Washington
Washington
The state of Washington is located in the northwestern corner of the United States, on the Canadian border. Geographically, the state is split into two distinct halves: the snow-capped volcanoes, evergreen forests, Cascade Range, and metropolitan city of Seattle in the west; and the rural farms and wilderness of the east. Notable regions include the city of Seattle, Olympic National Park, the laidback capital of Olympia, and the San Juan Islands. Approximately 60% of the state’s residents live in Seattle, and Washington is the second most populated state in the west, after California. Washington gained recognition through the establishment of major global companies such as Microsoft and Starbucks, and is also known for its abundance of outdoor recreational activities, such as skiing/snowboarding, mountain biking, camping, fishing, hiking, and whale watching.
The primary metropolis of Seattle gained particular infamy during the 1990s through the emergence of the grunge movement, spearheaded by artists like Nirvana, Soundgarden, and Pearl Jam. Even though grunge fell out of vogue in the mid-90s, Seattle’s Sub Pop records have maintained a strong presence in the indie rock genre, and other artists have established growing hip-hop, experimental, and underground DIY electronic scenes. Seattle also has a reputation for being one of the rainiest and grayest places in the world, adding to the overall feeling of contemplative cool. This is not a city for hedonism or flashy overindulgence, but rather a place for warm cafés, good conversation, and stripped-down basement parties.
