?Tourism?

[Waterbuffalo]

http://www.columbian.com/business/businessNews/2007/12/12122007_Tourism-officials-want-more-state-support.cfm
Paul Craig Article:
"If I don't ski and I don't want to see the Space Needle, the state of Washington really doesn't have much to offer," said Elson Strahan, president and chief executive officer of the Vancouver National Historic Reserve Trust, about people's perceptions. "We really don't present ourselves as a state with a lot of interwoven fabric."

Loved this article, what do you guys think..

[Chief]

Good points....there is no doubt that Washington is "Puget-Centric" (to put it politely). Mrs. Chieftain and I do a lot of road trips around the State, and there is a lot more to see in Washington than just Seattle. We have our own History thread here, and we,ve all been contributing to that this year. Our trip out to Yakima this summer was spectacular for that time of year, and even the big regional State Fair out there gets little play outside of the immediate area.

I wish them luck...

[Waterbuffalo]

On my first trip to Spokane and Eastern Washington on Amtrak about 7 years I learned a lot about a lot of places around the eastern side of the state. I rode the train from Portland along SR 14 around Richland, Pasco, Columbia Rivers on the way up to Spokane.

I think Elson finally has a good point here and wondering why the state is spending so much money on the Puget sound when most of the creature comforts and new business are actually being built on the outer parts of the state and tourism needs/money is needed more.