While I admit I'm biased, Washington, DC, holds the key to my heart.
18.04.2024 - 15:17 / lonelyplanet.com
Crisscrossed with an impressive web of highways and byways, Washington is a typical US state. Driving is king for those who can afford it and public transportation outside of cities is relatively meager compared to countries in Europe, Asia or South America. Many visitors elect to rent cars and partake in that most romantic of American vacations: the road trip.
The western part of the state, bisected by the north-south artery of I-5 and served by the Washington State ferry system, is refreshingly easy to navigate. The less populated central and eastern areas present more challenges for those without their own wheels.
The main metro area, Seattle, has upgraded its public transit substantially in the last two decades and can now rival any city in the US for quality and ubiquity of service.
Most in-state flights are handled by Alaska Airlines, which runs services out of Seatac (Seattle-Tacoma), Spokane, Walla Walla, Wentachee and Yakima, among other places.
Kenmore Air operates seaplanes between Seattle’s Lake Union and the San Juan Islands. San Juan Airlines connects the San Juans with Bellingham and Anacortes in four- to eight-seater Cessnas.
Washington State Ferries (WSF) navigates the intricate web of inlets and islands that speckle the Washington coast, from Anacortes in the north to Tacoma in the south.
It’s the largest ferry system in the US and the second largest vehicle-carrying ferry network in the world, just behind its northern neighbor, BC Ferries. The company maintains 21 vessels and serves 10 routes. All ferries carry cars.
Washington was ranked the most bike-friendly state in the nation ten years in a row in the 2010s by the League of American Bicyclists due to its pro-biking infrastructure and advocacy (it’s recently slipped to third behind Massachusetts and Oregon). Top cities for cyclists include metro Seattle, sporty Bellingham, collegiate Ellensburg and historic Port Townsend. The winding country lanes of the San Juan Islands are a joy to pedal around. Bike rental outlets are widespread, lending out sturdy machines for between $50 and $75 a day, or from around $125 for e-bikes.
State-run Amtrak maintains three main train routes in Washington: The Cascades runs from Vancouver in Canada via Seattle and Portland down to Eugene in Oregon. The Coast Starlight zips between Seattle and Los Angeles, and the iconic Empire Builder links Seattle and Chicago with a separate branch cutting south across Washington from Spokane to Portland.
Key rail hubs in the state include Seattle, Spokane, Pasco, Vancouver (WA), Bellingham, Everett, Wenatchee and Tacoma.
Rail travel is generally more comfortable than bus transport, although trains are often late. Amtrak offers “Thruway” buses to destinations not on
While I admit I'm biased, Washington, DC, holds the key to my heart.
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