State of the week: Washington

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Where are we? The Evergreen State. Jewel of the Pacific Northwest, Washington has all the gasp-inducing beauty of California without the fame and ego. Neighbor to Oregon, Idaho, Canada and the great blue ocean to the west, Washington is like a hotel room with sea, mountain and garden views. If you don't mind a cooler climate with an occasional rain shower, then Washington will serve your traveling needs well.

Snoqualmie, Wash. (Greule Jr/Getty Images)

STATES OF THE WEEK

Article: West Virginia
Article: Wisconsin
Article: Wyoming

Washington history: Originally inhabited by American Indians and later discovered by the Spanish, Washington eventually came under control of the British, whose European diseases ravaged the American Indian population. In the early 1800s, the legendary Lewis and Clark continued exploration of the area that would become Washington, the 42nd state, in 1889.

Washington on the course: You're visiting a mountainous state, so it makes sense for the best golf to be at a course named Gold Mountain, in Bremerton, Wash. Gold Mountain has 36 holes total on the Olympic Course and the Cascade Course as well as a 50-tee driving range. Its scenic layout of Pacific Northwest splendor echoes the sentiment of the state's nickname -- it's green as far as the eye can see with tall pines and taller mountains adding a little depth to its emerald hue. The course has consistently won awards for the past 10 years and offers some of the best winter courses around given the region's wet climate. In fact, Gold Mountain runs winter specials that can get you on the greens for as low as $20 depending on what day and time you go. Better book that tee time fast.

Washington off the course: If you want true Washington beauty, the only item on your non-golfing to-do list should be a visit to Mount Rainier National Park. One of the most famous peaks in America, Rainier is an active Cascade volcano that stands over 14,000-feet high. The mountain has not erupted since the late 1800s and is thus caked in snow and ice, giving it that perfect sugar-tipped top. At the foot of Rainier, alpine forests sprawl throughout the park breaking only for natural meadow clearings and mountain streams. Visitors to the park can enjoy hiking, camping, fishing, climbing, mountain biking, boating or just plain mouth-a-drool, wide-eyed, can-you-believe-it gazing. Make sure you pack accordingly though -- the park's weather can be touch and go even in the summer and mountain storms can move in quickly at any time.

Washington resort: I'm not sure how you could ever have enough of the Washington countryside, but if you want to trade in that cold mountain air for a night in the city, head to Seattle. The state's largest -- but not capital -- city, Seattle has more to brag about than being the birthplace of Starbucks -- though if you need a coffee fix, you're in luck. For fancy fun in Seattle, book a stay at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel -- a five-star resort in the city's historic downtown area. The grand exterior décor and courtyards will make you think you reserved a room in London, not the Pacific Northwest, and the complimentary town car service for the downtown area will make you feel like an ambassadorial guest.

While in town, you cannot miss out on a trip to the world-famous Pike Place Market. If you haven't heard of these guys, who put on a show every day that'll make you think about fish in a whole new light, you must not have a TV. Or the Internet. Or friends to show you how cool this place is. Just remember, the fact I said "show" should not distract from the actuality that this place really is a fish market. Intrigued?

Washington eats: While Washington's proximity to the Pacific Ocean and the Puget Sound makes it a hotspot for seafood restaurants, the really traditional cuisine comes from the mountains -- or their streams at least. Salmon appears on Washington restaurant menus as much as jambalaya pops up in Louisiana, and if you're not sure whether you like the fish, know that it comes prepared in several different ways. Smoked, grilled, blackened, seared, baked ... you name it; salmon can be cooked that way.

Washington culture: As I mentioned before, Washington has a long American Indian history, and it lives on today through the 26 reservations across the state. Visit one of these reservations and learn about the dugout canoes, totem poles, salmon fishing and cultural festivals as well as the ancient arts and crafts that have been passed down over centuries through this proud and strong society. Many reservations have museums and tours that include old photographs and older petroglyphs displaying and celebrating the American Indian past as well as present.

Michael Putnam (Greenwood/Getty Images)

Washington golfer: Michael Putnam, a Tacoma, Wash., native was one of the PGA TOUR's youngest players in 2007. At 24 years old, Putnam played in 29 TOUR events in '07 but only made 19 cuts, and his best finishes were two inside the top 25. After failing to keep his TOUR card for '08 (he finished 141st on the money list), Putnam has returned to the Nationwide Tour, where he has already made two starts, two cuts and earned one top-25 finish. If he keeps up the good work and stays inside "THE 25" -- he's currently 23rd on the money list -- he might just find himself back on the TOUR in 2009.

Next week: It's not a state ... it's a commonwealth.