Have you ever found yourself in a scenario where you have to explain a habit, trend, or general way of life to an out-of-towner? It seems as though the things that strike us as normal can inspire some questions from non-Washingtonians. To be fair, if you didn’t live in our beautiful corner of the Pacific Northwest, you too might find our way of life to be equal parts strange and fascinating. Truth be told, we wouldn’t have it any other way. Without further ado, here are some stereotypes about Washington that always seem to require some explanation.
Do you identify with any of the above stereotypes about Washington? If so, we’d love to hear about your experience!
jojo 77 / Flickr
And no, we don’t just mean Starbucks… though rest assured, we’ve got plenty of opinions on that. We conduct business meetings, catch up with old friends, write and read in coffee shops. We all have our favorite brew. Even those of us who don’t like coffee typically have an alternative hot drink of choice. When it comes to living in Washington, coffee is truly a way of life.
Mick Thompson / Flickr
This sometimes means spending too much money at REI or Cabela’s or (shhh) calling in sick to work to be outside. Can you blame us? With beautiful hiking trails, breathtaking lakes, and epic mountains, Washington is a nature enthusiast’s paradise. If you’re from another area, we’ll gladly recommend our favorite local hike to you, so long as you promise to keep it a secret!
Those of us who truly love our great state appreciate both. However, there’s no denying that there are some major differences between the two regions. Although, to be fair, this is probably true of every state in the U.S.
Howard Ignatius / Flickr
You might assume everyone in Washington lives there if you ever get stuck in Seattle traffic, but for some of us, Seattle is a six hour drive from home. That’s hardly a neighbor. So while Seattle might be the most iconic part of Washington, you’d be remiss not to visit the smaller towns throughout our great state.
Colleen Lane / Flickr
We’re lucky enough to have plenty of options for snow sports, and we take full advantage. One major Washington trait is an undying appreciation for the mountains, and that definitely includes skiing.
Beaster725 / Flickr
Bureau of Land Management / Flickr
Spend some time on Bainbridge, Whidbey or the San Juans and you’ll fall in love. We like to think that these islands are among the most beautiful places in the entire world.
Uncle Ike’s Yelp
Forget every stoner stereotype you’ve ever heard. Since Washington legalized recreational marijuana, we’ve come up with some downright creative ways to indulge, and some successful professionals are both involved in the production of it and using it themselves.
Bernt Rostad / Flickr
Who needs Napa when you have the Yakima Valley and Walla Walla? Out-of-towners might be surprised by our enthusiasm for wine and beer. (That is, until they’ve tried it themselves. Then they understand completely!)
Jeanna / Flickr
Some Washingtonians have to dress up for work, and plenty of us enjoy going all out for an elegant evening on occasion. But for the most part, you’ll see us in jeans at some of our best restaurants and even at the office. We still make an effort, we just love to be comfortable.
One wonderful thing about Washingtonians: We can always laugh at ourselves. Here’s a list of jokes about Washington that are actually funny.
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The OIYS Visitor Center
Stereotypes About Washington April 14, 2020 Beth C. What are some interesting things about Washington? Considering that it’s such a diverse state, there are endless fascinating things about Washington. Many of them have to do with the natural landscape. To start with, there are no less than 10 volcanoes that exist in Washington. Some scientists believe that these volcanoes, which include Mount Rainier and Mount Hood, are among the most dangerous in the U.S. Speaking of Mount Rainier, at 14,410, it’s the tallest peak in the state. Many are fascinated to learn that depending on the tide, the San Juan Islands can feature as many as 450 individual islands. What are Washingtonians known for? Washingtonians have many different interests spanning from coffee drinks to gourmet dining and local restaurants. Yet one of the things that seems to unite all Washingtonians is a love of the great outdoors. This isn’t too surprising, considering that Washington boasts some of the most diverse landscapes in the world. From rainforests to alpine peaks and even the shrub-steppe desert, What is the most popular Washington stereotype? One of the most popular stereotypes about Washington is a love of coffee. Given the fact that Starbucks was established in Seattle in 1971, many people believe everyone in Washington is a bit of a coffee snob. This might be true to an extent, but only because we’ve been spoiled with some of the best coffee in the world. You’ll find that a majority of Washingtonians have a custom drink order at their local coffee house, which probably isn’t even a Starbucks.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Stereotypes About Washington
April 14, 2020
Beth C.
What are some interesting things about Washington? Considering that it’s such a diverse state, there are endless fascinating things about Washington. Many of them have to do with the natural landscape. To start with, there are no less than 10 volcanoes that exist in Washington. Some scientists believe that these volcanoes, which include Mount Rainier and Mount Hood, are among the most dangerous in the U.S. Speaking of Mount Rainier, at 14,410, it’s the tallest peak in the state. Many are fascinated to learn that depending on the tide, the San Juan Islands can feature as many as 450 individual islands. What are Washingtonians known for? Washingtonians have many different interests spanning from coffee drinks to gourmet dining and local restaurants. Yet one of the things that seems to unite all Washingtonians is a love of the great outdoors. This isn’t too surprising, considering that Washington boasts some of the most diverse landscapes in the world. From rainforests to alpine peaks and even the shrub-steppe desert, What is the most popular Washington stereotype? One of the most popular stereotypes about Washington is a love of coffee. Given the fact that Starbucks was established in Seattle in 1971, many people believe everyone in Washington is a bit of a coffee snob. This might be true to an extent, but only because we’ve been spoiled with some of the best coffee in the world. You’ll find that a majority of Washingtonians have a custom drink order at their local coffee house, which probably isn’t even a Starbucks.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
Considering that it’s such a diverse state, there are endless fascinating things about Washington. Many of them have to do with the natural landscape. To start with, there are no less than 10 volcanoes that exist in Washington. Some scientists believe that these volcanoes, which include Mount Rainier and Mount Hood, are among the most dangerous in the U.S. Speaking of Mount Rainier, at 14,410, it’s the tallest peak in the state. Many are fascinated to learn that depending on the tide, the San Juan Islands can feature as many as 450 individual islands.
What are Washingtonians known for?
Washingtonians have many different interests spanning from coffee drinks to gourmet dining and local restaurants. Yet one of the things that seems to unite all Washingtonians is a love of the great outdoors. This isn’t too surprising, considering that Washington boasts some of the most diverse landscapes in the world. From rainforests to alpine peaks and even the shrub-steppe desert,
What is the most popular Washington stereotype?
One of the most popular stereotypes about Washington is a love of coffee. Given the fact that Starbucks was established in Seattle in 1971, many people believe everyone in Washington is a bit of a coffee snob. This might be true to an extent, but only because we’ve been spoiled with some of the best coffee in the world. You’ll find that a majority of Washingtonians have a custom drink order at their local coffee house, which probably isn’t even a Starbucks.
