Geographically, Olympic and Mount Rainier, located in western Washington State, are the parks that most easily lend themselves to fly-drives. Clients can take a car ferry from Seattle across the Puget Sound or stick to the road hugging the shores of the Pacific inlet. Patti Denny, the Port of Seattle’s
international tourism manager, says: “There are few destinations that boast such diverse landscapes: majestic snow-capped mountains, rainforests, islands, wine country and historic seaport towns. Seattle’s stimulating urban attractions are complemented by the natural beauty of Washington State, and it’s an exciting time for us to work with the UK travel trade.” Although travellers might not spot
Bigfoot, the legendary giant ape said to inhabit the dense forests, they will discover a destination with big sights that are naturally amazing. Day tours out of Seattle to both Mount Rainier and Olympic, guided walks, kayaking and other tours can be booked through Evergreen Escapes, which works with UK agents and operators.
w MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK An active volcano that last erupted 150 years ago, breathtaking Mount Rainier dominates the landscape in America’s fifth-oldest national park. At 4,392m, it’s the highest peak in the Cascade Range and the park offers scenic driving routes and hikes along
Although travellers might not spot legendary giant ape Bigfoot, they’ll find a destination with big natural sights
well-marked trails ranging from the gentle to the adventurous. The 1.5-mile Grove of the Patriarchs
trail gives visitors the chance to marvel at 1,000-year-old trees, while a short drive away the crystal-clear waters of Reflection Lakes are one of the most- photographed spots in the park. Jackson Visitor Center, with its
impressive and informative displays, is the ideal starting point for a tour and next door is the atmospheric wood- panelled Paradise Inn, also celebrating its centenary in 2016.
Mount Rainier ticks all the boxes for
wildlife enthusiasts, with four-legged residents including marmot, deer, black bear, mountain goat and bald eagle. Fun activities for families include geocaching and Frisbee golf.
w OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK Covering more than 400,000 hectares and with three distinct and diverse ecosystems – Pacific coast, rainforest valleys and glacier-capped mountains – Olympic is 95% wilderness and home
to a wide variety of plants and animals, including the mighty Roosevelt elk, the largest elk species in the US. Other record breakers can be found
in Lake Quinault’s ‘valley of rainforest giants’ where six conifer trees are the largest living specimens of their kind, with one Douglas fir topping 91m.
FAR LEFT: Ruby Beach
LEFT: Great elk 56
travelweekly.co.uk 5 November 2015
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