Washington Destination & Region Guide

From idyllic seashores and soaring mountains to urban centers and one of the finest wine growing areas in the country, Washington delivers a variety of experiences that encourage groups to explore. Across the state, planners can expect excellent meeting and event venues accompanied by restaurants offering farm-fresh food and locally produced beverages.

With major international airports in Seattle and Spokane, a number of regional airports dispersed throughout the state, and Interstates 5 and 90 crisscrossing the state, every region of Washington is easily accessible.

The six regions of Washington present diverse options for meetings and events. The Seattle Metro area located in the Puget Sound lowlands offers world-class facilities. The islands of Puget Sound along with the Kitsap and Olympic Peninsulas and the Pacific Coast offer charm and ambience found nowhere else. The northern region of the state bordering British Columbia boasts both the Salish Sea and the majestic North Cascades. The southwest region of the state is home to the mighty Columbia River and the scenic Columbia River Gorge. The eastern portion of the state that borders Idaho is home to the city of Spokane, with a spectacular waterfall in the heart of the city, and the rolling hills of the Palouse region, a photographer’s paradise. Lastly, Washington’s wine country, located in the more arid central and south-central part of the state, offers a picturesque setting.

With such diversity of landscapes and facilities, Washington is equipped for every type of meeting and event.

Midway between Seattle and Spokane, located on the sunny side of the Cascade Mountains, north-central Washington has a wide variety of meeting venues, a renowned local food and beverage scene and an abundance of outdoor recreational experiences in every season.

In addition to Wenatchee, north-central Washington’s largest city, meeting and event opportunities can be found in the Bavarian- themed town of Leavenworth, at scenic Lake Chelan and in the town of Winthrop with its Old West vibe.

On the western side of the North Cascades, the city of Bellingham lies nestled between the mountains and the coast. Whether it is whale watching on Puget Sound or skiing on Mount Baker, your group will find a wide-range activities for fun and team building.

From the slopes of glacier-clad Mount Rainier and the other-worldly volcanic landscape surrounding Mount St. Helens, the southern Washington Cascade mountains are easily accessible from the Seattle and Portland metropolitan areas. Along with recreation and scenery, the area attracts groups that desire quality facilities with a quiet atmosphere. Farther south, the cities and towns along the Columbia River are alluring destinations for a first-class conference or event.

Just across the Columbia River from Oregon, Vancouver, Washington, is readily accessible from anywhere in the Portland metropolitan area, including the Portland International Airport. A vibrant and quirky art scene and easy access to the region’s wide range of recreational activities make Vancouver an attractive site for a conference or event.

The Longview-Kelso and Centralia-Chehalis pairs of cities offer attractive alternatives to the busy Vancouver area. These smaller communities provide a wide variety of venues from full-service conference facilities to intimate retreat settings.

Washington’s eastern regions include the rich historical, cultural and picturesque attractions of the northeast along with the scenic recreational opportunities of the southeast. Spokane dominates the area commercially while the college-town atmosphere of Pullman provides a fun vibrancy. The Clarkston area is gateway to the spectacular Hells Canyon.

The dramatic waterfall roaring through the center of Spokane signals that the city is no ordinary metropolitan area. A thriving art and culture tradition and a flourishing culinary scene combine with outdoor activities to draw conferences, meetings and events. Spokane has a wide variety of conference and event facilities from a modern full-service convention center to carefully restored historic hotels.

Farther south, the cities of Pullman and Clarkston should not be overlooked. Home of Washington State University, Pullman is a vibrant urban center that attracts visitors with big-city services and small-town charm. Clarkston offers year-round recreation with a rich historical background.

The rolling hills and rich farm lands of south- central and southeast Washington are home to many of Washington’s finest vineyards and orchards. Steeped in history and located at the heart of a celebrated wine region, Walla Walla offers all the amenities one would expect to find in larger cities.

With three large event facilities, and numerous hotels with meeting space, the cities of Kennewick, Pasco and Richland form one versatile meeting destination. Collectively known as the Tri-Cities, the community makes it easy to hold an event there.

The closest wine-country city to the Seattle Metro area, Yakima has more than 300 days of sunshine annually and offers distinct advantages as a meeting destination.

Contrary to popular belief, and perhaps your own intuition, you don’t need to be planning a large-scale meeting or event to justify the use of a large-scale event center. These large complexes exist exclusively for events of any size, and they offer a full range of support services from the latest technology and internet connectivity to customized catering. All of these conference and convention centers are situated near hotels making a large multi-day gathering a seamless event.

Washington offers a collection of large centers that are incredibly versatile and can often accommodate groups from as few as five people to as many as several thousand. The choices available for event spaces at centers can be extremely convenient for planners looking for unique and comprehensive options for a one-day gathering to a week-long event.