VisitWA to Provide Authentic and Undiscovered Northwest Travel Experiences

SEATTLE, WA--(Marketwired - Jun 11, 2015) - VisitWA, the free mobile sightseeing app for Washington State, launches today for smartphones via the App Store and Google Play. A compilation of more than 1,000 free attractions and recommendations by local experts, VisitWA provides tourists with immediate knowledge of the area including nearby activities, deals and under-the-radar tours -- many narrated by locals -- for an authentic, on-the-go itinerary.

The app provides visitors with a list they can't find anywhere else including free sights and activities, "PhotoOp" image sharing, audio tours and more. In June, VisitWA users and U.S. Open ticket holders have the opportunity to ride a Washington State Ferry for free. Users simply show both the app and ticket stub at the terminal ticket window and they will receive a free walk-on round-trip ticket from Pt. Defiance to Vashon Island.

Audio tours by local experts include a crab fleet exploration with crab boat Captain Gary Covich and walking tours of scenic waterfront communities like Kirkland and Edmonds. Popular for selfie stops, shareable PhotoOps include Volunteer Park's Black Sun in Seattle, which inspired Soundgarden's song "Black Hole Sun," and the downtown Seattle Escala Tower, made famous by E.L. James' "Fifty Shades of Grey."

Co-founded by the nomadic entrepreneurial duo, Clay Loges and Kimberly Hankins, VisitWA was developed as a solution for road trippers, weekend warriors and touring families alike. "Local information by local people is always the most interesting," Loges said. "Being able to provide that information when it is convenient, covering what is close by -- that is the key."

By partnering with tourism bureaus, visitors centers and expert locals from across the state, VisitWA is focused on creating authentic experiences. "There isn't a place where free things to do are curated like this," Loges said. "Anyone can give away free information on a free app, but our goal was to figure out how to do it right and be useful."

"Greater Tacoma has a lot to offer, and we love telling our guests about the VisitWA mobile app," said Carol Pica, director of sales at the Courtyard Marriott of Tacoma. "Wherever they are in the area, our smartphone-equipped visitors can discover more that is nearby and interesting. We've discovered that not just the budget-minded traveler, but everyone likes VisitWA's free things to see and do."

About VisitWA
VisitWA is a free mobile app that offers rich visitor information based on user location, relevance and interest. The app differs from a typical guide book by suggesting free things to see and do while using GPS to organize the nearby choices and then mapping the chosen destination. App users engage with the bonus of deals, audio tours and PhotoOps, a photo-sharing platform of local sights. Available via the App Store and Google Play, more information is available at www.visitwa.biz or download to your device via www.bit.ly/getVisitWA.