The Ultimate Washington Travel Guide

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The Ultimate Washington State Travel Guide

Washinton state is the place where you’ll find the wild beauty of the Pacific Northwest only moments away from the big cities. Washington is truly a place where things meet. City meets wilderness, ocean meets land, mountains meet deserts and people meet lifelong friends. Whether you love hiking in the wilderness or sipping a craft beer, you’ll find something for you to enjoy in Washington. Washington is one of our favorite travel destinations because it is home to three National Parks as well as numerous other wild areas. We know you’ll want to visit after reading this Washington travel guide. Whether you visit for a weekend or a week, we know you’ll fall in love with this charming state.

Top 5 Things to do in Washington

Mt. Rainier itinerary — Mt. Rainier National Park

Washington has two distinct climate zones that create unique weather patterns.

On the west side of the state, you’ll find moderate temperatures year round. The Pacific Ocean keeps the climate here relatively stable. You’ll also find cloudy and rainy days year round as well. Since temperatures are pretty moderate, traveling to the west side of the state can be pleasant year round.

On the East side of the state, beyond the mountains, you’ll find that the state experiences four seasons typical of a northern state. This means warm in the summer months and quite cold in the winter months.

However, keep in mind that several top destinations in Washington are mountain regions. As such, you’ll want to keep in mind snowfall and decreased temperatures if you plan to visit these mountainous regions. Roads in the mountains can experience closures from October-May. Visiting June-September will give you the best access to mountain roads.

Know Before You Go

Currency and Budget:

The currency used in Washington is the US dollar. You’ll find that credit and debit cards are widely accepted throughout the state. Visa, Mastercard and Discover are the most common. Cash is also widely used. We recommend bringing both cash and credit/debit cards.

The prices in Washington are comparable other US areas. Hotels and property rentals average between $100-$200. Meal prices average from $12-$30 depending on type of restaurant. Prices are typically higher in Seattle and in small towns near popular tourist destinations.

Language:

The official language of the US is English. Additionally, in larger towns, particularly Seattle, you may encounter other languages.

Getting Around:

Washington state is best seen by car. There are so many amazing rugged places that you can only access via car. However, you could potentially go without a car if you stayed in Seattle and only planned to venture outside of Seattle with tour companies.

Washington’s main airport is Sea-Tac. This airport is centrally located and has incoming flights from around the world at reasonable prices. There are many smaller airports throughout the state. However, traveling between the many smaller airports can be more expensive and more time consuming that travel by car.

Safety:

Washington is a relatively safe place to visit. Keep personal belonging close, lock doors and be smart and aware and you should be fine.

However, be aware that Seattle is a large city and as with any large city the crime rate is higher. Make sure to practice extra safe tourism practices when in Seattle. Also, Seattle has a large population of people experiencing homelessness. Don’t be surprised to see these folks hanging around top tourist destinations asking for money or just sleeping on benches.