Western States

From the beaches to the mountain tops

experience The Western States

The eleven states in the Western Region of the USA cover the most square miles of any of the five regions and they’re almost too diverse to summarize. The islands of Hawai’i feel close to paradise, with nearly perfect year-round temperatures and turquoise waters for endless outdoor fun.

Alaska offers long hours of daylight in the summer and the mesmerizing Northern Lights from fall to spring due to its proximity to the North Pole. It’s the largest state in America, which allows room for over 100 species of mammals, along with over a thousand species overall to roam, swim, and fly in the state.

We lived in Southern California for nearly two decades and were blessed with the chance to visit all the states in the West. We took many road trips in every different direction. We cruised on the ocean one way from Long Beach to Vancouver, BC Canada, and one way from Vancouver to Seward, Alaska. We were even stranded on Catalina Island for our anniversary once (poor us).

The Western States have big cities too. Large metro areas, like Seattle, Portland, Los Angeles, San Jose, and San Francisco each have their distinct personalities along the coast. Then, of course, there’s Denver too. They’re perfect for immersing yourself in the culture and buzz of city life.

Outdoor Sports in the West Region

Some of the best snowboarding and skiing in the world is in the Western USA. Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, and Idaho consistently rank in the Top 20 best ski areas. If you’re a surfer you should plan to visit Hawai’i or California for the best waves in America. One of the most famous golf courses in the world is at Pebble Beach, California. If you’re looking for golf courses, nearly every ski resort town has at least one course for summer fun.

Are you a hiker? There’s no shortage of gorgeous trails to explore in addition to the extensive national park hikes. The Pacific Crest Trail covers 2650 miles (4265 km) from Canada’s border to the Mexican border through the Western States of Washington, Oregon and California. There are also easy hikes of an hour or less that transport you to magical spots like the McCay Waterfall that tumbles into the ocean at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park.

If you love a more low-key sport, maybe fishing is for you. You’ll find everything from saltwater fishing for Halibut in Alaska to Pacific Blue Marlin in Hawai’i. Rainbow Trout, Bass, and Salmon are all abundant in many Western states’ coasts, lakes, and rivers.

National Parks in the Western States

Some of the most popular and unique national parks are in the West region. Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming was the first in the country. Olympic National Park in Washington, Yosemite in California, and Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado are some of my personal favorites, but it’s really hard to choose only one. The Mighty Five in Utah are definitely worth a road trip too. If you’re traveling to Alaska, don’t miss Denali National Park and check out the two volcanic parks in Hawaii. You’ll find a total of 36 national parks in the Western States, each with its own fascinating and unique characteristics.

Did you know that the National Park Service also protects our oceans and coastlines? There are 88 ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes park units, including 11 Coastal Parks in Alaska alone. The Western States have coastal parks along the Pacific Coast and in Hawai’i where you can often snorkel, scuba dive, or stroll along the shore in protected waters.

Dinosaur fossils and tracks are prevalent in the Western States. You’ll find them at national monuments and other areas protected by the National Park Service. Ancient petroglyphs and pictographs of all shapes and sizes can be seen in unexpected remote areas, but also in parks and monuments and even on the Hawai’ian Islands.