If you’re buying a piece of wood furniture anywhere in the Continental United States (or even elsewhere), there’s a good chance that the wood used to make that furniture came from lumber operations within the Evergreen State. Thanks to its plentiful forests and near-constant rainfall, Washington is brimming with Douglas fir, ponderosa pine, spruce, larch, and cedar trees among many others. These trees are prime for lumber production and are an essential part of the Washington state economy.
Agriculture is also a major player in the Washingtonian economy. In fact, Washington is the nation’s leading producer of sweet cherries, spearmint oil, red raspberries, pears, hops, and apples. It also places extremely high on the list for asparagus, potatoes, peppermint oil, lentils, dry peas, grapes, and apricots. And if you love wine, you’ll be happy to know that Washington trails only California in the nation in wine production.
Manufacturing also has a strong imprint in the Evergreen State if you’re looking for jobs in that sector. Plants and factories in Washington turn out a wide swath of different products including ships, other transportation devices, chemicals, different metals, general machinery, food processing equipment, missiles, and aircraft.
All told, Washington ranks among the wealthiest states in the entire country. If you're looking to raise a family, you can look forward to some of the highest life expectancy rates in the country and the lowest unemployment percentages as well. While the cost of living is starting to skyrocket a bit in the Seattle area, there are still plenty of towns in Washington that have affordable housing and plenty of available jobs to apply for.
Tourism is a strong contributor to the state economy as well, especially when it comes to Seattle. Seattle has a ton of attractions to its credit from sports venues to world-renowned museums. The most recognizable attraction in Seattle also happens to be what most outsiders associate with it – the towering Space Needle. If you get a chance and you're not afraid of heights, take the ride up the needle and maybe grab a bite to eat in the cafe. The view is something that can't be replicated anywhere else.
There are plenty of other sights to see all around the state of Washington, including checking out a few of the 1,000 different dams within the state. The Grand Coulee is perhaps the most visually impressive of the bunch and helps the area with everything from irrigation to energy. Other points of interest worth checking out include three different National Parks (Olympic, Mt. Rainier, and North Cascades), the breathtaking Mount St. Helens in the Cascade Range which erupted way back in May of 1980, and the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site.
As you probably guessed, Washington is definitely for lovers of the outdoors. There are 120 different state parks within its borders and 2.1 million acres worth of forest land. There are so many different camping sites catering to tourists and locals throughout the year, and outdoor activities from hiking to hunting make the Evergreen State an extremely attractive destination for transplants and visitors alike.
For those looking for a more socially liberal state, Washington is definitely at or near the top of the list. It was one of the first states to legalize recreational and medical cannabis, one of the first 36 states in the Union to legalize same-sex marriages, and is often a center for many different progressive causes and organizations. If that’s up your alley, what are you waiting for? Ship your car or truck to Washington as soon as you can!
The food culture in the Evergreen State is as varied and diverse as its population. Washington has a giant stretch of coastline on the Pacific Ocean which means there’s a ton of fresh seafood to try at restaurants all around the state. From trout to oysters and everything in between, you’ll be hard-pressed to find tastier seafood outside of Washington.
The city of Seattle is growing as an international hub thanks to SeaTac International Airport and a growing immigrant population from Asia, Europe, and elsewhere. The large Asian population within the city proper and in the outlying metropolitan area has brought many amazing food traditions with them. Some of the best Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Thai food in the world is served in places like Seattle and Tacoma.
Do you know what goes great with yummy food? Sports! The city of Seattle is home to two professional sports franchises in the four major American sports – the Seattle Mariners (Major League Baseball) and the Seattle Seahawks (National Football League). Perhaps the most interesting and exhilarating professional sports experience in Seattle is at CenturyLink Field, whether it's checking out an aforementioned Seahawks game or experiencing the unique atmosphere of a Seattle Sounders game (Major League Soccer).
Collegiate sports also has a healthy imprint in the State of Washington. Washington State University in Pullman and the University of Washington in Seattle are natural rivals, with their football showdown for the Apple Cup standing as one of the most anticipated days on the Washingtonian sports calendar.
Speaking of those universities, they are just two of forty or so different higher-education institutions in Washington State. Other top-ranked universities within the state’s borders include Gonzaga University in Spokane, Western Washington University in Bellingham, Eastern Washington University in Cheney, Central Washington University in Ellensburg, and the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma.
Now that we’ve given you a detailed look at all things Washington State, it’s time to boost your trivia knowledge! Let’s start by going over some of the official living and inanimate symbols of the Evergreen State –
That's not the end of our dive into Evergreen State trivia goodness. Below are some cool and interesting nuggets about Washington perfect for your next (or first) dinner party in the state:
Are you a fan of wild horses? We mean the animal, not the Rolling Stones song. They are hard to find in the United States nowadays, but that's not the case on the Yakima Indian Reservation. Upwards of 12,000 different wild horses roam free on the reservation.
Speaking of classic song titles, the Ring of Fire refers to the ten volcanoes which serve to surround the state. Five of these volcanoes are part of the beautiful Cascade Range – Mount St. Helens, Glacier Peak, Mount Adams, Mount Rainier, and Mount Baker.
Are you feeling a little cold? You might be if you're hanging out on one of the 3,000 or so glaciers in Washington State. You'd think Alaska would have more, but Washington is the national leader in glaciers within its bounds.
Contacting Nexus Auto Transport to ship your car, truck, or van to Washington is your key to seeing all of the amazing things which make the Evergreen State so unique and so special. Whether you're looking to camp at one of the hundreds of campgrounds within the state or want to grab some amazing Asian fusion in Seattle, shipping your vehicle to Washington will unlock experiences you perhaps never dreamed of.
