State of Washington’s Mount Rushmore Awards for ________

 

Some people are fortunate to travel the globe.

For those Washington residents who only can travel in-state for a weekend or week-long driving trip - you’ll find world-class variety. We’re fortunate to call this place home.

Here are my personal Mount Rushmore awards for 14 different categories.

As on the face of Rushmore - there is only room for four awards per topic.

 

Saddlerock CREDIT: Connor
Saddlerock CREDIT: Connor
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Iconic Landmarks

Mount Rainier

Space Needle

Grand Coulee Dam

Saddle Rock (Wenatchee)

Saddlerock CREDIT: Connor
Saddlerock CREDIT: Connor
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Beverages

Walla Walla Regional Wine - Voted the best wine region in a recent USA TODAY poll.

Coffee Shops - There’s more than just the World Famous Starbucks chain.

Top Cutter (featuring Yakima Hops) Only one example of great beer in our state.

Apple Juice from Treetop - One of the great tastes of America's youth.

Long Shadows Vintners (Facebook)
Long Shadows Vintners (Facebook)
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Coffee Shops

Camber Coffee in downtown Bellingham - Just went there recently. Top-notch coffee shop experience.

Vivace on Seattle’s Capitol Hill

Issaquah Coffee

Salty Fox in Friday Harbor

Bellingham's Camber Coffee (Connor)
Bellingham's Camber Coffee (Connor)
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Seafood Restaurants

Ray’s Boathouse - Seattle

Sushi Kashiba - Seattle

Hama Hama Oyster Saloon - Lilliwaup

Salty’s - Seattle’s Alki Beach

King 5 Seattle (YouTube)
King 5 Seattle (YouTube)
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Best Drives

North Cascades Highway

Route 9 (Between Mt. Vernon & Lake Stevens)

Whidbey Scenic Isle Way (Route 525 & 20)

North Coulee Corridor Scenic Byway (Route 155)

"M. Denis Hill" PHOTO CREDIT: GoWhidbeyCamanoIslands (Facebook)
"M. Denis Hill" PHOTO CREDIT: GoWhidbeyCamanoIslands (Facebook
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Hole-in-the-wall Restaurants

Franks Diner - Spokane

Little Cheerful Cafe -Bellingham

Voula’s Offshore Cafe - Seattle

Wild Huckleberry - Wenatchee

Guy Fieri at Voulas Offshore Cafe (Via YOUTUBE)
Guy Fieri at Voulas Offshore Cafe (Via YOUTUBE)
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Washington Parks

Mount Rainier National Park

Olympic National Park

The Enchantments

North Cascades National Park

Lake Colchuck - Cooke Martinez (Facebook)
Lake Colchuck - Cooke Martinez (Facebook)
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Sports

 

Mariners

Ken Griffey Jr.

Ichiro

Edgar Martinez

Randy Johnson

Washington Nationals v Seattle Mariners
Getty Images
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Seahawks

Steve Largent

Marshawn Lynch

Walter Jones

Bobby Wagner

Tennessee Titans v Seattle Seahawks
Bobby Wagner - Getty Images
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Coaches

Pete Carroll - Seahawks Superbowl champion head coach

Don James - Brought UW’s football team a National title in 1991

Brian Schmetzer - Two MLS cups and a CONCACAF title add to this lifelong Sounder.

Lou Pinella - Lou brought the M’s to its highest watermark.

Carolina Panthers v Seattle Seahawks
Christopher Mast/Getty Images
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Huskies

Hugh McElhenny (Football - 1950s)

Detlef Schrempf (Basketball - 1980s)

Warren Moon (Football - 1970s)

The 1936 Gold Medal UW Rowing team (The Boys in the Boat!)

Fresno State v Washington
Getty Images
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Cougars

Klay Thompson (Basketball - 2000s, 2010s)

John Olerud (Baseball - 1980s)

Ron Cey (Baseball - 1960s)

Drew Bledsoe - Football - (1980s, 1990s)

Stanford v Washington State
William Mancebo/Getty Images
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Women athletics (Washington Natives)

JoAnne Carner - Golf champion from the 1970s

Hope Solo - Goalkeeper (Richland HS, UW, USWNT)

Rebecca Twigg - Silver medalist in cycling - 1984 Olympics

Michelle Akers - World Cup champ on the USWNT

Seattle Storm v Las Vegas Aces
Sue Bird - Ethan Miller/Getty Images
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Best Washington Athlete - REGARDLESS of sport

John Stockton is one of the NBA’s best point guards. Ever.

Sue Bird - The GOAT of women's basketball

Phil Mahre - Yakima’s World champion and Olympic gold medal skier

Jim Whitaker - First American to summit Everest

John Stockton #12 dribbles the ball
Jon Stockman (via Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
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12 Washington State Extreme Weather Records

Gallery Credit: AJ Brewster

 

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