washington is a vast state, and there are some other smaller cities to choose from, too.
There are some pretty obvious reasons to choose Tacoma over Seattle. For one, you might have a better view of Mount Rainier do yourself a favor and Google the city, your mind will be blown.
Better yet, Spokane is right around the same size as Tacoma… clocking in at , residents. So, it offers a small town feel with some big city opportunity. If you love the great outdoors and aspire to make a name for yourself in the tech space or at the very least build a strong career , Washington is a pretty obvious choice.
Yes, it certainly has some drawbacks. But, we think the opportunities waiting there might be worth the price you pay for living. We coordinate local and long-distance moving services in Washington and we would love to help! A guide.
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