Washington's connection to glass art is impressive. After all, the Seattle-Tacoma area is an international epicenter for glass art, with more glass blowing shops than almost anywhere in the world.
Of course, we all know that internationally known glass sculptor Dale Chihuly was born and raised in Tacoma, and his absolutely phenomenal work can be seen at the Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum. But if you have any interest at all in learning more about this unique art (and you should), don't miss the chance to check out the Museum of Glass.
You'll find the Museum of Glass in Tacoma, sitting right in the heart of the downtown area.
Hidden away in a little place known as Ilwaco, Washington is an intensely impressive - albeit obsolete - chunk of American military history that you can still wander through today. Known as Battery 247, this fascinating little piece of our nation's past can now be decoded as a history lesson... and a really cool-looking one, at that.
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Situated inside the boundaries of Cape Disappointment State Park (I sure wouldn't be disappointed to be stationed here, it's gorgeous!) is the McKenzie Head - otherwise known as Battery 247. Here, you can see seemingly endlessly, with views of the Columbia River as well as a portion of the stunningly beautiful Oregon coastline in eyeshot. The first thing you'll probably notice when you approach is a lighthouse - come closer, though, and you'll see that there's more to this mysterious base than initially meets the eye.
If you love creepy content, Only In Your State’s Vacant series – which partners with talented photographer Johnny Joo – explores a dozen other fascinating abandoned places just waiting to be discovered.
Editor’s Note: Due to the nature of abandoned destinations, many of the places featured in this series are off-limits to visitors or have actually been demolished. We do not condone trespassing and other illegal activity but rather encourage readers to enjoy learning about these fascinating destinations.
Constructed between 1943 and 1944 as part of preparations for World War II, this impressive military base served as a way to protect parts of the West Coast from any potential threats that might have arrived from the water.
Wander in a little deeper, however, and you'll discover a world you never knew was here - one that's been around for longer than most of us at this point in history. Concrete bunkers and awesome weapons emplacements for the two six-foot guns it once possessed are framed in gorgeous, fern-covered environments, looking and feeling like something out of an apocalyptic action movie instead of a real place that once served an important purpose. Thankfully, it never needed to be put into use for its purpose - a relief, no doubt, to anyone living on the West Coast at the time.
Unlike many abandoned and/or decaying structures present in the United States, Battery 247 is open to visitors. Wander the halls and every square foot of the grounds, learning about its history as you go. There's a half-mile hike you can take up to McKenzie Head, and from there, you can take in the jaw-dropping views of the surrounding world.
So, how did Cape Disappointment get that name, anyway? After all, Battery 247 is pretty awesome - less than disappointing, for sure. The name goes back to the late 1700s, when a British sea captain sought out the opening of the Columbia River, which he assumed was beautiful. He had high hopes for the place, but when he got here... well, he was a little less than thrilled, for some reason. He named the place Cape Disappointment and moved on.
There's something jaw-droppingly beautiful about this place; I suspect it's the strange contrast between the decomposition of human industry and natural beauty. Nature is slowly taking the Battery back, and in another couple of decades, the place will likely be entirely different - and perhaps less recognizable - than it is today. I kind of wish we could be around to see what happens to it, but only time will tell.
Special thanks to Cleveland-based photographer Johnny Joo of Odd World Studio for the photos used in this article. To discover more creepy and abandoned places, check out his website, Architectural Afterlife.
Are you visiting the area and need a place to stay while you explore? Check out all the awesome offerings from our friends at VRBO.
If you find you can't get enough of fascinating abandoned places left to time and history, check out an awesome abandoned hospital in Texas explored by yours truly! It was quite the adventure... and spooky, too.
Spend one weekend - or even just an afternoon - in Vancouver and you'll start to realize how underrated it is. Located on the north bank of the Columbia River in the southern part of Washington State, this city has a lot of appeal, and it's only getting better. The downtown Vancouver, WA waterfront has been included on Fodor’s list of 15 Best River Walks in the United States. Considering all the beautiful river walks that you'll find in this country, we think that's quite an honor.
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The Vancouver Waterfront park features a two-mile paved path with some stunning views, an excellent place to get your steps in for the day or just to take a relaxing walk and get some fresh air.
The city sits across the river from Portland, Oregon, so you'll enjoy gorgeous city-skyline scenery as well as the rushing river and the mountains in the distance.
The focal point of the area is Grant Street Pier, which was designed to resemble the billow of a passing sailboat, adding a lot of character and charm.
The Yard was featured on the tv show Shark Tank, so it's a place you may already be familiar with. It's a specialty milkshake shop known for grandiose, overflowing, Instagram-worthy milkshakes. There's a menu with tons of options, including this one called The Mermaid, but customers also have the option of designing their own inventions.
The waterfront has also welcomed The Hotel Indigo, Vancouver's first boutique property - but it won't be the last.
If you haven't explored the Vancouver Waterfront in awhile, you're missing out on some exciting new additions, a nice variety for differing interests and tastes.
And of course, views like this never get old. You will want to experience firsthand why this is one of the best riverwalks in the U.S.
Have you ever been to the Vancouver, WA Waterfront? Do you think this is the best riverwalk in the U.S.? We would love to know what you liked most about it. Share with us in the comments below, as well as some of your other favorite places to visit in Washington?
