That little corner of the country jammed between California and Canada is something to be seen. The Cascade Mountain Range stands tall with snow-covered peaks, and the coastline is carved by an active Pacific Ocean, leaving sheer cliffs that offer some of the best vistas around. The Pacific Northwest is one of the most beautiful regions in the country and these are the towns that need to be on your must-travel list.
Bend, Oregon
Population: 94,520
Best Spot for a Selfie: Pilot Butte
What to See: Old Mill District, Lava River Cave, Deschutes Brewery Bend Public House
Located along the Deschutes River on the eastern edge of the Cascade Range, Bend, Oregon, is a picture-perfect Pacific Northwest town. Enjoy the drive down neighborhood streets lined with tall pine trees and the surrounding countryside dotted with alpine meadows. Plus, the public house is one of Bend’s best tourist spots.
Walla Walla, Washington
Population: 32,854
Best Spot for a Selfie: Abeja Winery & Inn
What to See: Downtown Walla Walla, Museum of Un-Natural History, The Little Theater of Walla Walla
Heading into Walla Walla via State Route 125 or 12, you’ll notice the scenery of southern Washington resembles that of County Cork, Ireland. Rolling green hills extend as far as the eye can see. And among those green hills are some of the Pacific Northwest’s best wineries.
Gig Harbor, Washington
Population: 9,507
Best Spot for a Selfie: Gig Harbor Lighthouse
What to See: Tides Tavern, Finholm View Climb, Harborview Drive
A small town on Puget Sound that’s known for epic scenery, good seafood, and killer whales sounds made up. But then you drive across the Tacoma Narrows Bridge to Gig Harbor and into view comes the gorgeous harbor with Mount Rainier towering in the background.
Ashland, Oregon
Population: 21,117
Best Spot for a Selfie: The waterfall in Oredson-Todd Woods
What to See: Emigrant Lake, Alchemy Restaurant and Bar, Oregon Shakespeare Festival
Sixteen miles past the California-Oregon border along Interstate 5, Ashland, Oregon, sits at the end of the Rogue Valley like a jewel in a treasure chest. Forest hikes, postcard-lakes, a cute downtown area, and much more make this place a must-visit.
Victoria, British Columbia
Population: 85,795
Best Spot for a Selfie: Craigdarroch Castle
What to See: Chinatown, Beacon Hill Park, Royal BC Museum
The drive south along the Patricia Bay Highway will drop you in Victoria, British Columbia. From the Neo-baroque architecture and gorgeous waterfront to the urban parks, it’s no wonder why Victoria is easy on the eyes. And with some of the best photo spots in Canada, your Instagram profile is about to blow up.
Bellingham, Washington
Population: 89,045
Best Spot for a Selfie: Sunset at Zuanich Point Park
What to See: Whatcom Museum, Interurban Trail, Dirty Dan Harris Festival
Keep driving up Interstate 5 and you’ll reach one of the most northern cities in the contiguous United States. Not only is it way north, it’s also on the rise. Bellingham’s Whatcom Falls Park is enough reason alone to label this place as one of the most beautiful in the PNW. Also, with its awesome craft beer scene and quaint Fairhaven Historic district, there’s more beauty to this town then just nature.
Friday Harbor, Washington
Via Flickr/Kim
Population: 2,407
Best Spot for a Selfie: Pelindaba Lavender Farm
What to See: Whale Museum, orcas via San Juan Safaris, Lime Kiln Point State Park
What’s better than driving your car onto a ferry? Driving it onto a ferry that’s headed to Friday Harbor in the San Juan Islands. Give yourself a driving tour around this gorgeous location and take pictures that will last a lifetime.
Coos Bay, Oregon
Photo credit: Bill Grami and the Coos Bay-North Bend VCB
Population: 16,295
Best Spot for a Selfie: Cape Arago State Park
What to See: Coos Art Museum, Egyptian Theatre, Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area
Follow U.S. Route 101 north from California into Oregon and you’ll eventually come across the town of Coos Bay. This is the place where days are spent strolling through the green and gorgeous Mingus Park while sipping a coffee, or enjoying a late afternoon along the coastline while the sun sinks into the horizon. Not a bad agenda.
Cannon Beach, Oregon
Population: 1,728
Best Spot for a Selfie: Ecola State Park
What to See: Bronze Coast Gallery, Columbia River Maritime Museum in nearby Astoria, Coaster Theatre Playhouse
Further up U.S. Route 101 along the Oregon Coast will bring you to Cannon Beach. The coastline is stunning with breathtaking sea stacks, like the famous Haystack Rock, which makes for epic Instagram post setups.
Newport, Oregon
Population: 10,592
Best Spot for a Selfie: Yaquina Head Light
What to See: Oregon Coast Aquarium, South Beach State Park, Yaquina Head
Newport, Oregon; another town on U.S. route 101 that deserves a shout-out as one of the most beautiful places in the Pacific Northwest. Thick pine forests run parallel with rugged coastline, making for one of the most picturesque settings around.
Beaches. Coastal highways. Alpine peaks. All this and more make up one of the most pristine regions on earth. Drop everything you’re doing and make a beeline for the Pacific Northwest.
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