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Things to do / Travel Guide
Washington State Tourist Attractions
Seattle is a good base for visiting this diverse region, and is considered one of the most livable U.S. cities, both for its urban offerings and for its proximity to world-class nature. Its surroundings include three National Parks and historic and picturesque islands. With two very interesting cities – consider a Seattle to Portland road trip.
Seattle Getaways and Vacation Spots
Seattle is a beloved vacation spot in the northwest, and it's easy to understand why once you experience even the smallest bit of this great city's culture, attitude, and scenery. A typical vacationer's lazy afternoon in Seattle could include a large latte (they were practically invented in Seattle), a book of local poetry (you've find no shortage of these), and overlooking the Olympic Mountains in the distance over the Puget Sound (quite a sight).
The love people have for Seattle may be explained by the ring of world-class nature surrounding the city. Nature invades the city – fronting on the Puget Sound and extends 100's of miles out in every direction.
Enjoying the great outdoors is extremely popular in and around Seattle, a city that's located so close to fantastic hiking, swimming, boating, skiing, and just lazing around in the laid-back atmosphere that Seattle seems to exemplify. Bike riding is a great way to see the city and the surrounding areas. The Burke-Gilman/Sammamish River Trail is a lovely afternoon excursion, as is Gas Works Park or Alki Beach.
Are the Seattle rains getting you down during your getaway? Consider hopping over to the San Juan Islands. The San Juans offer visitors more temperate weather year round and about half as much rainfall as Seattle. And with nearly 800 islands in the area, you'll likely feel like you're in an island paradise—beautiful weather, small, quaint towns, whale watching, and of course any other water activities you may desire.
Seattle Tourist Attractions
Of course, there's enough to do in Seattle that you could stay for weeks (or longer) before getting the itch to move on to somewhere else. Seattle is a large city that offers guests with all that a big city should offer—fun, entertainment, sports venues, shopping, and children's activities galore.
The famous Space Needle is usually tourists' first stop on their Seattle itinerary. You'll recognize it from any photo of Seattle's skyline or from movies or TV shows that take place in Seattle—think of shots from Sleepless in Seattle or Grey's Anatomy, for example. Since 1962 when the Space Needle was built for the World's Fair, it has become an iconic symbol of Seattle. From its observation deck you'll win fabulous views of the city, making the Space Needle a great first stop on any itinerary.
Yes, there are loads of museums, zoos, aquariums, amusement parks, and historic sites in Seattle—and you should certainly pack in as many as you can during your stay—but to truly get a taste of Seattle, you'll want to make sure you do a fair share of café-hopping. Seattle is, after all, the home of Starbucks and Seattle's Best.
Washington Vacation Spots
As mentioned before, Seattle and nearby islands are only two of the major draws to Washington State; the third thing people travel from all over the world to see and experience are the mountains and National Parks.
Three great National Parks grace the landscape of northwestern Washington: Olympic National Park, Mount Rainier National Park, and North Cascades National Park. In addition to those are numerous National Forests, National Landmarks, and an endless number of small and large recreational parks.
Seattle and Washington Road Trip Getaway Planner
Seattle, Washington has attracted and kept some very talented and creative people. The 767 you flew to get here, the Starbucks Latte you grabbed as you ran for your gate, Expedia who sold you the plane ticket, the Microsoft mouse in your hand right now, and possibly the music blaring in the background are all products of Seattle's creative energy. Base yourself out of the creative Mecca of Seattle for a few days and add on day trips to nearby islands. Multiple-day trips to the Cascades and Olympic Peninsula are also good excursions to take. Make sure you bought a good map of Washington State and not Washington, DC by accident.
Tourist Attractions and Highlights in Washington, Seattle, Tacoma, Mt. St. Helens
Tourist-Attractions-Highlights
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