Washington is one of the best states to live in for retirees who like the outdoors. With both the Pacific Ocean and mountains ranges with the 14,410-foot Mount Rainier there is much for retirees to do. This is a nature lover's paradise, there is even berry picking!

There are plenty of spaces for hiking, great skiing, scores of beaches, lakes, mountain climbing, mountains to look at and scenic driving routes with endless green views.

The live theater scene is fun, great coffee shops are everywhere, Puget Sound is great for boating, the Seattle Center, Space Needle, Pike Place Market, and great Blues clubs. There is excellent fishing, particularly for salmon.

The Cascade Mountains divide Washington not only topographically but also climatically. Despite its northerly location, western Washington is as mild as the middle and southeastern Atlantic coast; it is also one of the rainiest regions in the world.

Eastern Washington, on the other hand, has a much more continental climate, characterized by cold winters, hot summers, and sparse rainfall.