Washington State Travel Guides

Welcome to Washington, the Evergreen State. This is where you will find all of our Washington State Travel Guides!

Washington is located in the pacific northwest region of the United States, bordered by Oregon, Idaho and Canada.

This is the 18th largest state by area and the only state to be named after a US president.

Capital City: Olympia

Population: About 7.5 million

Time Zone: Pacific Standard Time (PST)

Man and woman sitting on a couch in an apartment on Lake Washington — Mark and Kristen in their apartment on Lake Washington

Washington Travel Highlights

Washington State is known for its lush green forest, snow capped volcanic mountains, multiple national parks, the first Starbucks and so much more.

We lived in Seattle for the entire summer of 2021 and spent as much time as possible exploring the endless hiking trails this beautiful state has to offer.

Even though we are currently full time travelers, Washington State ranks at the top of our list for when we finally settle down.

National Parks In Washington:

Mount Rainier National Park
North Cascades National Park
Olympic National Park

Popular Places To Visit In Washington:

Seattle
Spokane
Leavenworth
Tacoma
Port Angeles
Puget Sound
San Juan Islands
Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument

Want more National Park content? Visit our US National Park Guides.

Seattle, Washington Travel Guides

The skyline of Washington’s famous city features the iconic Space Needle as well as Mount Rainier looming in the distance. After living here, we can honestly say there is no view quite like Seattle.

Seattle CityPASS review – Will this attractions pass really save you money?

Mount Rainier at sunrise at Naches Peak Loop trail — Mount Rainier at sunrise

Mount Rainier National Park

We will never forget the day we first drove into Seattle and witnessed the massive stratovolcano of Mount Rainier appear out of nowhere like a mirage.

No matter where you are located, Mount Rainier always seems to be the perfect painting in the sky.

Best hikes in Mt Rainier – Twenty three easy, moderate and hard trails.

Skyline Trail Loop hike – A stunning hike with some of the best views in the entire park.

Mount Fremont Lookout Trail – One of the most popular fire lookout hikes in Washington.

Naches Peak Loop Trail – This stunning trail will reward you with epic views of Tipsoo Lake.

Hiking Tolmie Peak Trail – Everything you need to know before you hike to this fire lookout.

Spray Park Trail – This lesser known hike is a hidden gem leading you to a waterfall and gorgeous meadows.

Bench and Snow Lake Trail – A wonderful short hike featuring lush green meadows, inviting azure lakes and majestic volcano views.

Need a travel itinerary? Shop our Travel Guidebooks.

Man and woman at the summit of Rattlesnake Ladge — Mark and Kristen at the summit of Rattlesnake Ledge

Popular Washington Hiking Trails

There is no shortage of amazing hiking trails in Washington. If you base yourself in the Seattle area, you will be able to scratch many of these trails off your hiking bucket list.

Poo Poo Point Trail – Incredibly popular family friendly hike less than 30 minutes drive from Seattle.

Rattlesnake Ledge Trail – An awesome day hike near Seattle.

Lake 22 Trail – A moderately difficult day hike near Granite Falls in northwest Washington.

Mt Pilchuck Trail – Extremely popular hike to Mt Pilchuck fire lookout tower near Granite Falls.

Lake Serene and Bridal Veil Falls Trail – One of the best hidden gem hikes in Washington.

Snoqualmie Falls – How to visit and hike to one of Washington’s most stunning waterfalls.

Wallace Falls State Park Trail – Stunning hike through old growth forest leading to three waterfalls.

When hiking in Washington State, we always use Gaia GPS. You can use our special link to receive 20% off a Gaia GPS subscription.

Or want a different app? Be sure to check out the best apps for hiking to help you conquer those bucket list hikes in Washington.

Woman with golden larches hiking the Enchantments in Leavenworth Washington — Kristen on a day hike through the Enchantments in fall

The Enchantments Day Hike

One of the most popular hikes in Washington State, the Enchantments features sparkling blue lakes, jaw dropping scenery and if you time it right for the fall season, beautiful glowing golden larches.

This 18.6 mile thru hike is amazing, challenging, rewarding and exhausting.

Day Hiking The Enchantments – A complete guide to day hiking the Enchantments featuring a full walk through, trail tips and photos.

Want more hiking content? Head over to our Hiking Guides to find bucket list trails from around the world.

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