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Region of northwestern North America
Photo: No machine-readable author provided. SebastianHelm assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The Pacific Northwest of the United States is best known for its beautiful coastline, green interior, rainy weather, and spectacular mountains.
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Hugely popular along the Pacific Coast; however, due to its size and vast expanses between towns it is easy to find your own isolated patch to explore. Sea shells and driftwood are considered part of the natural environment and should not be removed. Be gentle with sea creatures and keep a wide distance away from nesting birds, seals and other shore animals and always put back anything removed from the shoreline.
The Pacific Northwest is one of the most popular places for cruising on small craft in America. Breath taking views of the snow capped mountain ranges mingle with thick forests and clear bays and streams to create a humbling cacophony of natural sights for area boaters. Carved by ancient glaciers, areas like Puget Sounds offer intricate and complex waterways with endless opportunities for exploration while the many harbor towns built on protective bays cater to boaters and provide a wide array of services, restaurants and shops. Harbor Seals, Otters, Sea Lions, Bald Eagles and Blue Herons are common sites while the occasional viewing of an Orca or Grey Whale is not out of the question.
Popular throughout the Pacific Northwest from trout fly fishing in isolated mountain streams to digging up shell fish along the coast.
Very popular throughout this region, especially in the Cascade and Olympic mountains. The Pacific Crest Trail is a 2,650 mi border-to-border trail that traverses Oregon, Washington, and the length of California. Other opportunities for hiking/backpacking can be found nearly everywhere, from coastal trails to paths through old-growth temperate rainforest, and from high desert openness to high altitude vistas.
Opportunities for mountain biking can be found in nearly every corner of the Pacific Northwest. From relaxing rides through wine country to extreme mountain trails designed specifically for the sport, mountain bikers in the Pacific Northwest respect the landscape by staying on trails clearly marked for bikes.
The North Cascades are particularly noted for offering some of the most rugged alpine climbing in the lower 48, but popular areas can be found across the region for all skill levels, including Smith Rock in central Oregon.
Sea kayaking began as a sport in the Pacific Northwest. The region offers thousands of miles of convoluted shoreline to explore, including the San Juan Islands and the Cascadia Marine Trail on Puget Sound, which is a National Recreation Trail and designated one of only 16 National Millennium Trails by the White House. Suitable for day or multi-day trips, the Cascadia Marine Trail has over 50 campsites accessible via public and private launch sites or shoreline trailheads. The National Parks Service named the Kitsap Peninsula Water Trails as 'Trail of the Month' for December 2012. PDF copies of the water trails map are available HERE
The cold waters of the Pacific Northwest take a bit more gear and training than other locations with warmer water, but the rewards are incredible. The area contains some of the best diving in the world and many dive sites are completely covered with colorful sea creatures that defy description. It is not surprising to discover that the famous underwater explorer Jacques Cousteau named Puget Sound as his second favorite diving area in the world.
The Pacific Northwest has many snow ski resorts close to urban areas including Mount Hood near Portland with skiing year round and the largest night ski area in America; Mount Bachelor ski area near Bend, Oregon; or Washington State's Mount Baker where it is possible to ski the glacier in July. Most areas feature opportunities for both alpine and nordic skiing, as well as snowboarding.
Surfing is popular along areas of the coast and seasonally in the Admiralty Inlet. Some of the areas best beaches are so isolated that surfers created another Northwest tradition: strapping surf boards to a backpacks to get the board and surfer to where the waves are. The Clean Water Classic is the largest Pro/Am surfing competition in the Pacific Northwest and takes place annually in Westport, Washington.
The spring and fall provide good opportunities to watch the Grey Whale migration. Orca whales can frequently be seen in the San Juan Islands and other parts of Puget Sound. Many professional tours are available or check online for recent updates from various whale watching groups.
Many rivers, particularly the Snake River, offer whitewater sporting opportunities.
By plane
S.S. and foreign flag carriers. To a lesser extent there are also direct flights from France, Qatar, and the UAE to Seattle.
By train
By car
Additional major highways entering the Pacific Northwest include:
By bus
By boat
Cruise ships arrive in the area in both Astoria, Oregon and Seattle, Washington with continuing connections along the west coast including Canada and Alaska.
By foot
The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is one of the original United States National Scenic Trails and it travels a total distance of 2,650 miles along the West coast of the United States, from Mexico to…
By car
Outside the main cities of Portland and Seattle, public transportation is scarce and is not of much use for extensive sightseeing, so renting or arriving by car is advisable.
By bus
Regional transit systems tend to be organized by county however they are often interconnected to cover larger areas and some are coordinated with Washington State Ferries and have many pickups at…
By train
By ferry
Washington State Ferries is the largest system of ferries in the country and the key to navigating western Washington.
By light rail
Portland and Seattle have light rail systems that can quickly deliver passengers from their respective airports to their downtown cores.
By bike
Portland and Seattle are considered some of the most bike-friendly cities in the United States with extensive bike lanes and infrastructure developed for bicyclists including bike racks on buses and…
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Yakima · Regional · YKM
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the second-largest city in Oregon, known for its natural beauty and its artistic, activist residents
the capital of Washington state, on the shores of Puget Sound, and a breeding ground for local alternative culture
the largest city in Oregon, known for its scenic beauty and eco-friendly urban planning policies, with a proudly liberal outlook
the capital of Oregon, in the fertile Willamette Valley between Portland and Eugene
the largest city in Washington and the Pacific Northwest, and its cultural and economic influence extends far beyond its borders
the economic and transportation hub of eastern Washington
Washington's third-largest city, in the shadow of Mt. Rainier, known for its dynamic art scene
The deepest lake in North America, the clear blue water in this volcanic crater makes it an attraction.
The highest mountain in the state of Oregon and a major outdoor recreation site.
site of the largest recorded volcanic eruption in US history.
extremely photogenic volcanic mountain, rising from close to sea level to 14,410 feet (4392 m).
jagged peaks, deep valleys, cascading waterfalls and over 300 glaciers form this park.
extremely diverse from the lush canopy of rainforests, to the sandy beaches and rugged, glacier-capped mountains. Olympic National Park is the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Pacific Northwest.
The Oregon Coast is the region in Oregon located along the Pacific Ocean. Due to its scenery, wildlife, and history, the Oregon Coast is a popular travel destination.
formed by the ancient forces of wind, water and time, these dunes are like no others in the world. This is the largest expanse of coastal sand dunes in North America.
in the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains in Puget Sound, these islands are famous for abundant eagles and Orca whales and include the San Juan Islands National Monument.
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