My Favorite Northwest Places

Here are a few of the places I visit around the Pacific Northwest that may be of interest to you too.

Victoria, B. C.

Located in Victoria, British Columbia, a visit to the Empress Hotel is a trip back in time to the Victorian age. The prices are a bit steep but, it is a very beautiful experience for that 'special' celebration. There are also a number of hotels offering less expensive accommodations.

When visiting Victoria don't leave a trip to the Parliament off your itinerary, especially at night. You can also walk along the waterfront and catch a free magic show or two given by amateur performers. They'll pass the hat at the end of the act!

The San Juan Islands

Relatively easy access to the San Juan Islands is available via ferry from Anacortes, WA. A one hour ferry ride with breath-taking scenery starts the trip. Or you can take the Victoria Clipper from the Seattle waterfront. A day visit is great! However, if you plan on staying the night or week-end, reservations well in advance are required.  Accommodations are relatively reasonable. Prices vary by season so do what you can.

North Cascades

Heading up highway 20 from Mount Vernon, WA. sets the stage for a great adventure in the North Cascades. Travelling through Sedro Wooley, Concrete, then Rockport, the noises of the city fade and peace and quiet prevail. The North Cascades offer nature at its very best. Wildlife is plentiful along the Skagit River. You can even stop for a real buffalo steak or burger in Marblemount! Newhalem, a town created to house Seattle City Light employees of Ross Dam, is the gateway to the mountains. You'll pass emerald green, Diablo Lake and Ross Dam as you climb to Washington Pass (5477 feet). Those that make the trip are treated to beautiful vistas! Once through the pass, look for snow along the roadside, even in summer! Traveling down the eastern slope you can stop and shop or walk the wooden sidewalks of Winthrop, an old western town still surviving in this modern world.

Oregon Coast

Many have visited Seaside, Oregon and know that it is not what it used to be. However, a rather public 'secret' (if you don't mind the oxymoron) is a few miles south at Cannon Beach. Home of Haystack Rock, a huge rock standing tall right on the beach. Many sea creatures call the rock home and most can be viewed in the tide pools at low tide. The wide beach makes early morning or early evening walks a beautiful way to share some quality time with your significant other. The price of accommodations vary by season, but worth the price for some special time.

Here's my 'really' favorite place in the NW: See This