Top places in Washington

1.  Mailbox Peak - maybe there was a bit of psychology involved, in that the difficulty of the hike made me want the top to be beautiful and worth the effort, but this was the single most breathtakingly beautiful place in Washington I have been.  The top of the peak offered a view of a mist-filled valley, with wildflowers all around us.  And of course, it was pretty cool that there was a mailbox at the top.

Other note-worthy trails: Comet Falls on Mount Rainier, Tiger Mountain Trail #2 with fall colors, Mount Si, Mount Washington.

2.  University of Washington - the cherry blossoms in the spring are gorgeous - especially when all the pink and white petals fall and coat the ground.  The Burke museum is the best museum I've been to. The basement is filled with colorful artwork from tons of Pacific cultures.  The architecture of the buildings is also nice - and there are many nice views of lakes and mountains from around the campus.

Other note-worthy Seattle spots: Kerry Park in Queen Anne (especially for the great coffee), Seattle Center with the Space Needle, gardens, water fountain, and Pink Floyd Laser show, Washington Arboretum and Japanese Garden.

3.  Pacific Beach - there is nothing quite so beautiful as the sunset on the beach.  The sand here is soft and the shore is so flat that the water comes and recedes quite gradually.  The shores are filled with sandpipers and not too many people - so the spot is quite tranquil.  At night, we could see endless stars and the Milky Way.  

To be honest, there is no beach in Washington that we love so much as the beaches of Southern California and Hawaii (no surprise :-P), but other note-worthy beaches in Washington:  La Push area beaches, Alki Beach, and Golden Gardens beach.  

4.  Kirkland Waterfront - relaxing park on Lake Washington, surrounded by good coffee shops and restaurants, in a very pedestrian oriented and relaxed downtown. 

Other note-worthy parks on the "Eastside": Bellevue Downtown Park,  Lake Sammamish Park.