Set on the west coast of the USA, Washington State is a place where you can combine great outdoor activities with a sophisticated city break in Seattle.

The Cascade Mountains are a paradise for outdoor activities. In the spring, the rivers rush full of water and the thrilling rapids are ideal for white water rafting. Hikers enjoy the lonely trails, spotting wildlife along the way. In the winter, the snow-covered mountains are a popular location for skiing and snowboarding.

Seattle was made famous as the location for the TV series ‘Frasier’. Pioneer Square is a great place to come for coffee, shopping and art galleries or to soak up the ambience in one of Seattle’s many restaurants. The Seattle Art Museum and the Asian Art Museum reflect the city’s sophisticated vibe. Pike Place Market is stock full of individual artisan stalls and a great place to experience all the flavours of this distinctive city.

Calling all space travellers. The Seattle Space Needle is an iconic structure on the Seattle skyline. Take the lift to the observation deck, which is 520 feet above the street below, and, if you dare, look down! Hop aboard the Seattle Monorail for a futuristic way of travelling about the city. You can discover all about aeronautics at the fascinating Museum of Flight. See many historic aircraft and learn about space travel.

Out on the Pacific coast, Oysterville is a charming village with many historic buildings. The village grew in prosperity thanks to the demand for oysters from 19th century gold prospectors in San Francisco. Many pretty buildings survive from these times including the church, schoolhouse and a number of domestic residences.

Self-catering holiday cottages and apartments to rent in Washington State: