Few places on Earth are quite as unique or diverse as Washington. But if you hail from the Evergreen State, we can all relate to certain experiences. Whether you love or hate these local quirks, they’re part of what makes our state special. So let’s make like we’re digging for geoducks and dive right on into these photos of Washington!
First off: the rumors are true. Most Washingtonians don't use an umbrella. Everyone has their explanation for why this is the case. When it comes down to it, for most of us, the rain is so ubiquitous that we just don't notice it anymore.
But don't be ashamed to break out your umbrella if you're from out of town! Locals won't judge you. The last time I remembered mine, other pedestrians stopped me on my walk to comment that I was smart for using it! Needless to say, I promptly forgot to use it for the rest of the long, long rainy season.
Speaking of the wet, I'd wager that most Washingtonians can smell this picture. While Washington is known for its coastal beauty, it isn't known for its stunning beaches. Here, they're usually rocky, and in the Puget Sound, the further south you go, the more the low tide stinks. For seasoned residents, noticing the sulfurous smell is a decent way of telling the time.
Don't worry, this article isn't NSFW! Depicted here is a Washington treasure, the Pacific Geoduck. Those pungent mud flats are home to many mollusk species, including this frightfully ugly but totally harmless fellow.
Geoducks are part of some Southern Coast Salish diets, and brave diners consider them a regional delicacy. They're also the mascot of the Evergreen State College.
The expanses of Eastern Washington contain some of the state's most majestic destinations. Palouse Falls is just one attraction to the right of the Cascades, where the sheer scale of the landscape will amaze you.
We all know about the Fremont Troll, but do you know about Fremont Bridge's Rapunzel? Seattle has 124 bridges and chances are you've been stuck behind one of them in traffic, waiting for a boat to pass.
This neon Rapunzel, created by glass artist Rodman Miller, has been the Fremont cut's bridgetender since the city installed her in 1995.
Washington loves its sports. The UW Huskies, WSU Cougars, and of course, the Seattle Seahawks have all grown into household names. But Washington is also home to the Seattle Sounders, one of major league soccer's most beloved and successful teams.
Andrea Verschuyl
Good coffee is another essential part of Washington culture. Pretty much all Evergreen State natives have honorary degrees in the espresso sciences.
Devotees casually throw around terms like "microfoam," "crema," and "doppio-cubano-espresso-pulled-short." And don't even think about serving a Washingtonian Robusta. Out here, it's Arabica or bust!
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Speaking of coffee, another unique feature of Washington culture is bikini barista stands. These businesses are exactly what they sound like, and they never fail to mystify out-of-state visitors.
While they're not uncommon enough to be scandalous, they're certainly divisive among locals. Regardless, they're here to stay. Bikini baristas recently won a legal battle that upheld their right to work while wearing as little as they please!
Just because Washingtonians cope with terrible weather most of the time doesn't mean they're up for handling everything. Civilization in Western Washington has a habit of crumbling whenever it snows and these fleeting disasters earn honorary names like "snowmageddon" and "snowpocalypse."
Meanwhile, the Eastern Washingtonians, for whom snowy winters are a fact of life, laugh at our foibles.
Washington is chock full of whimsical community events. In the state capital, Olympians put on an annual parade called The Procession of the Species every Earth Day. Each creation is a spectacular work of art made by hand, sometimes over many weeks, to celebrate biodiversity.
Washington wouldn't be the same without the enduring strength of its Indigenous nations. Here, tribes are influential players in regional politics, conservation work, and culture. One of the most spectacular Indigenous traditions in Washington is the intertribal canoe journey.
Since time immemorial, Pacific Northwest tribes have traveled by canoe to connect and conduct business with neighboring nations. These journeys by canoe can take as long as a month! After a brief hiatus due to the pandemic, this year the Muckleshoot will host as many as 60 tribes from as far away as Hawaii and Alaska.
