About Washington

• Official City Sites
• www.officialcitysites.org
• You may need to click through a few pages to find the Washington homepage, but this is a very helpful way to locate official city websites and chambers of commerce.

• State of Washington
• www.access.wa.gov
• The official Washington website is a great starting point for those interested in the state, with a multitude of links, including to state, local, and federal agencies. You’ll find everything from public libraries to the Cemetery Board here, plus photos of Washington, employment information, traffic reports, and news releases.

• Washington Chambers of Commerce
• www.wcce.org
• A good place to find links to regional chambers of commerce websites.

• Washington State Department of Transportation
• www.wsdot.wa.gov
• This site contains links to the public ferry, bus, air, bike, and train options around the state.

Travel

• Seattle B&B Association
• www.seattlebandbs.com
• Find most of the city’s better B&Bs at this useful site.

• Seattle/King County Convention & Visitors Bureau
• www.seeseattle.org
• Head to this website for links to hundreds of member businesses—including many motels and hotels—along with info on the city and surrounding areas.

• The Map Company
• www.wamaps.com
• This site features detailed maps from all over the state, available to view for free online or for purchase.

• Transportation Connections
• www.transconnect.org
• This private non-profit agency’s website features links to a wide range of public transportation companies in Washington. In addition to buses, they also include car sharing, cycling organizations, Amtrak, and the state ferries.

• Washington Bed and Breakfast Guild
• www.wbbg.com
• The state B&B association’s website has links to homepages run by its many members.

• Washington State Hotel and Lodging Association
• www.stayinwashington.com
• This private association has hundreds of member hotels, motels, and B&Bs on their website. They also produce a very useful free visitors’ guide available in most visitor centers.

• Washington State Tourism
• www.experiencewashington.com
• This is the state’s tourism department site, and a good source for anyone planning to visit.

Outdoor Recreation

• National Park Service
• www.nps.gov
• Washington is home to nine different national parks, from the miniscule Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park in downtown Seattle, to the half-million acres of land within North Cascades National Park. Learn about them at the official Park Service homepage.

• Outdoor Recreation Information Center
• www.nps.gov/ccso/oric.htm
• This is a good one-stop place to learn about outdoor recreational opportunities on federal and state lands around Washington. Their information desk is inside the big Seattle REI store.

• Recreation.gov
• www.recreation.gov
• This is the place to reserve campsites at public campsites around Washington.

• Ski Washington
• www.skiwashington.com
• Nine of the state’s largest downhill ski areas are accessible through this web portal.

• The Mountaineers
• www.mountaineers.org
• Established in 1906, this Seattle-based organization sponsors thousands of outdoor trips and events throughout the year, publishes books, and works on a variety of environmental issues.

• U.S. Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region
• www.fs.fed.us/r6/r6nf.htm
• This site contains links to National Forests throughout the Pacific Northwest.

• Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
• http://wdfw.wa.gov/
• Head to this official website for details on fishing licenses and seasons. You can even purchase your license online.

• Washington State Accessible Outdoor Recreation Guide
• www.parks.wa.gov/ada-rec
• This site has details on barrier-free recreation sites on federal and state lands.

• Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission
• www.parks.wa.gov
• Filled with details on 125 state parks. You can also make campground reservations here for the parks.

News and Events

• Art Guide Northwest
• www.artguidenw.com
• This is the online version of a free publication that details gallery openings and exhibits throughout the Pacific Northwest.

• Hometown News
• www.hometownnews.com/wa.htm
• This site contains links to websites for virtually all of Washington’s newspapers.

• Saturdaymarkets.com
• www.saturdaymarkets.com
• This site lists information on farmers markets around Washington.
• Washington Festivals and Events Association
• www.wfea.org
• An online source for upcoming activities of all types.
• Washington State Fairs
• www.wastatefairs.com
• Want to learn more about the dozens of county, regional, and state fairs around Washington? This is a great place to start your search.

© Ericka Chickowski from Moon Washington, 8th edition