The Puget Sound, an inland branch of the Pacific Ocean, connects the majority of Washington's population ? both physically and culturally. Work and recreation in the Puget Sound area are defined by water; the Port of Seattle and Port of Tacoma are two of the nation's busiest cargo ports, and the state-run ferry system connects the large inland cities of Seattle, Tacoma, and Olympia to the surrounding San Juan Islands, Whidbey Island, and the Kitsap Peninsula.

Click here for more information the Washington State Ferry System.

The area traditionally has been a world-hub for transportation, shipping, and industry – in recent years this has been extended to the high tech and aerospace.  The people of the Puget Sound area have carved a niche in the Pacific Northwest in terms of vacation, recreational pursuits such as whale watching, sailing, or kayaking in the Puget Sound; hiking, mountain biking, and camping in the many forests and mountains in the Cascade Mountains, or skiing excursions to Mount Rainier to the south or Mount Baker to the north.

For a big-city adventure, check out the Space Needle and Pike PlaceMarket in Seattle, or any number of the fine dining and cultural activities avilable throughout the Sound. Click here for a Washington State events calendar. Go-Washington.com is your one-stop website for all Washington vacation and tourism information, including the Puget Sound area.