Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest of the United States is best known for its beautiful coastline, green interior, rainy weather, and spectacular mountains.
States, cities, and other destinations of the Pacific Northwest
Sometimes the neighboring areas of northern California, western Idaho, Southeastern Alaska, and British Columbia are also considered part of the Pacific Northwest.
There are hundreds of cities and towns in the Pacific Northwest; check the states above for more complete listings.
Other destinations[edit]
The Pacific Northwest is an outdoorsy place, and there are lots of places to camp and see in the Pacific Northwest. Here are some major ones you should check out.
- Mount St. Helens: Is alive again after a few years of quietness.
- Mount Rainier: Extremely photogenic mountain, rising from close to sea level to 14,410 feet (4392m).
- Olympic National Park: Contains a coastal temperate rain forest and several mid-sized mountains.
- Crater Lake National Park: The deepest lake in North America, known for its clear blue color.
- Mount Hood: Skiing year round and the largest night ski area in America.
- Mount Bachelor: Ski area near Bend, OR.
- Mount Baker: Ski the glacier in July.
- San Juan Islands: Famous for abundant eagles and orca whales, the islands are the sunniest and warmest location along this entire coast thanks to the "rain shadow".
- Opal Creek: Located in Central Oregon, this world-renowned protected area hosts a rich history, incredible hiking and swimming, and unique lodging.
Understand[edit]
Most people associate the Pacific Northwest with a cloudy, rainy area, but the Northwest has a variety of climate regions, from the Pacific Coast to the valley and, once over the mountains, a desert region -- all within a few hours drive of each other. There is enough to keep the outdoor enthusiast busy. The Pacific Northwest is known for its airplane and computer product facilities. Some of the largest and most well-known corporations call the Northwest home, these include Costco, Eddie Bauer, Expedia, Amazon.com, Starbucks, Tully's Coffee, Lionsgate Studios, Boeing, Microsoft, Intel, and Nike just to name a few. There are many exciting areas to see.
English is the main language spoken in the Pacific Northwest and most people living there speak it. There is also a large community of Spanish-speaking people in North Western Oregon as well as Southern Washington, but most are bilingual. Knowledge of other languages generally won't assist in this area.
The most convenient "gateways" to the Pacific Northwest are Seattle and Portland. Both of these cities are well-connected to the rest of the world by plane, car, or train, and are good starting points for trips to other areas of the Pacific Northwest.
By plane[edit]
The main airports in the Pacific Northwest are Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and Portland International Airport. Both airports offer flights to most cities in the USA and some flights to Asia and Europe. Other smaller airports are sprinkled around the Northwest, but most have few commercial flights except to other places in the Pacific Northwest.
By train[edit]
Amtrak offers three routes serving the Northwest.
- The Amtrak Cascades: Runs from Eugene to Vancouver, BC with major stops in Seattle and Portland. The train service connects 18 cities in the Pacific Northwest region along a 467-mile rail corridor.
- The Coast Starlight: This scenic route connects Seattle and Portland to California. This train runs daily between Los Angeles and Seattle and passes through Santa Barbara, the San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento, and Portland. Widely regarded as one of the most spectacular of all train routes, the Coast Starlight links the greatest cities on the West Coast. This route is often hours late, so for regional trips, the Amtrak Cascades is more reliable. The dome cars allow you to relax and see the countryside.
- The Empire Builder: The Empire Builder, named after railroad magnate James J. Hill, travels daily between Chicago and the Pacific Northwest along major portions of the Lewis and Clark trail. The Empire Builder route takes you on an exciting adventure through the majestic wilderness, following the footsteps of early pioneers. It starts in Chicago and goes west to Spokane, where it splits up into two branches: one goes to Portland, OR and the other goes to Seattle, WA.
- The Bolt Bus goes along the I-5 corridor from Vancouver, BC to Eugene, OR.
- The Greyhound Bus offers service from the Canadian border all the way down to the Mexican Border, stopping in Portland along the way.
- The RNO PDX Bus Lines offers service from Reno to Portland via Medford, Grants Pass, Roseburg, Eugene, and Albany. Some express trips also stop at Klamath Falls.
I-5 runs north-south from the Canadian border through Seattle and Portland to California. From the east, there are two main options: I90, from Seattle east to Chicago and Boston, and I84 which starts in Portland and goes southeast to Salt Lake City.
Get around[edit]
Outside the main cities of Portland and Seattle, public transportation is scarce and is not of much use for extensive sightseeing, so renting a car is a good idea. Although distances can be long, most roads are paved and well-maintained.
The Pacific Northwest is a very diverse region and has a lot of beautiful scenery, including rugged coastlines, sparkling streams, picturesque islands, and jagged mountains. Some of the destinations are listed in the Other Destinations section: here are some more sights.
- Columbia Gorge Scenic drive and its waterfalls. Offer beautiful hikes and is just a short trip from Portland.
- Oregon Coast. A beautiful stretch of coastline
- San Juan Islands. A thousand islands in the Juan De Fuca Straight. The four major islands, San Juan, Orca, Lopez, and Shaw can be reached by Ferry.
- Gray whale watching is good along the coast in spring and fall during their migration.
- Hiking and Backpacking are very popular throughout this region, especially in the Cascade mountains. The Pacific Crest Trail is a very long trail that starts in British Columbia, and heads south through the Cascade mountains to California; other opportunities for hiking/backpacking can be found nearly everywhere.
- Hunting and Fishing is popular due to the natural biosphere of the pacific northwest.
- Killer whale watching is excellent in the San Juan Islands from spring through fall.
- Sea kayaking as a sport began in the Pacific Northwest and there are thousands of miles of convoluted shoreline to explore, especially in the San Juan Islands and Puget Sound of Washington.
- Skiing and Snowboarding can be found at many destinations in the Cascade mountains to enjoy.
- Whitewater rafting is extremely popular on many rivers, particularly the Snake River.
- Seafood is one of the best options in the area.
Hop farms in the Pacific Northwest region comprise approximately 96% of the total United States hop acreage. The U.S. state of Oregon is home to more than 200 breweries and brew pubs that produce a large variety of beer. As of 2014, there were 281 breweries licensed by the Washington State Liquor Control Board (WSLCB), 233 of which produced at least one barrel of beer. Oregon has the 5th most breweries per capita in the US, Washington State the 9th.
If you are passing through Astoria, Oregon (the town where the movie "The Goonies" was filmed), stop by Hondo's Brew & Pub. They have microbrews and a fantastic set of homebrew supply equipment. The brewmaster, RJ Keipke, is very knowledgeable.
Stay safe[edit]
- If you will be driving, be aware that, unlike most other states, roads in the Pacific Northwest are often tight (even highways), and gas stations can be up to 100 miles apart in some areas. Please be sure to plan accordingly in your travels.
- Bug repellent is a necessity, especially for warding off insects carrying diseases.
- Sunblock!
- When hiking wear sturdy hiking boots with good ankle support.
- Carry or bring water everywhere you travel.
- If going on an excursion of any type (camping for a weekend or just an afternoon hike) bring a small first aid kit.
- If possible bring a cell phone, however, cell phone coverage is spotty in rural areas away from interstate highways.
- Don't forget batteries - assuming that you are carrying something that uses batteries.
- Tap water in western Washington and Oregon is some of the safest in the world!
- Stay alert for animals.
- Be aware that the weather can change extremely quickly, so be prepared.
- Crime in most Northwest cities exists and is a growing problem. Perhaps the highest crime rate of any city in the Northwest is in Tacoma (mainly in East Tacoma, Hilltop, and South Tacoma), while the most dangerous neighborhood in the Northwest is the Rainier Valley neighborhood in Seattle. Other areas visitors should use caution in include Southeast Portland (especially the neighborhood around SE 82nd Ave), Seattle's Central District and Lake City neighborhoods, and White Center.
Get out[edit]
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