All Other Destinations and Attractions in Washington

The eruption of Mount St Helens, in the south-west of Washington State, on May 18th 1980 made headlines around the world. A cloud of ash rose 13 mi. into the air, almost 150 sq. mi. of forest were destroyed, houses were overwhelmed by masses of water and mud, and 57 people lost their lives. The mountain itself lost 1300 ft in height, and in place of its summit there is now a crater over 2000 ft deep, down into which it is possible to look from the Johnston Ridge Observatory. In the area around the volcano, which was declared a National Monument in 1982, visitors are given a unique demonstration of the destructive power of the eruption and can observe the gradual return of animal and plant life. The eruption and its effects are explained in the Information Center in Seaquest State Park.

The Yakima Electric Railway Museum describes the history of the Yakima Valley Transportation Co. and features antique streetcars and related equipment. The museum is the car barn for the Yakima Valley Trolleys, which is still in operation. Yakima Valley Trolleys constructed the railroad and substation in the early 1900s and is today listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Yakima Valley Museum offers an in depth look at the history of the Yakima Valley. Located in a huge facility, displays cover both the natural and cultural history of the area with permanent and changing exhibits. The Children's Underground is an area of the museum dedicated to educational programs for children with interactive displays, making the Yakima Valley Museum interesting to all ages.

The Clark County Historical Museum in Vancouver features temporary exhibits on the history of the area. Check with the museum to see what exhibits are currently showing. Also of interest are the walking tours put on by the museum during the summer months.

Gifford Pinchot National Forest covers over one million acres in southwest Washington State. The area is known for it's lava formation and caves. At the western extremity of Gifford Pinchot National Forest is Mount St Helens, and on the eastern edge is Mount Adams.

The Pearson Air Museum is located at Pearson Field, known for being one of the longest operating airfields in the USA. Visitors to the museum will find a large number of vintage aircraft on display, most dating to the first half of the 20th Century.

As the name suggests, the history of the town of Concrete centers around the cement plants in the area. After several fires destroyed many wooden buildings in the town, Concrete decided to build public buildings out of concrete. Some of the original wood structures from before the 1920s fires still exist.

The Port Angeles Fine Arts Center features changing exhibits with a Northwest flavor in the cemi-circular hilltop gallery. On the extensive grounds visitors will find a museum without walls featuring over 100 sculpture and site works along rustic trails.Artists can send proposals the Port Angeles Fine Arts Center to have their work displayed.

The Clallam County Museum in Port Angeles features a permanent exhibit in the upper gallery titled "Strong People, The Faces of Clallam County". On the lower level there is an exhibit that changes every few months.

Othello is a small town in central Washington. Some of the local attractions for visitors include the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge and the Old Hotel Art Gallery.

The town of Glacier, on the Mount Baker Highway, is a good place to use as a base for exploring the surrounding natural wonders of the Mount Baker area. This is a very small town and amenities are limited.

Wallace Falls State Park runs along the Wallace River. The highlight of the park is the 265 ft Wallace Waterfall as well as numerous other waterfalls, lakes, walking trails, and beautiful scenery. Camping is permitted at Wallace Falls State Park.

East of Seattle, the little town of Index is set amongst dramatic scenery. The nearby cliffs and mountains area a haven for climbers and hikers.

The Pioneer Farm Museum in Eatonville offers guided tours of the museum which transports guests to a bygone era. See life as it existed in the Eatonville area in the 1880s. During the summer months it is also possible to visit the Pioneer Farm Museum's Ohop Indian Village on a Native American Tour.

Elbe is just a hamlet south of Tacoma with only a handful of families calling themselves Elbe residents. The town's main claim to fame is the Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad that stops at the Elbe Depot.

The Birch Bay Water Slides are located in Blaine. The facility has all the attractions you would expect to find a a water slide park and is family oriented. In 2005 the Birch Bay Water Slides were purchased by a new owner.

Blaine is a small town located just south of the Canadian-USA border. Located along the ocean front the town is scenic and popular with day trippers from Canada. From Blaine it is about a 2 hour drive to Seattle.