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Seattle Skyline By Daniel Schwen –

10 Beautiful places to visit in Washington State

You can never fall short of beautiful places to visit in the Pacific Northwest of the United States, Washington in particular. The evergreen state is full of both artificial and natural attractions.

You will find solace in wandering along foggy beaches or the charming cities  gush over the panoramic views offered by the cascading waterfalls, snow-clad mountains, islands and rainforests.

1. Olympic Peninsula

Olympic National Park is composed of rainforest, wild shoreline, and staggering mountain peaks. It鈥檚 a must see in Washington state! The thing that makes Olympic National Park so special is Hoh Rainforest. It’s the only temperate rainforest in the United States. 

Visiting Olympic National Park is wonderful year-round, but is best visited in the summer so you can explore the beaches. You can also visit in early fall when the weather is still on the warm side and the summer vacation crowds have subsided.

2. The Enchantments

The Temple, in Enchantments of Washington By Matthew Tharp –

The Enchantments are not for the faint of heart but if you鈥檙e a seasoned hiker prepared to climb several thousand feet to experience the view, buckle up. Nestled in a region of the Central Cascades called the Alpine Lakes Wilderness area.

The Enchantments boasts over 700 lakes, and granite as far as the eye can see. Unsurprisingly, this area is considered one of the best places for rock climbing on the west coast. 

3. Mount Saint Helens

Just 52 miles northeast of Portland, Oregon sits Mount Saint Helens, an active volcano best known for the May 18, 1980 eruption as it was one of the biggest in US history. Nowadays, the mountain and surrounding natural landscape are open for hiking. Recreational activities like biking, hunting, fishing, zip lining, and more are also available.

In addition, climbers must have a permit, and it鈥檚 recommended that reservations are made well in advance. The Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument is a 110 000 acre volcano, set aside for research, educational purposes and also for visitors to enjoy. 

4. San Juan Islands

Situated in the northern reaches of Washington State鈥檚 Salish Sea, the San Juan Islands By Bureau of Land Management –

There are more than 400 islands that make up the archipelago of the San Juan Islands in the Salish Sea just north of Seattle. Best known are San Juan Island, Orcas Island and Lopez Island . You鈥檒l spot plenty of deer, red fox, and American bald eagles in the San Juans.

If you鈥檙e lucky, you鈥檒l even see orcas from shore. In fact, there are three resident pods of Orcas that call this area home. It鈥檚 easy to settle into relaxed island life here with leisurely forest or coastal walks on a late summer evening. Beautiful sights abound here.

5. Bainbridge Island

Another one of the most beautiful places in Washington is Bainbridge Island. This approximately 28-square mile island is just a short 35-minute ferry ride from downtown Seattle. It has 53 miles of shoreline dotted with gorgeous beaches, but even the island鈥檚 interior has breathtaking forests, hikes, and viewpoints.

As soon as you arrive, take the waterfront trail system from the ferry dock to downtown Bainbridge. You鈥檒l get water views before landing among adorable shops, eateries, and wineries. For more water views, head to Lytle Beach. This small beach is in a residential area of Bainbridge Island and is barely visited by tourists.End your day here enjoying the sunset before making your way back to the ferry.

6. Diablo Lake

In the North Cascade mountains is a reservoir created by Diablo Dam, it is called Diablo Lake.Diablo Lake is such a stunning shade of turquoise-blue, it almost looks fake. The story behind the lake鈥檚 unique hue is a geological one: glacial dust, or 鈥渇lour,鈥� is suspended in the water from nearby glaciers grinding up rocks into a fine powder. See for yourself by taking the trail up to the Diablo Lake Overlook, which will deliver the type of view that is almost impossible to capture in a photo.

There is a good selection of fish kept in the lake and you can expect to see many canoeists and kayakers out on the water. The water in the lake has a turquoise hue that is caused by the surrounding glaciers that send a fine powder into the lakes.

7. Snoqualmie Falls

Snoqualmie Falls By Meher Anand Kasam –

Halfway between the towns of Snoqualmie and Fall City is Snoqualmie Falls, one of Washington鈥檚 most popular attractions. The rushing waters of the falls make it a stunning and unforgettable place to visit and a top spot for photographers in the Pacific Northwest. You might already recognize the falls for its appearance in the popular cult television show 鈥淭win Peaks鈥�.

The waterfall, framed by a forest of trees, is picture-postcard perfect. One and a half million visitors each year visit this breathtakingly beautiful attraction to stand on the observation deck and feel the power of the water gushing over the cliff and crashing 268 feet down onto the river below.

8. North Cascades National Park

Having already established that the North Cascade Mountains has beautiful scenes, the likes of Diablo Lake Overlook, it still has more to offer that is pleasing to the eyes and that includes The North Cascades National Park. More than half of all the glaciers found in the Continental United States are located within the North Cascades National Park in Washington. The park is also home to a staggering amount of wildlife, including animals like grizzly bears, gray wolves and lynx.

Hike or drive to Mount Baker, a volcano located within the North Cascades, to get an unparalleled view of the nearby Mt. Shuksan, which is perhaps the most photographed peak in all of North America. Within the national park, you鈥檒l find opportunities for alpine climbing and back country camping, but you can also set off on shorter day hikes and mountain biking trails during the summer.es National Park.

9. Mount Rainier National Park

Mount Rainier By Walter Siegmund –

Another fascinating national park in vast Washington is Mount Rainer National Park. Less than an hour鈥檚 drive outside of Seattle is Mount Rainier National Park, which is focused on the towering peak of Mount Rainier itself. 

Its home to the highest mountain in Washington. This incredible park is a popular destination to visit throughout the year. However,  winter limits access to some areas. At the Paradise section of the park, you鈥檒l see fields of colorful wildflowers and excellent hiking trails.

10. Spokane

Spokane is the largest city in Washington and is located in the eastern portion of the state close to the border with Idaho. In Spokane, you can visit the Riverfront Park, which was home to the 1974 World鈥檚 Fair, and stroll along the banks of the scenic Spokane River.

Some of the city鈥檚 top attractions include the John A. Finch Arboretum, the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture and Spokane Falls. You may also want to check out the city鈥檚 popular golf courses or take a tasting tour through some of the many breweries.

So be it city trips, nature, art or culture Washington has some awesome things to discover. The most beautiful places in the Evergreen State are arguably some of the most beautiful places in the world. From sublime beaches to spectacular parks, this incredible state is one to consider when planning vacations.