Pacific Northwest Road Trip

Pacific Northwest Road Trip Highlights

Puget Sound

The Puget Sound region blends modern and historic icons into one vacation. Tackle the major attractions in Seattle, Tacoma, and Everett as well as those found in the breathtaking ocean islands. In Seattle, coffee and food culture await at Pike Place Market and surrounding downtown cafes and restaurants. The stunning 11-story glass and steel main library, quirky bookstores, and underground chambers of Seattle are must-sees. Embark on the city monorail for a ride to its many museums. The same day, get a bird’s eye view from the observation deck of the 605-foot Space Needle. For a slower pace, board a ferry to reach its many islands. Bainbridge Island features art galleries and is popular for bike riding. Whidbey Island is home to tide pools and vista hikes.

Mt. Rainer National Park

This active volcano park calls out to outdoor lovers for its wildflower meadows, pink sunrises, and groves of Douglas firs. Head to the Paradise area Jackson Visitor Center to get your bearings with maps and local advice. The center offers movies about the park, an extensive gift shop, and an excellent ranger program for complimentary guided hikes and lectures.

Drive to the Sunrise vista point, the highest point for automobiles at 6,400 feet. See the Emmons Glacier perennially capped in white. The Sunrise Visitor Center also provides interpretative guides. Other park highlights include the one-mile walking loop highlighting the 1,000-year-old Douglas fir and the easy three-mile Silver Falls Trail which bypasses a river. Admirers of the late naturalist John Muir can hike the Skyline Trail, allegedly his all-time favorite with an alpine garden. Avid waterfall trekkers can conquer the 9-mile Narada Falls Trail. The park features two lodges with restaurants and overnight accommodations- the rustic, 25-room National Park Inn and the more upscale 121-room Paradise Inn.

Mt. Saint Helens

2.5 hours south of Seattle and 1.5 hours north of Portland, Mt. Saint Helens provides acres of hiking trails, elk viewing, and fishing at Coldwater Lake. Start at the Forest Learning Center, an historic building with walk-through museum exhibits, a helicopter the kids can climb into, a playground, much-lauded gift shop, and a simulated eruption chamber.

Next, drive up to Johnston Ridge Observatory for detailed exhibits and a close-up view of majestic Mount St. Helens. Activities around the park include helicopter touring, cave exploration at Ape Caves, and horseback riding. Few restaurant options are available in this isolated area, but visitors brag about the fruit cobblers found at Patty’s Place at 19-Mile House on Spirit Lake Highway. While no lodging exists except for camping facilities, you will find a host of inns at nearby Kelso and Longview.

Columbia River Gorge and Mt Hood

The epic statistics say it all. The Columbia River Gorge national scenic area is comprised of a 1,243-mile long river with 80 miles of grand canyons and 77 waterfalls. It’s less than an hour west of downtown Portland with an abundance of things to do. While two-tiered Multnomah Falls is the most popular tourist attraction, Bridal Veil, Latourelle, and Horsetail falls will also make jaws drop.

Hug the road on the beautiful Columbia River Highway, a 20-mile stretch of Highway 30, built exclusively for touring in 1915. Pop into towns such as Troutdale and The Dalles, and pause at the fascinating Columbia River Gorge Discovery Center to learn about the Ice Age and the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Learn how a fish hatchery operates at the Bonneville Dam and Locks. And when you have more time, wind along the Hood River Valley Fruit Loop, known for its wine, fruit, flowering blossoms, lavender fields, and farm stores.
While here, coast the Mount Hood Scenic Byway, which encompasses the town of Hood River and the Mount Hood National Forest. Ride the Mount Hood Railroad train for a 17-mile jaunt. In the summer, board the Magic Mile Skyride chairlift to scale Mount Hood at 7,000 feet.

Oregon Coast/Cannon Beach

Traveling the 400 miles of Oregon coastline is worth every penny of gas. Often overcast, the coast is a serene sanctuary and ideal for investigating sea caves and salty harbors. Communities including Coos Bay, North Bend, Florence, and Seal Rock possess individual charms. In Tillamook, the Tillamook Creamery permits visitors to go on a self-guided tour with free cheese samples. And in Florence, dune buggying on the sand dunes is a popular pastime, but not for the faint of heart.

And what to do in Cannon Beach? This upscale beach village is a haven for shoppers and art aficionados. The oceanfront is tantamount to a photographer’s dream. In the downtown core, shops tout apparel, books and toys, and locally-made products. FYI: Cannon Beach has been named one of the top art towns in the nation for good reason. A litany of galleries with works from emerging and established artists line the streets with glass blowing and painting demos held throughout the year. Meanwhile, tourists love to photograph the iconic Haystack Rock, a 235-foot tower of basalt that rises out of the ocean. During low-tide, people can walk right up to touch the massive stone and poke around its tide pools. Ecola State Park, on the edge of Cannon Beach, overs visitors an otherworldly escape to rainforests and views of the Tillamook Rock Lighthouse.