1. Cheering For The Seahawks Is Mandatory
Why be a fan of any other team when you can be the 12th man? Super Bowl winners or not, Washingtonians cheer–loudly–at every Seahawks home game.
2. Maltby Café Cinnamon Rolls Are The Only Ones That Matter
These cinnamon rolls are as big as your face, and that is not an exaggeration. Washingtonians from all over flock to Snohomish to enjoy the gooey deliciousness at every opportunity.
3. Washingtonians Are Always High—On Caffeine
Coffee! Latte! Espresso! Did someone say caffeine?! If you have a business meeting (or really any get-together) with a Washingtonian, it’s going to be at a coffee shop. You can hardly walk a block without passing a Starbucks in this state, and where there isn’t a Starbucks there’s bound to be a hip local spot.
4. And They Won’t Settle For Anything Less Than Super Fresh Fish
And why should they? Restaurants often serve the catch of the day and residents can even catch their own if they feel so inclined. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife maintains a list of lakes that actually have too many fish, and encourage fishermen to make their catches there.
5. California’s Not The Only West Coast State With Beaches
Alright, so the beaches in Washington aren’t as warm as Southern California. Washingtonians don’t let the weather scare them off, though.
6. Summer Wouldn’t Be Summer Without Seafair
All Western Washingtonians know that the pirate’s landing, July 4th fireworks and Boeing air show simply can’t be missed. If you’re really lucky maybe you’ll even meet Miss Seafair.
7. Washingtonians Are Nature Freaks For Good Reason
With miles of beaches, snow-capped mountains, flowing rivers and tons of trees, Washingtonians know they have it good. They take any chance they can get to head out on the water or take a hike on any of the state’s more than 3,000 trails.
8. The San Juan Islands Have The Best Whale Watching
Some states have whales; Washington has multiple varieties, including Orcas and humpbacks. They can usually be seen around the San Juan Islands from mid-April through October.
9. There’s A Dry Side To Washington And There’s A Wet Side
Yes, it rains in Seattle. No, it doesn’t rain that much in the rest of the state, mostly thanks to the Cascade Mountains. Get over it.
10. D.C. Doesn’t Have A Monopoly On Cherry Blossoms
Everyone flocks to Washington, D.C. to see their April cherry blossoms. Washington residents know they don’t need to. The University of Washington is home to 31 cherry trees that make for just as fantastic of a view as the ones in the nation’s capital.
11. If Washington Had A State Sport It Would Be Skiing
It’s hard to resist the lure of skiing with such an abundance of slopes. The state’s not short on snow, either. Mount Baker once got 95 feet of snow in one year. No joke.
12. You’ve Never Known Fall Until You’ve Seen It In Washington
You think you know fall? You don’t unless you’ve seen it in Washington. Bright colors abound in every garden and forest, and a hike into the Cascade Mountains will give you a view that might just ruin you for every other place in the world.
13. Washington Is Still Churning Out Musicians
Some might say grunge went out of style decades ago, but that’s OK with Washingtonians. You’ll find them supporting local and touring acts at venues around the state every weekend. Though there will never be another Kurt Cobain (sigh), more recent musicians from the state include Ben Gibbard, Macklemore, Neko Case, Brandi Carlile and Blake Lewis. Not too shabby.
14. Apples Do More Than Keep The Doctor Away In Washington
From red delicious to honeycrisp, Washington has ‘em all. About 58 percent of all the apples grown in the U.S. come from here. One apple a day? Try 10!
15. Washingtonians Know Their Mountains Are Better Than Yours
Source: Instagram
Want to see a mountain in Washington? Just look up, basically. There’s Mount Rainier, Mount Adams, Jack Mountain, Mount Baker… well, you get the idea.
16. Some Washingtonians Prefer An Island Way Of Life
Just like with the mountains, Washingtonians have their pick when it comes to beautiful islands. Some Washingtonians have a summer home on one, while others choose to call an island home permanently.
17. So Ferries Are A Perfectly Legitimate Way of Getting Around
Washingtonians have a lot of islands to live on or visit, so ferries only make sense. Some people even choose to live somewhere like Bainbridge Island and commute to Seattle for work, taking the ferry every day. And they don’t even have to worry about missing happy hour, because the ferry has a bar.
18. Deception Pass Isn’t That Deceiving
Deception Pass separates Whidbey Island and Fidalgo Island. The name wants you to believe otherwise, but don’t be deceived, it’s a beautiful area.
19. Walla Walla Is Washington Wine Country
Napa Valley is a quick plane ride away, but people in Washington have their own gorgeous wine country in their backyard. The number of wineries in Walla Walla has been growing exponentially for the last 10 years, and Walla Walla Community College even offers a degree in winemaking and grape growing.
20. Sorry, You Can’t Wear These Shoes
The Giant Shoe Museum showcases the shoes of Robert Wadlow, whom the Guinness Book of World Records declared the World’s Tallest Man. His shoe size? 37AA, for his 18.5-inch long feet.
21. Some Washingtonians Travel Out Of The Country For Work
Some folks in northern Washington have the option of going to an exotic foreign country for work… ok, fine, it’s Canada. Sure, the commute to Vancouver isn’t ideal, but that doesn’t stop people from traversing the Peace Arch border crossing every single day.
22. …But Seriously, Washington Isn’t A Part Of Canada
Yes, some cities are practically on the border and some even share a name with a city from that other country (hello, Vancouver, eh!), but that doesn’t make Washington less of a state than any other.
23. Spokane Has The Prettiest Gardens You’ll Ever See
Manito Park and Botanical Gardens will leave you in awe. One garden isn’t enough for them–there are actually five gardens in the city, including one that focuses solely on dahlias and another on lilacs.
24. Read My Lips: No State Taxes Here
April 15 is definitely easier to stomach here—but don’t get too jealous: Washingtonians still have to pay Uncle Sam with the business and occupation tax and sales tax.
25. Skagit Valley Residents Are Born Tulip Lovers
The Skagit Tulip Festival is ripe with picture-perfect photo opportunities. 300 acres of tulips bloom every spring and attract more than a million visitors.
26. You Don’t Have To Visit New York For Waterfalls
Of course a state as beautiful as Washington would have its share of gorgeous waterfalls. From Cedar Falls to Palouse Falls, Washingtonians are always up for a hike to see the sites.
27. It’s Not “Officially” Evergreen
You thought Washington was the Evergreen State, right? Well, it is, just not officially. It’s a popular nickname for the state and has been since 1890, but it’s never been made official.
28. Don’t Ever Forget The Inland Northwest
So many tourists only bother to visit west of the Cascades, but the east shouldn’t be forgotten. Washington shares the Inland Northwest with northern Idaho, but its heart is Spokane.
29. Puget Sound Sunsets Are a Must-See
Catching an amazing sunset once in a while is kind of mandatory if you live near the water. Puget Sound sunsets are some of the most spectacular you’ll see anywhere–as long as the weather is cooperating.
What have you had to explain to out-of-towners about Washington? Tell us in the comments below!
