Places to Visit in the Pacific Northwest

Astoria

Astoria is a charming port city on the shore of the Columbia River, where it enters the Pacific Ocean. It is the oldest city in Oregon and the oldest American city west of the Rocky Mountains, with many unique things to do. When the Lewis and Clark Expedition spent the winter at Fort Clatsop in 1805–1806, what is today modern Astoria was then just a small log structure. The fort has been recreated and developed as a historical park. The beautiful Astoria-Megler Bridge spanning the Columbia River is an icon of both Astoria and Oregon. The best way to see the city is from the top of the Astoria Column, a massive hilltop monument with colorful murals depicting the history of the area. The Columbia River Maritime Museum, located in a historic waterfront building, tells the story of the city’s past through fascinating exhibits that showcase shipping, fishing, and military history. The Flavel House Museum, located in an opulent Queen Anne-style mansion, showcases original period furniture and lovely manicured gardens.

Leavenworth

Located in the eastern foothills of the Cascade Mountains in central Washington State, Leavenworth is a charming Bavarian-styled village surrounded by huge wilderness with mountain meadows, alpine lakes, wild rivers, and rich wildlife.

The Alpine-style buildings along Front Street house quaint restaurants serving German beer and food. The Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum has a collection of thousands of nutcrackers, some centuries old. Located on the Wenatchee River running through the town, Waterfront Park is a wetland habitat for ospreys and eagles. Leavenworth is a popular starting point for trips to nearby wineries and ski areas.

Bend

Bend is a small Oregon city on the Deschutes River, at the foothills of the Cascade Mountains, famous for wonderful skiing in the winter and hiking trails in the summer. Pilot Butte is an extinct volcano in the heart of the city with a network of trails that local use for recreation. South of the city is the High Desert Museum, which showcases the local environment with fascinating live wildlife exhibits. The Lava River Cave, a part of the Newberry National Volcanic Monument, has 55 steep stairs that lead to a mile-long lava tube with arched ceiling that takes more than an hour to explore. The Deschutes Historical Museum, located in the historic Reid School, is the place to learn about the local history.

Hood River

The city of Hood River , Oregon, is a port on the Columbia River, located in the heart of the scenic Columbia River Gorge, at the confluence of the Hood River and the Columbia River. Mount Hood, the tallest peak in the state, is only about 30 miles away. To the south of the city is Hood River Valley, a fertile spot famous for its apples, pears, and cherries. Hood River’s History Museum of Hood River County tells the story of the area’s past. The city is also home to the International Museum of Carousel Art as well as the Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum. Downtown Hood River has more than two dozen historic buildings and sites registered on the National Register of Historic Places, including the 1920 Columbia Gorge Hotel. Hood River offers excellent windsurfing, kitesurfing, stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, skiing, and mountain biking.

Sun Valley

Once a famed gold mining town, Sun Valley is today a popular resort town in Idaho’s Rocky Mountains, surrounded by the slopes of Bald Mountain and nearby Dollar Mountain. Sun Valley is famous for its miles of mountain trails, biking and equestrian routes, and meadows covered with masses of wildflowers. There are trails that start from nearby areas, such as Fox Creek and Trail Creek, taking hikers up Proctor Mountain for spectacular views of the valley. In the winter, skiers and snowboarders enjoy over 2,000 skiable acres and almost 40 kilometers of cross-country tracks. The town combines a charming Old West rustic vibe with contemporary amenities and rich cultural offerings. There are 12 art galleries, a free summer symphony concert series, and summer ballet performances. The resort’s Opera House can seat more than 300 people and often projects first-run movies.

Seattle, Pacific Northwest

Seattle is Washington State’s largest city. Located on Puget Sound in the Pacific Northwest, it is surrounded by water, snow-covered mountains, and vast evergreen forests. Seattle Center is an arts, entertainment, educational, and tourism center. It is home to thousands of acres of parkland and a large tech industry including the headquarters of Microsoft and Amazon. The stunning 605-foot-tall Space Needle, built for the 1962 World’s Fair, is Seattle’s most iconic landmark. Pike Place Market is a public market on the Elliott Bay waterfront. Chihuly Garden and Glass is an art museum and sculpture garden showcasing large, colorful glass sculptures created by Dale Chihuly. The Museum of Pop Culture was inspired by Jimi Hendrix.

Seattle, Washington

Ashland

For thousands of years the home of the Shasta people, who lived in the valley along Ashland Creek, today’s Ashland is famous for its annual Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Southwest of downtown, Ashland Creek is surrounded by verdant Lithia Park with trails, duck ponds, and a magnificent rose garden. North Mountain Park at the northeast part of the city has a nature center with the butterfly and herb gardens. The ScienceWorks Hands-On Museum is a kids’ favorite, with the Da Vinci’s Garage space where they can build and experiment. Ashland also has a world-class theater and some of the oldest wineries in the state in the Rogue and Applegate valleys.

Ashland, Oregon

Coos Bay

Located on Oregon’s magnificent Adventure Coast, Coos Bay is surrounded by the massive dunes and sandy beaches of the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area and Shore Acres State Park, a botanical garden perched on a cliff above the Pacific Ocean. The area is famous for a range of outdoor activities such as fishing, clamming, wildlife and bird watching, whale watching, biking, and riding the dunes. Coos Bay has a nicely renovated downtown with antique and gift shops, a theater, an art museum, and plenty of restaurants and cafes. Coos Bay was historically known as Marshfield, with a rich history in shipbuilding and lumber production. The best place to learn about the city’s past is the Coos History Museum, which is located in a lovely Art Deco former post office building, featuring works by local and regional artists. Sunset Bay State Park has a lovely beach surrounded by sea cliffs.

Coos Bay, Oregon

Cannon Beach

Cannon Beach is a small coastal Oregon town famous for 9 miles of wide sandy beaches and the famous 235 foot-high Haystack Rock, the third largest coastal monolith in the world. The area around the rock is part of the Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge as well as a designated National Wilderness Area. The city’s name comes from a cannon that was washed on the beach when the U.S. Navy schooner Shark was wrecked in 1846. The charming downtown is full of art and craft galleries and is perfect for strolling between the art shops, book stores, restaurants, and bistros. Ecola State Park has dense conifer forest and lovely shady hiking trails. The park is located near Ecola Point, which offers wonderful views of Cannon Beach, Haystack Rock, and the entire coast.

Cannon Beach, Oregon

Newport

Nestled between the Coastal Mountains, Yaquina Bay, and the Pacific Ocean, Newport has been a favorite tourist playground since the late 1800s. Once a lively fishing village, Newport is a jewel of Oregon’s central coast. Get to know the local marine life at the Oregon Coast Aquarium, located on Yaquina Bay. The iconic Yaquina Bay Bridge has two observation areas from which you can see the whole magnificent coast. The 1871 Yaquina Bay Lighthouse is perched high above the coast in Yaquina Bay State Park and just next to it is a long basalt rock beach. Newport is also home to the Hatfield Marine Science Center, Pacific Maritime Heritage Center, and the popular brewery Rogue Ales. Stroll through Mariner’s Square on Newport’s Bayfront, where you can visit the Waxworks Museum, the Oregon Undersea Gardens, and Ripley’s Believe It or Not.

Newport, Oregon