1. Explore Maritime History in Astoria
A great place to start is Astoria, a charming port city on the shore of the Columbia River, where it enters the Pacific Ocean.
I found it fascinating that it's 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 and I loved that historical perspective.
I admired the beautiful Astoria-Megler Bridge spanning the Columbia River, an icon of both Astoria and Oregon.
If you need a quick way to orient yourself, it's from the top of the Astoria Column, a massive hilltop monument with colorful murals depicting the history of the area.
I took my kid to the Columbia River Maritime Museum, located in a historic waterfront building, which tells the story of the city’s past through fascinating exhibits that showcase shipping, fishing, and military history.
2. Embrace Bavarian Charm in Leavenworth
Alternatively, you can start exploring the Pacific Northwest inland in the eastern foothills of the Cascade Mountains. Tour the the unique Bavarian-styled village Leavenworth about 5 hours by car from Astoria.
You'll be surrounded by restaurants serving German beer and food and feel like you are thousands of miles away in Germany. I loved this huge wilderness with mountain meadows, alpine lakes, wild rivers, and rich wildlife.
A must-see is the Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum which has a collection of thousands of nutcrackers, some centuries old.
My favorite spot here? 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 day trips to nearby wineries and ski areas.
3. Go Hiking in Bend
My third preferred starting point for exploring the Pacific Northwest is another inland city: Bend, Oregon. While it's more than 5 hours south of Leavenworth, activities you can enjoy in Bend also revolve around its location at the foothills of the Cascade Mountains.
You can look forward to wonderful skiing in the winter and hiking trails in the summer. I really enjoyed my visit to Bend and wrote about it here.
If you don't have a lot of time to see everything, don't miss the Lava River Cave, a part of the Newberry National Volcanic Monument. The cave has 55 steep stairs that lead to a mile-long lava tube with arched ceiling that will take you more than an hour to explore.
4. Admire the Views in Hood River
Another great starting point for exploring the Pacific Northwest is Hood River, about half way between Leavenworth and Bend.
Because of its location in the heart of the scenic Columbia River Gorge, at the confluence of the Hood River and the Columbia River, you can expect some fantastic views here.
On top of that, Mount Hood, the tallest peak in the state, is only about 30 miles away and it's literally reflected in every lake and pond. Take a stroll through Downtown Hood River to see more than two dozen historic buildings and sites registered on the National Register of Historic Places, including the 1920 Columbia Gorge Hotel. If you are looking to get active, Hood River offers excellent windsurfing, kitesurfing, stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, skiing, and mountain biking.
Romantic Places to Visit in the Pacific Northwest:
5. Ski or Hike in Sun Valley
Even further inland (about 9 hours from Hood River, Bend and Leavenworth) lies Ketchum, a beautiful small town in Idaho's Sun Valley.
It has stunning gardens in the summer, skiing and awesome stargazing. There is also cross-country skiing, snowboarding and hot springs so I guarantee you won't be bored no matter when you visit.
6. Explore Seattle's Museums and Attractions
Seattle is pretty mush a must on any post outlining a trip to the Pacific Northwest. There are lots of inexpensive flights to the city. Once in Seattle, you can rent a car and drive where you desire.
Seattle needs no introduction since it's been featured in so many movies. I love that you get both water and mountain views, forests, plus a whole lot of arts and entertainment. If you've never been, two attractions to definitely put on your itinerary are the 605-foot-tall Space Needle and Pike Place Market where you can get lots of unique local food to try. I frequently write about Seattle here.
Family-friendly Places to Visit in the Pacific Northwest:
7. See the Gardens and Try Kid-Friendly Activities in Ashland
Another 4 hours south of Bend, OR will take you to Ashland, famous for its annual Oregon Shakespeare Festival.
I like the verdant Lithia Park in Ashland, complete with trails, duck ponds, and a magnificent rose garden. It's a kid-friendly destination in the Pacific Northwest. You can spend hours at The ScienceWorks Hands-On Museum where kids can build and experiment.
For couples on a romantic getaway, Ashland has a world-class theater and some of the oldest wineries in the state in the Rogue and Applegate valleys.
8. See Massive Dunes in Coos Bay
If you catch a flight to Portland, OR (I write about Portland here), you can drive about 4 hours north to Coos Bay to see massive dunes and sandy beaches of the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area.
As a garden fan, I loved the botanical garden in Coos Bay which is perched on a cliff above the Pacific Ocean.
You will also find a range of outdoor activities such as fishing, clamming, wildlife and bird watching, whale watching, biking, and riding the dunes.
9. Relax on the Beach and Take Photos in Cannon Beach
Just like Portland and Seattle have to be mentioned in the Pacific Northwest, so does Cannon Beach which is 1 hour and 30 minutes from Portland. I'm sure you've seen pictures of this small coastal Oregon town famous for 9 miles of wide sandy beaches and the 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 and fun to explore.
It was fascinating to learn that 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.
If you don't have a lot of time, head to Ecola State Park located near Ecola Point, which offers wonderful views of Cannon Beach, Haystack Rock, and the entire coast.
10. Learn About Marine Life in Newport
You can drive south from Portland for about 2 hours and 30 minutes to reach Newport, OR on Oregon’s central coast. I recommend that you start at the iconic Yaquina Bay Bridge which has two observation areas from which you can see the whole magnificent coast.
Next visit Yaquina Bay State Park and check out the 1871 Yaquina Bay Lighthouse which dates back to Newport's fishing days.
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. I enjoyed writing about Newport here.
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