Back in the ‘80s when I still lived in California, I took the family up to British Columbia. Stopped off at the Oregon Welcome Center where they wanted to charge me 50c for a state map, crying poor mouth. I compared this to Louisiana, where they had free maps and a welcome cup of coffee. Then they hit us $2.00 extra at the state parks because I was from out of state. Filled up just enough gas to get us outta there and made sure I tanked up in Washington so I could make it through Oregon without refueling.
Now Washington defunds the tourism office. They never learn. Whenever they open, I expect to see ‘em charging for maps and maybe even brochures. Glad I left that whole area in ‘88.
I’m still happy to live here (conservative eastern side of WA) but this is the weekend we “get” to start displaying the “Discover Pass” for access to state parks and state lands (even undeveloped DNR wastelands) and even some highway rest areas that are on the edge of state parks! Now I don’t object to the $30 annual fee for the first one, but each vehicle needs one and they can not be shared. Sometimes I take a street legal motorcycle or another, sometimes an old Jeep, sometimes a minivan with the whole family. After a few years the cost is really going to add up!