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Official Washington State Visitors' Guide

Here is our handy resource that you can print, download or order.

Washington State Visitors’ Guide is the essential, one-stop source for Washington State travelers. With stunning photography, detailed maps, and insider information on the state’s must-see attractions, the guide highlights the unique and appealing aspects of each of the state’s diverse travel regions. Convenient, complete, and compelling, the Official Washington State Visitors’ Guide makes it easy for travelers to find everything they need to enjoy and extend their stay in the Evergreen State. Order yours today!

This map features the routes with a brief description of all 29 of our state's Official Scenic Byways.

CONTACT INFORMATION

For travelers looking for tourism information, please call 1-800-544-1800.

Executive Director David Blandford, [email protected]

Director of Tourism Development and Strategic Partnership Mike Moe, [email protected]

Director of Marketing Michelle Thana, [email protected]

Senior Content Manager  Marianne Graff, [email protected]

Destination Development Manager Matthew Ozuna, [email protected]

Tourism Development Manager Lisa Kruse, [email protected]

Marketing Coordinator Beth Salgado, [email protected]

For industry related questions, email [email protected]

Other Contact Information

Media Relations and Inbound Tour Operator Inquiries Michelle Thana, 360-931-4806 [email protected]

To order a print copy of the Official Washington State Visitors’ Guide or to the view the digital edition visit  www.stateofwatourism.com  

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 16612 Seattle, WA  98116

Check out our range of Western Australian Souvenirs, Maps, Guidebooks, Food, Drink and more

Tours & Attractions

We help connect you to amazing experiences and things to do in WA

Western Australia is an amazing place to explore, it is incredible vast and unique. The diversity of WA ensures there are things to do that suit everyone. We can help organise and book your Tours, activity and attraction passes throughout the state.

WA is known for its natural beauty, untouched wilderness and fantastic nature, wildlife and food and wine experiences. It is easy to underestimate just how much there is to do in WA and just how vast the state truly is, so it is a good idea to join a tour and be led by a guide, they are a wealth of information and help keep you on the right track.

As to what to do in WA? There is so much to choose from! Select from our list below or search by region or by type of experience you want to have. Either way we will help you discover extraordinary WA.

Want to know more? We are here to help!

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• Fort Vancouver National Historic Site
• Pearson Field and Museum
• Officers Row
• Clark County Historical Museum
• Mount St. Helens
• Columbia River Gorge
• Moulton Falls
• Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge
• Parks and Trails
• Kayaking & Canoeing
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• Kiggins Theatre
• Esther Short Park
• Downtown/Uptown Vancouver
• Vancouver Mall
• Farmers Markets
• Pet Friendly
• The Waterfront
• Annual Events
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• Music and Performing Arts
• Exhibits and Educational Events
• Meetings & Conventions
• Submit Event
• Restaurants
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• Waterfront & Downtown Hotels
• Getting Here
• Visitor Center
• Uptown Village
• East Vancouver
• Fourth Plain International District
• Salmon Creek
• Felida & Lake Shore
• Community Profile
• 10 Reasons To Visit
• Heritage & Wine Trail
• Regional Hub-and-Spoke Tour
• Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Tour
• Flower Power Tour, Vancouver, WA
• Request Travel Magazine
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Situated north of weird and south of Sound, Vancouver, Washington is where being in between feels just right. The city’s roots originated on the Columbia River’s north shore, where the Pacific Northwest’s first indigenous inhabitants started a diverse and thriving community. Now that growth presents itself in our innovative waterfront, friendly and walkable downtown, and easy access to Mount St. Helens, the Columbia River Gorge, and the Pacific Coast.

We may be close to everything, but we’re far from typical. Come see for yourself.

Scavenger Hunt

Explore the places that make Vancouver stand out as a unique destination with this mobile-friendly pass. Download the pass and start exploring the city while answering trivia questions along the way—you never know what you might learn!

Meet our new colors

Learn more about the inspiration behind our new colors on our blog!

Visitor Centre Western Australia Visitor Centre

Tourism Western Australia acknowledges Aboriginal peoples as the traditional custodians of Western Australia and pay our respects to Elders past and present. We celebrate the diversity of Aboriginal West Australians and honour their continuing connection to Country, culture and community. We recognise and appreciate the invaluable contributions made by First Nations peoples across many generations in shaping Western Australia as a premier destination.

Take a Trip

Washington tourism marketing authority.

Tourism is the fourth-largest industry in the state, employing more than 205,000 residents.

The Washington Tourism Marketing Authority (WTMA) is charged with overseeing the state’s tourism strategy and working with industry leaders and tourism marketing professionals to attract visitors to every part of the state.

2022 Tourism Industry Dashboard Report

Industry Overview

Tourism generates more than $21.9 billion annually statewide.

The industry puts adds nearly $2.4 billion to the state’s coffers in the form of generated tax revenue.

Visitor Spending

On an average day, visitors spend $60 million a day in Washington. 

Our Tourism Partners

To execute the state’s tourism strategy, the WTMA works with the following public and private partners.

State of Washington Tourism

State of Washington Tourism is the official Destination Marketing Organization for the State of Washington. The organization is a membership-based nonprofit that was established after the closure of the Washington State Tourism Office in 2011.

Department of Commerce

The Washington State Department of Commerce provides administrative support to the board and the WTMA at large. The Office of Economic Development & Competitiveness (OEDC) oversees this support within the agency.

Visit Washington

Interested in Joining the Board?

Industry professionals are encouraged to apply to the WTMA. As board positions open, new members are selected from a pool of applicants by the Governor’s office.  

Apply for an opening.

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​Tourism WA

Level 10, 1 William St Perth Western Australia 6000

Postal address: GPO Box X2261 Perth WA 6847

Tel: +61 8 9262 1700 Fax: +61 8 9262 1702 Email: [email protected]

Manager Corporate Communications Tel: +61 8 9262 1895 Email: [email protected]  

Public Relations

Public Relations Manager Tel: +61 8 9262 1753 Email: [email protected]

Senior Manager Insights and Planning Email: [email protected]

Event sponsorship Tel: +61 8 9262 1853 Email: [email protected]

Familiarisations

Familiarisation Manager Tel: +61 8 9262 1786 Email: [email protected]

Image and video library

Email: [email protected]

Domestic and international marketing

Tourism attractions case management.

Email: [email protected]

Partnerships and industry

Senior Manager WA Partnerships and Industry Tel: +61 8 9262 1673 Tel: 0484 938 386 Email: [email protected]

How to contact us

• Other useful contacts
• Freedom of Information
• Public interest disclosure

Last Reviewed: 2024-03-06

Acknowledgement of Country Tourism Western Australia acknowledges Aboriginal peoples as the traditional custodians of Western Australia and pay our respects to Elders past and present. We celebrate the diversity of Aboriginal West Australians and honour their continuing connection to Country, culture and community. We recognise and appreciate the invaluable contributions made by First Nations peoples across many generations in shaping Western Australia as a premier destination.

• Travel to Western Australia

All contents copyright © Government of Western Australia. All rights reserved.

Visitor Information Centers

We’ll show you what makes seattle so extraordinary.

With three downtown visitor centers and complimentary assistance from true Seattle experts, we strive to make your visit to the Emerald City picture perfect.

You can rely on both our visitor centers to deliver:

• Maps, brochures and other sightseeing and logistical guides
• Expert advice on museums, theater, dance and opera (including how to get tickets!)
• Detailed information on sporting events, neighborhood discoveries, local events and city festivals
• Restaurant reservations
• Tour information
• Ground transportation
• Personal services
• Rotating partner spotlights and special offers
• Informational kiosks for self-service

Visitor Information Center in the Washington State Convention Center

Visitor Information Center – Arch

Seattle convention center arch building.

• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: 206.461.5888
• Location: Upper Pike Street lobby of the Seattle Convention Center Arch building, at Seventh Avenue and Pike Street
• Hours: Mon-Fri, 9am-5:00pm

Visitor Information Center – Summit

Seattle convention center summit building.

• Phone: 206.461.5865
• Location: Olive Way lobby of the Seattle Convention Center Summit building, at Ninth Avenue and Olive Way
• Hours: Currently open to attendees during meetings and events held in the Summit building

Market Information Center

Pike place market.

• Phone: 206.228.7291
• Location: Southwest Corner of First Avenue and Pike Street in Pike Place Market
• Hours: Daily, 9:30am-5:30pm

Advance Trip Planning

Our experienced team of Destination Ambassadors can answer questions or provide information before you visit. We’d be happy to send you our most up-to-date packet of Seattle maps and visitor guides for your trip. To receive your packet, request one online or contact us by any one of the following ways:

(866) 732-2695 or (206) 461-5840

  [email protected]

Visit Seattle Attention: Visitor Information 701 Pike Street, Suite 800 Seattle, WA 98101

Meet The Destination Experience Team

Rudd Schupp

Senior Manager, Destination Experience

Phone 206.461.5885

James Weaver

Destination Ambassador

Phone 206-461-5840

Phone 206.461.5862

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Tacoma is known for its world-renowned glass art, Tacoma’s vibrant urban core is alive with culture. Find yourself surrounded by creativity and city sophistication when you eat, shop and stroll Tacoma’s downtown. The friendly city inspires many to celebrate the melding of old and new. See historic architecture amidst urban design. 

The City’s many districts abound with culture. Stroll the museum district where you can explore art, glass and history. Wander amongst the eclectic mix of upbeat restaurants and music venues on Sixth Avenue. Shop the unique boutiques in the historic Proctor and Stadium districts, which bustle with foot traffic. Rooted in the arts, Tacoma is the place to be.

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Relay services.

5 WA wildflower hikes to take around the Columbia River Gorge

Thinking about driving to the Columbia River Gorge to see the annual explosion of spring wildflowers on Dog Mountain? Sure. You and about a million other people.

“It’s obviously one of the best flower hikes around,” said longtime guidebook author Craig Romano. “Everybody does it. It’s overhiked, it’s crowded, you need a parking permit on weekends. There are just so many other places to see.”

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Romano recently released his second edition of “ Day Hiking: Columbia River Gorge ” with Mountaineers Books, jammed with 115 hikes. With that many options available, Romano advises savvy hikers to consider some worthy wildflower alternatives found on both sides of the Gorge.

Bring the 10 Essentials and a buddy and consider these wildflower hikes this spring and summer.

Catherine Creek Universal Access Trail

From Bingen, Klickitat County, drive 4.6 miles on Highway 14; near milepost 71, turn left on Old Highway 8 and drive east 1.4 miles to the Catherine Creek trailhead.

Distance: 1.2 miles

Elevation gain: 100 feet

This  former ranch land n o w o w n e d b y t h e F o r e s t S e r v i c e  offers multiple trail options, such as Coyote Wall, popular with mountain bikers. Romano insists the paved Universal Access Trail will impress anyone with an eye for wildflowers.

“Anything in Catherine Creek is good,” he said. “It’s a big area, and there are a lot of trails for all different levels of hikers, but the ADA trail is just gorgeous. There’s a lot of basalt in the area, which traps water in the shallow soil. That makes it really rich and excellent for wildflowers.”

Some might balk at walking a paved trail. Romano says they would miss out. “It’s a really nice trail for everybody, and one of the best around for flowers,” he said.

Lyle Cherry Orchard

East of Lyle, Klickitat County, the unmarked trailhead lies just east of two tunnels on Highway 14.

Distance : 6.5 miles round-trip

Elevation gain : 1,100 feet

“This area has some of the best wildflowers in the Gorge,” Romano said of Lyle Cherry Orchard. It’s in the Cascade foothills before the steppe, an arid ecosystem that Romano emphasized is not a desert. “You’re in this pine-oak savanna, which is absolutely gorgeous. Deathcamas is beautiful here. It’s one of my favorite parts of the Gorge. There’s nothing else like it.”

The  540-acre former orchard  was made into a preserve by the nonprofit Friends of the Columbia Gorge, and “in six months, this place will be brown,” Romano said. Instead, take the hike in April.

Doing so comes with three hazards, he hedged.

“There’s a lot of poison oak on the east side of the Gorge. There are also rattlesnakes, though I don’t see them too often here,” Romano said. “The worst of all three are the ticks. April and May is when they’re hatching, so you have got to be tick-aware, especially if you bring a dog. Some people won’t hike in this area because of that. But it’s a beautiful spot.”

Weldon Wagon Road Trail

From Highway 141 in Husum, Klickitat County, follow Indian Creek Road about 1 mile to a gate at the end of Indian Cemetery Road.

Distance : 4.6 miles round-trip

Elevation gain : 1,300 feet

Pass : None

“It’s a historic wagon road , as the name denotes,” Romano said of this trail that bears the same name. “And it’s never crowded. It’s a Fish and Wildlife property with a lot of old-growth oak, and it reminds me of walking in the foothills of California, except on a clear day you’re looking right at Mount Hood.”

This is a good moderate hike for wildflower lovers.

MORE AROUND THE GORGE

• 5 stops to make to connect with nature in the Columbia River Gorge
• Beyond camping and festivals, the Gorge is the PNW’s prime playground
• Camping at the Gorge this summer? Pack these 5 tips from festival veterans
• White Salmon, a Gorge vacation hot spot, can’t staff its restaurants

Mosier Plateau

Take Oregon’s Interstate 84 to exit 69, then drive east on U.S. Highway 30 for 1.2 miles to a parking area west of the Mosier Creek bridge; the trailhead is at the east end of the bridge.

Distance : 3.5 miles round-trip

Elevation gain : 600 feet

This is another Friends of the Gorge property that lies across the river from Washington’s Catherine Creek area. Don’t expect a pure wilderness ambience on this route, which passes by communication towers and the foundations of former structures. But once up you’re up on the plateau, Romano says, “the flowers are really good, and so are the views west up the Gorge.”

Rowena Plateau Loop

Take Oregon’s I-84 to exit 69, then drive east on U.S. 30 for 6.6 miles to the trailhead.

Distance : 2 miles round-trip

Elevation gain : 240 feet

Part of the Tom McCall Preserve, the Rowena Plateau benefits from the same basalt formations that produce the rich, wildflower-generating soil found on the Washington side of the river in the Catherine Creek area. By May, the landscape here fills with a mix of balsamroot and lupine. The loop itself is 2 miles round-trip, but it can be combined with a flowery hike from the same trailhead to  Tom McCall Point , should you seek some more mileage and a 1,030-foot elevation gain. Dogs are not permitted on either route.

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