What can you experience in the Pacific Northwest?
Explore the Pacific Northwest, where misty beaches, forested mountains, wildlife-rich islands, colourful tulip fields and charming towns create a beautiful setting for a scenic road trip.
Discover the highlights of the Pacific Northwest
Travel to the Pacific Northwest, and you’ll discover just how diverse and beautiful Oregon and Washington can be. The region is also often known simply as the Northwest, a name that suits its wide-open landscapes, creative cities and rugged coastline.
There is so much to see and do here, whether you want to explore the characterful cities of Seattle and Portland, experience the scenic beauty of the San Juan Islands, go kayaking on the Columbia River or hike in Crater Lake National Park.
Where can your Pacific Northwest journey take you?
Wine tasting in Mount Hood
Enjoy excellent wines paired with local specialities while admiring the views of Mount Hood and Mount Adams. Take a wine tasting tour through the Oak Grove section of the Hood River Fruit Loop, an area known for its historic charm, natural beauty, orchards, vineyards and spectacular scenery.
Cycle past award-winning wineries, enjoy a delicious local lunch and take in the surrounding mountain views.
Discover the Oregon Beer Trail
Hop on a bike and explore Portland like a local, learning more about the city as you ride. Visit some of the breweries and microbreweries that have helped earn Portland its nickname, ‘Beervana’, and experience one of the USA’s great cycling cities.
Enjoy a variety of beers on a leisurely five-mile, three-hour ride, stopping at some of Oregon’s best-known breweries along the way.
Walk to the Salt and Diamond Creek waterfalls
Covering more than 4 million acres, Willamette National Forest offers a wide range of guided excursions. The Salt and Diamond Creek Waterfalls Hike takes around four hours and leads you past Salt Creek Falls, the second-largest waterfall in Oregon.
Along the way, you’ll cross a wooden footbridge and follow a wooded path along the canyon rims of Salt Creek and Diamond Creek. Stop at the foot of Diamond Creek Falls to enjoy the view, then relax with a picnic surrounded by fresh air and forest scenery.
See Seattle from above
Sit back, relax and enjoy Seattle’s highlights on a sightseeing flight from one of the best vantage points possible. From above, you can take in bird’s-eye views of the Space Needle, Gas Works Park, Elliott Bay and Puget Sound, among many others.
Explore the Pacific Northwest’s Most Characterful Cities
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city that keeps evolving, shaped by a socially conscious community with a strong focus on sustainability, innovation and accessibility. It has an excellent public transport network, fantastic independent shops, spacious inner-city parks and a wide choice of cultural attractions.
The city is also known for its music scene and exceptional craft beer. With so much character, Portland can easily keep you busy, although the great outdoors is never far away. Mount Hood, the Columbia River Gorge, the Oregon coast and the surrounding wine region are all within easy reach.
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is a vibrant city in the Pacific Northwest, known for its exciting food and drink scene, distinctive neighbourhoods and spectacular coastal setting. Framed by Puget Sound and Lake Washington, the city is an excellent place for sightseeing cruises and other water-based activities.
Spend time exploring Pike Place Market, take in the skyline from the Space Needle, or wander through local neighbourhoods where independent cafés, restaurants and shops give the city its character. With mountain views, waterfront walks and easy access to nearby nature, Seattle offers a brilliant mix of city life and outdoor adventure.
Experience iconic monuments
The Space Needle, a 609-foot remnant of the 1962 World’s Fair and one of Seattle’s most recognisable landmarks, offers sweeping views from its observation deck. Pike Place Market, the oldest continuously operating farmers’ market in the United States, is also popular with locals and visitors alike. Explore stalls filled with fresh bread, artisan cheeses and the catch of the day.
Seattle is more than a wine and craft beer city; it is also the birthplace of Starbucks. You can still visit the original shop next to Pike Place Market. This city runs on caffeine, with more coffee shops than any other city in the United States.
The Best Time to Experience the Pacific Northwest
The shoulder season is often considered one of the best times to travel, falling just outside the busiest tourist months. In the Pacific Northwest, it usually runs from April to early June and from September to October.
This can be an ideal time to visit the region, as it is generally quieter than the peak summer months and the winter ski season.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, particularly if you enjoy combining wild landscapes with interesting cities rather than choosing between the two. Washington and Oregon bring together temperate rainforest, Pacific beaches, volcanic mountains, waterfalls and wildlife-rich islands, while Seattle and Portland add excellent food, independent neighbourhoods, wineries and craft breweries.
For most travellers, we recommend exploring the Pacific Northwest by hire car because many of its most rewarding places sit well beyond the cities. Having your own car makes it much easier to combine the Oregon Coast, Columbia River Gorge, Olympic Peninsula and smaller communities while stopping at viewpoints, trails and locally owned accommodation along the way.
We usually recommend at least two weeks for a Pacific Northwest road trip covering both Oregon and Washington, and closer to three weeks if you want a relaxed pace. Distances can be deceptive, so allowing two or three nights in key places gives you time for Seattle or Portland alongside the Olympic Peninsula, Oregon Coast, mountains and national parks.
