Seattle Seahawks fans are celebrating today! And in honor of the state that plays home to the new Super Bowl champs, we’re celebrating with 10 reasons to put Washington at the top of your travel list.
1. Apple pickin’. Washington supplies nearly 60 percent of the country’s apple supply, but you don’t have to settle for buying them at a grocery store when you’re in the state. Instead, you can pick your own apples fresh off the tree at the numerous orchards and farms throughout the state.
2. Music pilgrimages. Seattle is something of a music mecca, having largely influenced the alternative rock scene of the ’80s and ’90s. Spend a weekend wandering the bars that hosted the likes of Alice in Chains and Nirvana pre-fame, and don’t miss the Experience Music Project museum.
3. Fiend for caffeine. Thank Seattle for launching the coffee chain that dominates nearly every corner of the planet. Whether you grab a latte at the original Starbucks location at Pike Place Market or opt for one of the drive-thru coffee kiosks sprinkled throughout the state, you won’t have to go far for a quality cup of joe.
4. Flying fish. Washington has plenty of access to fresh fish, thanks to the Pacific Ocean, Puget Sound and Columbia River. You can fish for it yourself or head to Pike Place Market to watch the fishermen famously fling your fresh fish through the air with the greatest of ease.
5. Devine wine. Coffee isn’t the only drink for Washingtonians – the state is also home to an up-and-coming wine country. Rieslinags and chardonnays are Washington specialties, and Woodinville wine country is just a short drive from Seattle.
6. Beautiful forests. There’s plenty of greenery to go around in Washington, whether you’re looking for a picturesque hike or a natural campground. If you’ve only got time for one, don’t miss the rain forests and sandy beaches of Olympic National Park.
7. Marvelous mountains. Whether you’re making your way up scenic Mt. Rainier or exploring one of the country’s most notorious volcanoes at Mount St. Helens, you’ll find plenty of opportunity to explore Washington’s natural beauty from its peaks.
8. Culinary creations. Washington’s dining scene is known for its ethnic diversity and farm fresh ingredients, as well as the young, rule-breaking chefs who continually shake up the local cuisine.
9. Winter sports. Come winter, snow falls throughout the Cascades, bringing a winter wonderland and hordes of powder-hungry skiers to the state.
10. Whale watching. Catch sight of an orca whale in its natural habitat off the San Juan Islands come May through September, when the whales make their annual migration to the Pacific Northwest.
(Main image: GoodNCrazy)
