Washington’s Mount Rainier is home to 25 named glaciers, including the largest glacier in the lower 48 states, Emmons. This glacier covers the largest surface area in the U.S. — 4.3 square miles — and descends from the summit of Mount Rainier into the White River Valley. Washington is the second-most glaciated state in the U.S. behind Alaska. Glaciers can be found on many of its mountains, from the North Cascades to the Olympic Mountains.

Located in Twin Falls, Idaho, Shoshone Falls is one of the most popular natural attractions in the Pacific Northwest. The falls are 900 feet wide and 212 feet tall — making them even taller than Niagara Falls. They're fed by the Snake River, which eventually connects to the Columbia River. The falls are at their peak flow during the spring when the snow begins to melt, attracting thousands of visitors annually.

Oregon’s largest city was almost named after Boston, Massachusetts. In 1845, Portland's founders, Francis Pettygrove and Asa Lovejoy, decided to use a coin flip to determine a name for the new city. Each wanted to honor his hometown — Pettygrove was from Portland, Maine, and Lovejoy was from Boston, Massachusetts. Pettygrove won the coin toss, officially making “Portland” the name of their new city.

One of the region’s largest ski resorts, Sun Valley is a must for winter sports enthusiasts. It was also where the world’s first chairlift was introduced in 1936. Designed by James Curran of the Union Pacific Railroad, the innovative chairs were installed on Dollar and Proctor mountains and helped put Sun Valley on the map as a destination ski resort.

Hells Canyon was carved by the winding Snake River in western Idaho. It’s the deepest river gorge in North America — even deeper than the Grand Canyon. Its highest point is He Devil Peak, which sits 8,043 feet above the river (and 9,393 feet above sea level). The gorge was originally called Box Canyon or Snake River Canyon by early explorers, but by the late 19th century, the name Hells Canyon began popping up in various publications.

The next time you enjoy a bottle of wine from the Pacific Northwest, check its label — there’s a good chance it comes from the Columbia Valley. Washington state is America’s second-largest wine producer, and 99% of that wine is grown on the east side of the Cascades in the Columbia Valley. With more than 50,000 acres of vineyards, the region is even larger than California’s Napa Valley.

Northern Washington provides the ideal climate for tulip farming, and each April, the rainbow fields greet visitors at the popular tulip festival in Skagit Valley, where millions of flowers bloom annually. The festival was officially inaugurated in 1984 after locals noticed an influx of visitors stopping by to take a peek at the blooms. Today, the month-long celebration attracts thousands of visitors.

The Columbia Center soars over downtown Seattle at a height of 937 feet (76 stories), making it the 20th-tallest building in the United States and the tallest in the Pacific Northwest. It was built in 1985 and was the tallest structure on the West Coast at the time of its completion. For comparison, the Space Needle, Seattle’s most famous skyscraper, stands 605 feet tall.

If you can’t swing a trip to Munich for Oktoberfest, stay stateside and head to Leavenworth instead. This small town 135 miles east of Seattle features all of the old-world charm of Bavaria without leaving the country. Set to the backdrop of the Cascades, the streets are lined with alpine-style buildings which house German restaurants, pubs, shops, and museums.

The San Juan Islands are located between Washington State and Vancouver Island, Canada. This rural archipelago is known for outdoor recreation like hiking, boating, camping, and wildlife watching. A major draw is whale watching, especially for orcas (killer whales) who live here year-round. One of the islands in the chain, Orcas Island, is named after the majestic creatures.

Around 7,700 years ago, the volcano Mount Mazama experienced a cataclysmic eruption, resulting in Crater Lake. Reaching depths of 1,943 feet, the lake is unique in that it is fed only from snow and rain. Its waters are free of sediment, making it one of the cleanest and clearest lakes in the world. Visitors can enjoy a swim in designated areas, but beware, the water is usually very cold.

Located on the west side of Washington’s Olympic National Park, the Hoh Rainforest takes its name from the Hoh River that flows from Mount Olympus to the Pacific. Formed thousands of years ago by glaciers, Hoh Rainforest is one of the largest temperate rainforests in the U.S. and receives a yearly average of 140 inches of rain.

Washington is home to several active volcanoes, including Mount St. Helens in the Cascades range, which is the region’s most active volcano. Mount St. Helens last erupted in 2008, but its most famous eruption took place on May 18, 1980. This eruption was accompanied by an earthquake reaching over 5.0 in magnitude and enormous amounts of smoke, tephra (rock fragments), and gas.

Mining lobbyist George M. Willing first suggested the name “Idaho” to Congress in 1860. Willing claimed it was from the native Shoshone language, meaning, “Gem of the Mountains.” This didn’t turn out to be true, but in 1863 Congress ended up choosing the name because of the state's connection to mining and gemstones. By this time, many had forgotten that the word was made up. This is why Idaho is now nicknamed the "Gem State."

Found along the windswept Pacific Coast of Oregon is Cannon Beach, home to a remarkable 235-foot sea stack named Haystack Rock. The formation is one of Oregon’s most recognizable landmarks, drawing approximately 750,000 visitors each year. You may also recognize it as a filming location from the 1985 film “The Goonies.”

Soaring above the peaks of the Cascade Mountains at 14,410 feet above sea level is Mount Rainier, the tallest mountain in the Pacific Northwest. The mountain is actually a dormant volcano that last erupted about 150 years ago. Located in Washington, around 60 miles outside Seattle, Mount Rainier is a sought-after destination for hikers, but trekking to the top is a challenge — much of its peak is covered in glacial ice.

Washington state has been a longtime leader in the apple industry in the United States, and today it produces more than half of the nation’s domestic supply — over 800 million pounds annually. Gala, Fuji, and Honeycrisp apples are among the most popular varieties. Apple orchards are major attractions in Washington during harvest season, when festivals and apple picking are favorite pastimes.

Coastal Washington is known for its extensive ferry system, which connects cities like Seattle and Tacoma to smaller ports and even British Columbia, Canada. Washington State Ferries operates 21 vessels that travel across the Puget Sound and the Salish Sea. They visit 20 different ports and carry some 24 million passengers annually.

The 1,240-mile Columbia River flows south from British Columbia and winds through Washington before turning west (forming the boundary between Oregon and Washington) and flowing all the way to the Pacific. The river's final stretch encompasses the Columbia River Gorge — a deep canyon known for its scenic drive among waterfalls. The Columbia is North America’s largest river that flows into the Pacific Ocean.

Since 1907, the cobblestone streets of Pike Place have been home to some of Seattle’s best-loved food vendors and local artisans. If the name sounds familiar to Starbucks enthusiasts, it’s for a good reason. The famous coffee shop was founded in 1971 at the same market, so it was only fitting that the coffee roasters named their house blend after Pike Place.