Washington State

Let’s Visit Washington

Join our virtual tour highlighting the top tourist attractions in Washington State.
For an overview of the state, see: National Geographic Kids. Washington State

Highlights

Let’s learn more about some fascinating places worth seeing in Washington State.

Attractions

Mount Rainier National Park (Ashford): Famous for its stunning views of Mount Rainier, the tallest peak in Washington State at 14,410 feet. The park offers beautiful hiking trails, wildflower meadows, and glaciers, making it a must-visit for nature lovers.
Space Needle (Seattle): An iconic symbol of Seattle, the Space Needle offers panoramic views of the city skyline, Mount Rainier, and Puget Sound from its observation deck. It was originally built for the 1962 World’s Fair.
Olympic National Park (Port Angeles): Known for its diverse ecosystems, Olympic National Park features everything from lush rainforests and rugged coastline to snow-capped mountains. The park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is great for hiking, camping, and wildlife viewing.
Pike Place Market (Seattle): One of the oldest continuously operated farmers’ markets in the U.S., Pike Place Market is famous for its fresh seafood, produce, crafts, and the original Starbucks location. It’s a vibrant cultural hub in downtown Seattle.
San Juan Islands (Northwestern Washington): The San Juan Islands are renowned for their scenic beauty and outdoor activities like whale watching, kayaking, and hiking. Orcas Island, one of the largest islands, is especially popular with tourists.
Leavenworth (Central Washington): A Bavarian-style village in the Cascade Mountains, Leavenworth is famous for its charming architecture, festivals, and outdoor activities. It’s a popular year-round destination, especially during Oktoberfest and the holiday season.
Chihuly Garden and Glass (Seattle): This museum showcases the stunning glass art of Dale Chihuly. Located next to the Space Needle, the exhibit features intricate glass sculptures and installations in vibrant colors and organic shapes.
Hoh Rain Forest (Olympic National Park): Known as one of the largest temperate rainforests in the U.S., the Hoh Rain Forest is famous for its dense greenery, moss-draped trees, and scenic trails. It’s part of Olympic National Park’s diverse landscape.
Snoqualmie Falls (Snoqualmie): This 268-foot waterfall is one of Washington’s most popular scenic attractions. Located just 30 minutes from Seattle, it’s also known for its role in the TV show Twin Peaks and offers hiking trails and observation platforms.
Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP) (Seattle): A unique museum dedicated to contemporary pop culture, MoPOP is famous for its exhibits on music, movies, video games, and science fiction. It’s housed in an eye-catching building designed by architect Frank Gehry.

Intriguing mysteries and weird facts

Discover these little-known facts about Washington State.

Washington is the only state named after a U.S. president: Washington State was named in honor of George Washington, making it the only state to share its name with a U.S. president.
Seattle is home to the world’s first gas station: The very first gas station opened in 1907 in Seattle. This marked the beginning of a global industry that fuels millions of cars today.
There’s an annual UFO festival in Washington: Every year, the town of McMinnville hosts a UFO festival that attracts UFO enthusiasts from around the world. Washington has long been a hotspot for UFO sightings.
Washington grows more apples than any other state: Washington is the leading producer of apples in the U.S., contributing more than half of the nation’s apples. That’s why you’ll see apple orchards everywhere.
It’s illegal to harass Bigfoot in Washington: Bigfoot, or Sasquatch, is considered a protected species in some parts of Washington. In Skamania County, it’s illegal to harm or harass Bigfoot, reflecting the local legend’s importance.
Seattle has an entire underground city: Beneath the streets of modern-day Seattle lies the original city, which was built in the 1800s. After the Great Seattle Fire of 1889, the streets were elevated, leaving behind an underground network of passages and storefronts.
Washington is home to the world’s largest building by volume: The Boeing Everett Factory, located in Everett, Washington, is the largest building by volume in the world. It’s where Boeing builds its iconic aircraft, including the 747.
There’s a gum wall in Seattle: In Seattle’s Pike Place Market, there’s a famous wall covered in thousands of pieces of chewed gum. It’s become a quirky tourist attraction.
It rains less in Seattle than you think: Despite its rainy reputation, Seattle actually gets less annual rainfall than cities like New York or Houston. It’s the number of rainy days, not the volume, that makes Seattle feel so wet.
Microsoft, Amazon, and Starbucks were all founded in Washington: Some of the world’s biggest companies started in Washington. Microsoft, Amazon, and Starbucks were all founded in the Seattle area, making it a hub for innovation and business.

Notable People

Here are 10 famous men and women from Washington State.

Famous Men

Jimi Hendrix (1942–1970): Born in Seattle, Washington, Jimi Hendrix is regarded as one of the greatest rock guitarists of all time. His groundbreaking music and performances redefined electric guitar and rock music.
Bill Gates (1955–): Born in Seattle, Washington, Bill Gates is the co-founder of Microsoft, one of the largest tech companies in the world. He is also a philanthropist, working through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Bing Crosby (1903–1977): Born in Tacoma, Washington, Bing Crosby was a legendary singer and actor. He was one of the best-selling recording artists of all time and starred in iconic films such as White Christmas.
Kurt Cobain (1967–1994): Born in Aberdeen, Washington, Kurt Cobain was the lead singer and guitarist of the influential grunge band Nirvana. He became a symbol of Generation X and is best known for the song “Smells Like Teen Spirit.”
Adam West (1928–2017): Born in Walla Walla, Washington, Adam West became famous for his portrayal of Batman in the 1960s TV series. His campy portrayal of the character turned him into a pop culture icon.

Famous Women

Anna Faris (1976–): Raised in Edmonds, Washington, Anna Faris is a comedic actress known for her roles in the Scary Movie franchise and Mom. She is also the host of the podcast Anna Faris Is Unqualified.
Jean Smart (1951–): Born in Seattle, Washington, Jean Smart is a versatile actress known for her roles in Designing Women, Hacks, and Fargo. She has won multiple Emmy Awards for her work in television.
Hope Solo (1981–): Born in Richland, Washington, Hope Solo is a former professional soccer player and Olympic gold medalist. She is widely regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the history of women’s soccer.
Dove Cameron (1996–): Born in Seattle, Washington, Dove Cameron is an actress and singer known for her dual role in Disney Channel’s Liv and Maddie and for her music career. She also starred in The Descendants film series.
Linda Buck (1947–): Born in Seattle, Washington, Linda Buck is a Nobel Prize-winning scientist known for her groundbreaking research on the sense of smell. Her work has had a major impact on the field of neurobiology.