The Columbia River Basin covers over 260,000 square miles in North America and provides some of the most picturesque views in the country. One of the best spots to view the Basin is in central Washington, near the city of George. In and around George, Washington there are various scenic vantage points for tourism, as well as multiple hiking trails and boat ramps for the river.

The Gorge Amphitheater is positioned at the edge of one of the cliffs and hosts an array of concerts every summer. It is continuously voted as one of the best venues in the world to see a show. Just down the road there is the famous Wild Horses monument overlooking the Basin. These regal horse statues create beautiful animal silhouettes during sunrise and sunset. If you are from out of the area, there are several options for accommodations, including Eastern Washington villas.

Despite living in Western Washington for nearly my whole life, I decided to go to college in Spokane, on the eastern side of the state. Before I left for the first time, I heard horror stories about how Eastern Washington was a vast wasteland with nothing to do. Admittedly, I left for Spokane less than enthused over the prospects of entertainment.

During my four years in Spokane, I came to appreciate all of that Eastern Washington has to offer. While it may not have the urban life of the Seattle area, there are exquisite Eastern Washington camping sites and opportunities to experience the great outdoors. One of my favorite places to visit while I lived there was the majestic Banks Lake, just miles away from Grand Coulee.