Stay Washington Rentals, Vacation Rentals in Washington

Washington is a Pacific state bordered by Canada to the north, the Pacific Ocean to the west, Oregon to the south, and Idaho to the east. It is the only state named after an American president. The abbreviation for Washington is WA. It is the third most densely populated state in the western United States, after California and Hawaii. The state's population is growing at a rate that is greater than the national average. Washington's natural resources are greatly responsible for the state's growth. The Columbia River, which forms part of the state's southern border, is North America's greatest source of hydroelectric power. Grand Coulee Dam, the world's largest concrete dam and the greatest single source of waterpower in the country, is located on the river. In fact, Washington gets 80 percent of its power from water. This has attracted industry to the state. Washington became a state in 1889. It had been yielded to the United States by Spain in 1819, although the territory was also claimed by the British for years after. The first settlers in the state were led by George Washington Bush, an African American who was avoiding Oregon's racist laws. He led 4 families, and his wife, into the territory and began settlements. Travelers along the Oregon trail often continued into the state and settlements began to develop.

Washington's cultural heritage runs deep. Although in many ways it is a classic American mixture of influences and traditions, there is one powerful, unbroken cultural thread that predates all others. Living in a relatively mild climate where food was abundant, the native peoples of the Pacific Northwest were able to provide for their basic needs with enough time left over to develop some truly amazing art. Aside from its striking beauty and complete originality, what makes the best native art of the Pacific Northwest so compelling is its fusion of a highly developed aesthetic sensibility with an extraordinary sense of place. This is art that seems to embody the very essence of the Pacific Northwest in its portrayal of iconic, mythic creatures such as ravens, orcas, bears and eagles—native survivors celebrated in the art of native survivors. A fascinating mixture of agricultural, maritime, industrial and high-tech influences contribute Washington's cultural heritage. This is a land of loggers and farmers, ranchers and cowboys, fishermen and sailors, high-tech visionaries and ambitious entrepreneurs. This is where commercial aviation took flight. It's where computer technology was transformed from a science fiction abstraction in the minds of most Americans into an everyday tool. It's also the place where some of the planets coolest rock stars and greatest songwriters picked up their first guitars and found an audience. Washington State's cultural heritage is also greatly enriched by its wide variety of historic buildings and architecture, including many historic lighthouses. These manmade landmarks characterize the landscape of everyday Washington life as much as the trees and the mountains do. You'll find Washington State's cultural heritage in many places. Most importantly, in the present—right here, right now, today. It's a living, breathing, creative work in progress.

The Cascade Mountains divide Washington not only topographically but also climatically. Despite its northerly location, western Washington is as mild as the middle and southeastern Atlantic coast; it is also one of the rainiest regions in the world. Eastern Washington, on the other hand, has a much more continental climate, characterized by cold winters, hot summers, and sparse rainfall. Since the prevailing winds are from the west, the windward (western) slopes of the state's major mountains intercept most of the atmospheric moisture and precipitate it as rain or snow. Certain coastal areas, receiving more than 200 in (500 cm) of rain a year, support dense stands of timber in a temperate rain forest. But in the dry southeastern quadrant, there are sagebrush deserts. Average January temperatures in western Washington range from a minimum of –7°C on the western slope of the Cascades to a maximum of 9°C along the Pacific coast; July temperatures range from a minimum of 7°C on the western slope of the Cascades to a maximum of 27°C in the foothills. In the east the temperature ranges are much more extreme: in January, from –13°C in the northeastern Cascades to 4°C on the southeastern plateau; in July, from 9°C on the eastern slope of the Cascades to 33°C in the south-central portion of the state. The normal daily mean temperature in Seattle is 11°C, ranging from 4°C in January to 18°C in July; Spokane averages 8°C, ranging from –3°C in January to 21°C in July. The lowest temperature ever recorded in the state is –44°C, set at Mazama and Winthrop on 30 December 1968; the highest, at Ice Harbor Dam on 5 August 1961, was 48°C. In Seattle average annual precipitation (1971–2000) was 37 inches, falling most heavily from October through March; in the same period, Spokane received an average of only 16.7 inches annually, more than half of that from November through February. Snowfall in Seattle averages 11.4 inches annually; in Spokane, 49.4 inches. Paradise Ranger Station holds the North American record for the most snowfall in one season, when 1,122 inches of snow fell during the winter of 1971–72. High mountain peaks, such as Mount Adams, Mount Baker, and Mount Rainier, have permanent snowcaps or snowfields of up to 100 feet deep.

Seattle: Arty, alternative Seattle might rain like India during monsoon season at times, but there’s little else depressing about it. From the iconic Space Needle (only worth ascending should the weather be dramatically better than average, unless you want to be staring at the insight of a cloud or watching raindrops drip off the window) to a lively outdoor culture and fashionable coffee & nightlife scene, anyone who likes things up to the minute and different is going to love this city.

Spokane: Spokane, the second largest city, is located on the eastern edge of the state and has a population somewhere near 200,000. Settled in 1872 and originally names Spokane Falls, it has been nicknamed “The Lilac City”. Its Motto is “Near Nature, Near Perfect.”

Vancouver: Vancouver is a city on the north bank of the Columbia River in the U.S. state of Washington and the county seat of Clark County. . It is part of the Portland-Vancouver metropolitan area.

Bellevue: Bellevue is a metropolitan area of Seattle. It is a very upscale city, ranking 15th wealthiest of 522 communities in Washington.

Bellingham: Bellingham is the biggest city in Whatcom County, as well as the 10th largest city in the state of Washington. The city's population is about 74,440.

Ocean Shores: Ocean Shores is a nice attractive town in Washington State. It is gorgeous during the summer months with lots of activities for families to enjoy.

Leavenworth: Leavenworth is Washington State's little Bavarian Village nestled in a valley of the Cascade Mountains. It is one of the largest tourist spots in all of Washington.

Kent: Kent is much spread out, encompassing areas on the west hill near the I-5 freeway, the valley area near hwy-167 and the east hill of Kent.

Port Angeles: Port Angeles calls itself "the center of it all for the Olympic Peninsula." It's the place to start a day trip to Hurricane Ridge or explore the Olympic National Park.

Sequim: Sequim is called the Lavender Capital of the North America and holds its Lavender Festival in mid-July. It is sunnier than most of its neighbors since it is located in the "rain shadow" of the Olympic Mountains.

Tourists are attracted to Washington because of its scenic beauty. Vacation in a lodge, go up in a chair lift, or ski in the state. Olympia, the state's capital, is the gateway to Olympic National Park. See what's left of Mount Saint Helens, a volcano that blew its top in 1980. View Seattle, the state's largest city, from the Space Needle, a 605-foot-tall observation tower.

Washington has a system of state highways, called State Routes, as well as an extensive ferry system which is the largest in the nation and the third largest in the world. There are 140 public airfields in Washington, including 16 state airports owned by the Washington State Department of Transportation. Boeing Field in Seattle is one of the busiest primary non-hub airports in the United States. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is the other major airport of greater Seattle. The unique geography of Washington presents exceptional transportation needs. There are extensive waterways in the midst of Washington's largest cities, including Seattle, Bellevue, Tacoma and Olympia. The state highways incorporate an extensive network of bridges and the largest ferry system in the United States to serve transportation needs in the Puget Sound area. Washington's marine highway constitutes a fleet of twenty-eight ferries that navigate Puget Sound and its inland waterways to 20 different ports of call, completing close to 147,000 sailings each year. Washington is home to four of the five longest floating bridges in the world: the Evergreen Point Floating Bridge, Lacey V. Murrow Memorial Bridge and Homer M. Hadley Memorial Bridge over Lake Washington, and the Hood Canal Bridge which connects the Olympic Peninsula and Kitsap Peninsula.

The Cascade Mountain Range also provides unique transportation challenges. Washington operates and maintains roads over seven major mountain passes and eight minor passes. During winter months some of these passes are plowed, sanded, and kept safe with avalanche control. Not all are able to stay open through the winter. The North Cascades Highway, State Route 20, closes every year. This is because the extraordinary amount of snowfall and frequency of avalanches in the area of Washington Pass make it unsafe in the winter months.