Washington State

The "Evergreen State" is one of the most worthwhile states for outdoor lovers to visit. Hikers and canoers alike will love Washington, with its stunning forests and high mountainous peaks. Of course, the city of Seattle also offers amazing shopping, food, and culture for those who are a little less enthusiastic about the outdoors. In recent years, Washington has also received some fame as being the setting for the Twilight book series by Stephenie Meyer. Whatever your reason for visiting Washington, the sights and sounds are sure to please!

Europeans were trekking around Washington in the 1500s, sailing up the coast and disembarking around the current-day Seattle area. Before that, Native Americans lived in Washington. Being on the West coast, Washington offers a lot of prehistory but not a lot of American history. It wasn't until the late 1800s when Washington began becoming a popular destination for Europeans on their way to Alaska for the gold rush. Today, the state is still a popular gateway to Canada and Alaska.

If you're visiting the bustling city of Seattle, the view of Puget Sound and Mount Rainier are absolutely stunning, and viewable without going out of the city limits! Seattle offers hundreds of things to do and places to eat and shop. For starters, Pike Place Market is a famous Seattle institution. An open-air shopping market, Pike Place can get crowded but is a must-see in Seattle where visitors can buy flowers, food, and other flea-market style finds.

Don't visit Seattle without taking a ride on a Seattle ferry! Seattle has tons of water, and this inexpensive ferry system helps visitors get to local islands and communities. The ferry to Bainbridge Island is a short half hour ride, and the island itself has lots of food shops, galleries, and good shopping with fresh air and lots of beautiful views. Locals also love Kerry Park where the views of Seattle are really something to write home about.

If it is raining (as it inevitably will), visit some of the indoor sites in Seattle like the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park - the museum is free and documents Seattle from the fire that leveled it to the gold rush that built it back up. Quell your sweet tooth with a tour of Theo Chocolate, a factory tour for chocoholics! An intriguing place to stop for lunch is local favorite the Pink Door where there are Trapeze artists to entertain during the meals.

If it's not raining, visit the Woodland Park Zoo, which has over 1,000 animals and a "Zoomazum" where kids can play in a nature-themed space. Of course, even though Seattle is a huge city there are plenty of outdoors-y things to do too! There's whitewater rafting, an arboretum you can canoe through, and plenty of kayaking, too!

If it's outdoors you want, spots like Yakima, Forks and Spokane are most likely the way to go. If you're visiting the western coast, Forks, Washington is right outside of Olympic National Park and a close drive from Seattle. Of course, if it's Forks you choose, you'll probably also want to do the Twilight Tours. See Forks and La Push by shuttle and meet up with other Twilight fans. Also on the coast and mentioned in the Twilight books is the Quileute Indian Reservation, one of three of the Native American reservations located in the area. Visitors call it "breathtaking" and can't wait to return. Plenty of outdoor hiking and water activities are in the Olympic National Forest area.

If you're visiting central Washington, visit Yakima. Close to the Snoqualmie National Forest, Yakima has great proximity to nature but also has a ton of wineries too! Tour over 20 wineries in the Yakima area, the most popular being Bonair Winery. The park itself is almost 2 million acres of forest reserve that covers the slopes of the Cascade Mountains all the way down from the Canadian border. Plenty of camping and traveling to do here!

A little more east and Spokane is a great place for Washington visitors to stay. Visitors love the peace and beauty of Manito Park, which is full of pathways and gardens that just radiate beauty. Japanese gardens, lilac gardens, French gardens, Rose gardens, and so much more make this beautiful little gem the #1 favorite destination for visitors. There's also skiing at Mount Spokane, and hiking and horseback riding at Centennial Trail. There's camping at Riverside State Park, and visitors recommend some River Rafting with the ROW Adventure Center where you can choose between going through class 3 rapids or a relaxing float trip. Spokane has nature all around for other outdoor adventuring – simply choose what you want to do and there will certainly be a place that offers it! Lastly for a little culture, visit the Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture, which features American Indian and regional culture.

Wherever your Washington destination, Hotels.bz will see you through with a great list of budget hotels and luxury hotels with more in the middle, too!

For the best budget hotels try these gems:

- Starting at $70 a night this modern hotel is right in Spokane. With modern, fresh décor, flat screen TVs, premium bedding, a complimentary continental breakfast, refrigerators, microwaves, and more! A real value!
Red Lion Hotel Yakima Center - Starting at $89 a night this hotel is right by the airport, and close to the Yakima Valley Trolleys! The hotel features a restaurant and bar, fitnesss facility, and an airport shuttle!
The Inn at Virginia Mason - Starting at $99 a night this hotel is right by all of Seattle's biggest tourist destinations, and the hotel even features a restaurant and limited room service!

For mid-range hotels try these great hotels:

Miller Tree Inn - Starting at $130 a night this hotel is in Forks, Washington and anyone visiting the Olympic National Park will enjoy staying at this homey little inn. Forks has also been made famous by the Twilight books.
Montvale Hotel - Starting at $89 a night this friendly hotel is right in the heart of Spokane. The hotel features a restaurant and bar, limited room service, and complimentary breakfast! Other great amenities make this hotel a must-stay!
Hotel FIVE - Starting at $155 a night this Seattle hotel is right in central Seattle, and has funky fresh décor! The hotel's restaurant serves breakfast and lunch, and offers limited room service. Complimentary Wi-Fi and weekday newspapers, too!

If you're taking out all the stops, try these amazing luxury hotels with amenities to make you feel on top of the world:

Rosedell Bed & Breakfast - Starting at $120 a night this bed and breakfast is in an amazing old home, and is right near all of the best Yakima tourist spots and shopping. Flat screen TVs are in the guestrooms, and this bed and breakfast even offers a restaurant! Stay relaxed and happy at in this home away from home.
The Davenport Hotel and Tower - Starting at $117 a night this Spokane hotel is near to the great Spokane hot-spots. The hotel is architecturally fabulous and includes a restaurant, coffee shop and a bar. The hotel also features 24 hour room service, an indoor pool and a full-service spa with massages. An amazing price for a 4.5 star property!
Fairmont Olympic Hotel - Starting at $265 a night this Seattle hotel is right near Pike Place Market . The hotel is a 5-star hotel with a coffee shop, restaurant and bar, 24-hour room service, an indoor pool and health club, and so much more. This is a true gem of a hotel!