
7 Awesome things to do in the Pacific Northwest
Welcome to this article with 7 awesome things to do in the Pacific Northwest. I just came back from my second trip to the American Pacific Northwest from Europe and once again I absolutely loved it. On my first trip, I made a two week road trip through Washington State and Oregon. I drove from one national park to the next and was very surprised about all the beautiful things that could be found along the way. Not just very special nature parks, but also a bunch of really amazing cities very well worth spending some time. On my most recent trip, that I made in September and October of 2024, I did a three week road trip from Salt Lake City to Seattle. In this blog I’m sharing my seven favorite attractions in the Pacific Northwest with you. Enjoy!
Note this article was first published in 2018 and updated in 2024 after my recent visit.
Table of Contents | Inhoudsopgave
1. Crater Lake National Park
My one reason to travel to Oregon was that I really wanted to see Crater Lake National Park. This national park is located in the southern part of Oregon and is made of a gigantic crater. When traveling in the US for the first time in 2014, a friend of mine showed me his pictures of Crater Lake National Park and then I instantly knew I really wanted to visit. When I arrived, I almost had to cry as it was as beautiful as I expected it to be.
I’m often being asked whether Crater Lake National Park is worth the journey as it’s not exactly close to the other main attractions in Oregon. However, I can honestly say that it would be an absolute shame if you were somewhat close and would not visit. You will definitely regret it if you won’t go to Crater Lake National Park.
Also read: my full guide to the best things to do in Crater Lake National Park


Have a cocktail on the Timberline Lodge terrace
The Timberline Lodge is located on the slopes of Mount Hood, the stratovolcano that can be seen from downton Portland. This lodge was used as a decor for the filming of the horror movie The Shining. After hiking a bit on the Pacific Crest Trail from here I decided to sit down on their outdoor terrace to enjoy the sunshine and the amazing views of the summit of the volcano. It was in fact one of the few outdoor terraces I found on my trip, they are a lot less common than in Europe it seems.

Spend a day in Portland
It seems like the city of Portland is trending and that’s with good reason. I found the atmosphere in this city extremely relaxed and in general, it’s much more affordable than other cities on the American west coast. I spent one day in Portland with a bunch of American and Canadian friends. We visited Pine Street Market, went to find street art and walked through Rose Garden, from where we had an amazing view of Mount Hood in the distance. I also went shopping in some of their outdoor stores and went to see the ‘Keep Portland Weird’ mural.
In 2024 I returned to Portland for an afternoon and found that the vibe was still the same. This time I also had some donuts from Voodoo Donuts and visited Powell Books, the largest independent bookstore in the world.
Also read: Unique things to do in Portland

Sandboarding at the Oregon Coast
During my first visit to the Oregon Coast I got underwhelmed as I found it extremely busy and I could not find a place to sleep. During my most recent visit, which was in October instead of in July, it was much more quiet and therefor I really enjoyed it a lot. I took a sand boarding lesson at Oregon Sand Dunes near Florence which was such a fun activity for the whole family. I guess the sand dunes are definitely one of the best natural PNW attractions that can be easily enjoyed by anyone.


Hike the Skyline Trail in Mount Rainier National Park
One of the best hikes I did in the Pacific Northwest, was the Skyline Trail in Mount Rainier National Park. This mountain is a giant volcano in Washington State reaching more than 14.410 feet above sealevvel. It is covered by numerous glaciers and I got lucky as it was a sunny day so I got some amazing views of the mountain and various other peaks in the distance. It was quite busy on this hike, but OMG, it was truly stunning! You walk up on the slopes of Mount Rainier, eventually reaching a viewpoint on the glacier. You are surrounded by ice and during my visit (early August) the majority of the hike was in fact still covered by snow.

Go up on the Space Needle in Seattle
I’m usually not a big fan of tourist attractions, however I couldn’t resist going up th Seattle Space Needle. It’s Seattle’s main feature after all. Unfortunately the views were quite limited, as some forest fires had started burning the days before and so it was quite hazy. However, I still thought it was quite worth going up, just to get the aerial view of the city and its surroundings!


The first Starbucks in the world
My last item on the list of best things to do in the Pacific Northwest for the whole family is another one in Seattle: the first Starbucks in the world. This one is located in Seattle as well and even though I had to queue for a little while, I didn’t mind. I loved seeing what everything looked like back in the day. I also bought a mug for tea that I still use every day, as well as a vanilla latte that I drank on Seattle’s waterfront, since there is no seating in the first Starbucks in the world.
Book your trip and more tips
- Flights from Europa to the Pacific Northwest can best be booked via Skyscanner.
- For the best accommodations on the Pacific Northwest, please check Booking.com for a large variety of options. It’s recommended you book your accommodation well ahead as especially in the summer finding last minute availability is almost impossible.
- I also recommend you buying the Lonely Planet Washington & Oregon guidebook here to start planning your Pacific Northwest road trip with the best resources.
- You will need a rental car to get around, check availability and rates here. I usually rent with Alamo.
Conclusion and disclaimer
I hope you found this article with awesome things to do in Pacific Northwest useful. In case you want to continue reading, you may also enjoy the following posts:
- My 14 day road trip route through the Pacific Northwest
- A road trip from Salt Lake City to Seattle: the best highlights and complete route
- The best things to do in Oregon
Alternatively, visit my America page with more than 30 articles about my active travels in the United States.
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