George Washington’s face was not only immortalized in Mount Rushmore and his name not only in the US capital: In the far northwest of the USA, one of the most fascinating natural regions in the United States awaits with the state of the same name. Mount Rainier and Mount St. Helens are just two reminders of the region’s breathtaking natural forces, which have their own monuments and parks dedicated to them. Puget Sound, Olympic National Park and the North Cascades National Park complete the natural panorama of Washington. But the state in the northwest of the USA does not only consist of nature – over seven million people have a home here. About half of them in the Seattle metropolitan area: The Emerald City forms an urban highlight of Washington that unfolds in front of the face of Mount Rainier.

Seattle and co. – Urban and regional Washington

If you count the mere number of inhabitants of the US metropolises, Seattle (730,000) is not even one of the fifteen largest cities. But the bustling metropolitan area of over 3 million people and an exposed location on the route between Canada, Oregon and California make Seattle an absolute hotspot on the American West Coast. The city also stands out as a tourist gateway to the region’s natural attractions – not far from Mount Rainier, Puget Sound and Olympic National Park. A world-famous landmark is the Space Needle, the more than 180-meter-high observation tower in the heart of the Seattle skyline – once built for the 1962 World’s Fair. As the home of the grunge sound from Nirvana to Pearl Jam to Soundgarden, the city has long been an influential source of creativity. Today, institutions such as the Seattle Art Museum with important North American and international works of art or the extremely fascinating Museum of Pop Culture including the Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame remind us of Seattle’s importance as a modern cultural center. In terms of tourism, the city between Puget Sound and Lake Washington is at the top of the list of sights worth visiting in Washington.

But the state in the northwest of the USA has much more to offer from an urban perspective than just Seattle. About 50 km south of the metropolis unfolds the urban Tacoma. Here, cultural highlights such as the Tacoma Art Museum and the Museum of Glass await. Downtown Tacoma is known for its Museum District, which boasts cultural institutions of national and international standing. The second largest city in Washington, even ahead of Tacoma, is Spokane, located in the east of the state. Here you can discover Spokane Falls and the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture. Spokane is also known for regional breweries and well-visited golf courses in the region. And at the gates of Olympic National Park, the city of Port Angeles awaits, which forms an important starting point for the natural region of Washington. Not far from the city, the natural panorama of Hurricane Ridge unfolds, known for its bombastic mountain scenery.

Olympic Mountains and Mount Rainier – Nature and National Parks of Washington

Urban Washington, especially Seattle, has a few highlights to offer for fans of high-quality sightseeing. But Washington’s nature brings an incomparable tourist splendour to the region. State parks, national monuments and national parks characterize Washington’s natural formations. Of the three national parks, Olympic National Park is one of the most visited, and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1981. On the coast of Washington lies the eponymous Olympic Peninsula, which is mainly characterized by the Olympic Mountains, glaciers and rainforest. Here rises the 2432-meter-high Mount Olympus, the largest mountain in the region. The largely untouched natural world of the Olympic Mountains spans about 4,000 km² – in which a wide variety of animal species feel at home, from the rare spotted owl to golden eagles and gray whales, which present themselves on the coast of the park in the appropriate season. Not only the mountains, scenic hiking routes and a breathtaking coastline characterize the park, which is one of the highlights of Washington.

In the middle of the national park of the same name rises Mount Rainier, which is considered the highest volcano in Washington at 4,392 meters. The history of the national park dates back to 1899, which, like the Olympic National Park, lives from its untamed wilderness. In addition to the volcano, the many waterfalls are characteristic, including the famous Myrtle Falls in front of the panorama of Mount Rainier. The region is also home to North Cascades National Park, which is characterized by the same cascade chain that includes Mount Rainier. Washington’s three national parks alone prove the natural wealth that lies dormant in the northwestern US state. At the same time, natural formations such as the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument are located here. Waterfalls like Snoqalmie Falls show that you don’t have to travel deep into a national park to see such natural sights in Washington. Snoqualmie Falls was once immortalized in the famous TV series Twin Peaks. And if you want to see the scenic and natural Washington far away from mountains, volcanoes and waterfalls, you can also discover the San Juan Islands, which are a paradise for whale watching in the right season. Whether Seattle or the national parks on Mount Rainier and the Olympic Mountains – Washington is the best proof that a very special tourist adventure awaits between California and Canada on the American west coast.

According to their own statement, Tennessee is not only the home of RockNRoll, but also the home of bourbon. The latter would probably be objected to at least by Kentucky. Either way, a visit to Tennessee is a dive into an absolute heartland of American culture. With a long history, a variety of historical sites and exciting metropolises like Nashville , Tennessee offers a remarkably varied vacation. If you’re looking for the roots of country music, you’ll find it here, as well as if you’re looking for some of the best food in the United States.

The Volunteer State – between nature and culture

Tennessee has the nickname Volunteer State from the times of the British-American War, when a large part of the population voluntarily went to war against the British. As one of the cradles of the American population – Native Americans probably settled here around 12,000 years ago – Tennessee is proud of the long history of the state and knows how to celebrate this in a variety of ways. As one of the core southern states, it is also closely linked to the history around the Civil War and even today the state is considered rather conservative, but that doesn’t stop people from being known for lavish parties in Nashville.

Tennessee is also a bit of a state of contradictions. Although they are proud to be a rather conservative southern state, Tennessee has also been one of the nuclei of the American civil rights movement. From here, some of the most important currents in the struggle for equality solved. So it’s quite fitting that the American Civil Rights Museum is a place where you can experience the remarkable history for yourself through presentations and reports from contemporary witnesses and perhaps understand it better.

Vacationers who decide to take a trip to Tennessee usually not only want to see Nashville, but also enjoy the great nature in the state. With national parks and some beautiful landscapes, the state also invites you to discover nature off the beaten track.

The most beautiful natural spectacles in Tennessee

The shared heritage of Americans and Native Americans can be seen on every corner in Tennessee. So it’s quite fitting that one of the most impressive places in the state is without question the Appalachian Trail. The long-distance hiking trail, which runs 3,500 kilometers through the United States, has a good part of it here in the state and offers great nature, interesting experiences and, last but not least, a deep impression of how diverse the landscape in the USA can actually be.

Together with North Carolina , it shares the Great Smoky Mountains. The most visited national park in the USA is not only known for its many opportunities for activities, but also for many small villages and attractions that lie in the area. Here you can not only go mountain biking or explore the mountains by bike, but of course also hike, climb or canoe through one of the streams. There is certainly no shortage of opportunities and the places that have adapted to tourism offer corresponding opportunities for easy access to these attractions.

The many forests and rivers, meadows and valleys are often home to their own small towns, which, unlike Nashville, do not enjoy worldwide fame. On the other hand, you will find the hospitality of the South, which is known throughout the country, and often the best barbecue you could wish for in the USA. It is not for nothing that Tennessee is considered one of the birthplaces of this national cuisine among the foodies of the USA.

Discover the impressive cities of Tennessee

With Nashville and Memphis , there are two cities in Tennessee that you should definitely have seen during a visit. The advantage, however, is clearly the capital of the state, Nashville, which is considered a highlight of culture in the USA and is also often visited by the inhabitants of the country for a short vacation. While the metropolis has developed into a Mecca for party tourism in recent years, many origins of American culture can be found here. Apart from a large number of the finest and best restaurants with a wide variety of dishes, the Country Music Hall of Fame can be found here – a must visit for anyone who can get something out of this music genre.

However, the “Music City” is often the place for many other concerts and especially rock is of course lived here. Fittingly, you can quickly get to Graceland from Tennessee and visit the home of Elvis, who has probably shaped this music genre like no other artist. The city’s live stages feature well-known and unknown artists who want to start their own careers with the spirit of Nashville and give the city’s bars their very own flair.

In addition, Nashville is home to many museums that deal with the upheavals of the history of the USA. So if you are looking for a bit of culture in addition to the party, you will certainly find it in the city.