How much of the State of Washington have you seen? There are so many wonderful places to visit in our state, offering a wide array of things to do, see and discover.

This time of year, there are plenty of opportunities to experience gorgeous fall colors as you wind your way through much of Washington. As someone born and raised in the Wenatchee Valley, I can recommend a couple of North Central Washington towns that are awesome any time of the year, including autumn. Chelan and Leavenworth.

Washington State Must-Do Getaways

Whether you're looking to pack a lot into a day trip or want to take your time and make an extended weekend out of it, Leavenworth and Chelan can provide you with all of the experiences you could want. Breathtaking natural beauty, fabulous food, recreational options, sightseeing, local wines & beer, and a wide assortment of tourist attractions.

Breathtaking Cascade Mountain Falls Colors

In the Eastern Slopes of the Cascade Mountains, Leavenworth is stunning in October. Fall colors abound in and around the Bavarian Village, which makes for the perfect atmosphere this time of year. Though their traditional Oktoberfest isn't happening this year and is slated to temporarily relocate to Wenatchee in 2022, Leavenworth still has plenty of reason to wear your lederhosen and hoist a stein. Local restaurants and shops enthusiastically welcome visitors and work hard to make your stay memorable.

The Bavarian Village of Leavenworth, Washington

Deepest Lake in the Western United States

Chelan is a hospitable little town situated on the shores of Lake Chelan. Summertime is the right time to be on the lake and thousands visit every year. However, don't overlook the beauty and enjoyment of visiting Lake Chelan in the fall. Some world-class wineries await you and there are many first-rate restaurant and lodging options available. A cruise up lake to Stehekin is a must for a memorable day to soak in some of the PNW's most amazing natural beauty.

Look: Explore Lake Chelan

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LOOK: Here are the 50 best beach towns in America

Every beach town has its share of pluses and minuses, which got us thinking about what makes a beach town the best one to live in. To find out, Stacker consulted data from WalletHub, released June 17, 2020, that compares U.S. beach towns. Ratings are based on six categories: affordability, weather, safety, economy, education and health, and quality of life. The cities ranged in population from 10,000 to 150,000, but they had to have at least one local beach listed on TripAdvisor. Read the full methodology here. From those rankings, we selected the top 50. Readers who live in California and Florida will be unsurprised to learn that many of towns featured here are in one of those two states.

Keep reading to see if your favorite beach town made the cut.

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Just saying the names of these towns immediately conjures up images of grand mansions, luxury cars, and ritzy restaurants. Read on to see which town in your home state took the title of the richest location and which place had the highest median income in the country. Who knows—your hometown might even be on this list.

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