Pacific Northwest

The Pacific Northwest of the United States is best known for its beautiful coastline, green interior, rainy weather, and spectacular mountains.

States
Sometimes the neighboring areas of northern California, western Idaho, Southeastern Alaska, and the neighboring Canadian province of British Columbia are also considered part of the Pacific Northwest, also referred to as Cascadia.

Cities

 * – the second-largest city in Oregon, known for its natural beauty and its artistic, activist residents
 * – the capital of Washington state, on the shores of Puget Sound, and a breeding ground for local alternative culture
 * – the largest city in Oregon, known for its scenic beauty and eco-friendly urban planning policies, with a proudly liberal outlook
 * – the capital of Oregon, in the fertile Willamette Valley between Portland and Eugene
 * – the largest city in Washington and the Pacific Northwest, and its cultural and economic influence extends far beyond its borders
 * – the economic and transportation hub of eastern Washington
 * – Washington's third-largest city, in the shadow of Mt. Rainier, known for its dynamic art scene

Other destinations

 * — The deepest lake in North America, the clear blue water in this volcanic crater makes it an attraction.
 * (height 11,239 feet/3425 metres) — The highest mountain in the state of Oregon and a major outdoor recreation site.
 * — site of the largest recorded volcanic eruption in US history.
 * — extremely photogenic volcanic mountain, rising from close to sea level to 14,410 feet (4392 m).
 * — jagged peaks, deep valleys, cascading waterfalls and over 300 glaciers form this park.
 * — extremely diverse from the lush canopy of rainforests, to the sandy beaches and rugged, glacier-capped mountains. Olympic National Park is the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Pacific Northwest.
 * The and the Washington Coast are scenic, wild and interspersed with quaint towns and include 100 km of wilderness coastline, the longest undeveloped coast in the contiguous United States.
 * — formed by the ancient forces of wind, water and time, these dunes are like no others in the world. This is the largest expanse of coastal sand dunes in North America.
 * — in the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains in Puget Sound, these islands are famous for abundant eagles and Orca whales and include the San Juan Islands National Monument.

Culture
The mountains that divide the states also facilitate the cultural divisions within the region. Two thirds of the population lives west of the Cascades where progressive opinions such as environmentalism prevail, while in eastern sides political thought tends to be rather conservative.

Oregon was the first state to allow initiative and referendum, it was the first state to establish a beverage container deposit law (also known as a bottle bill), the first to legalize physician-assisted suicide, one of the first to legalize medical marijuana, and the first state to conduct all elections entirely by mail. Portland elected one of the first gay mayors for a city of its size. While Washington was the first state to legalize marijuana, Seattle was the first major U.S. city to have a female mayor and one of the first states to legalize gay marriage.

The Pacific Northwest has a reputation for innovation and is known for its airplane and computer product facilities. Some of the largest and most well-known corporations call the Northwest home, these include: Costco, Eddie Bauer, Expedia, Amazon, Nordstrom, Starbucks, Tully's Coffee, Boeing, Microsoft, Intel and Nike.

Climate
Most people associate the Pacific Northwest with a lush region that receives large amounts of rain during the winter months, with wonderful summer days. However the Northwest's climate is largely defined by its impressive natural features; most importantly its mountain ranges which not only provide convenient dividing lines, but which also create distinct climates in each of the state's regions from the Pacific Coast to the valley and, once over the mountains, a desert region—all within a few hours drive of each other. Travelers who cover multiple regions during their stay will find the differences between regions stark and remarkable in that by traveling throughout the area a great variety of climates will be experienced. Most of the glaciers in the lower 48 states are in the Pacific Northwest as it is the largest rainforest and the Puget Sound which is the second largest estuary in the United States. There is more than enough to keep any outdoor enthusiast busy.

Talk
The Pacific Northwest accent is considered very similar to the General American standard accent (native to the Midwest), popularized in the 20th century by radio, TV and movies. People in the area generally have little to no problem understanding different accents of the English language. The Pacific Northwest attracts tourists from around the world, and it is common to hear many foreign languages being spoken in public in major tourist areas.

There are ethnically diverse neighborhoods in some of the larger cities where many languages are spoken, including large 'International Districts' in Portland and Seattle where many Asian languages are spoken. Washington is the thirteenth most populated state for example, but by comparison has the fourth highest Asian population. Spanish is spoken by the majority in some smaller pockets in eastern Washington and Oregon. Seattle's 98118 zip code centered around the Columbia City neighborhood in South Seattle is considered the most ethnically diverse zip code in the country by the US Census bureau with 59 different languages regularly being spoken.

Chinook Jargon was a pidgin or trade language established among indigenous inhabitants of the region. After contact with Europeans, French, English, and Cree words entered the language, and "eventually Chinook became the lingua franca for as many as 250,000 people along the Pacific Slope from Alaska to Oregon." Chinook Jargon reached its height of usage in the 19th century though remained common in resource and wilderness areas, particularly but not exclusively by Native Americans and Canadian First Nations people, well into the 20th century. Chinook Jargon was still in use in Seattle until roughly the eve of World War II, making Seattle the last city where the language was widely used. Today its influence is felt mostly in place names and a handful of localized slang terms. Pronunciation of some of these terms is difficult and often separates the visitor from the local.

Some examples of common Chinook terms
 * Potlatch — in Chinook Jargon is a ceremony among certain tribes involving food and exchange of gifts, nowadays sometimes used to refer to a potluck dinner or sometimes the giving away of personal items to friends.
 * Tillicum — means "people/person", "family", and "people".
 * Tyee — leader, chief, boss. Also "Big Tyee" in the context of "boss" or well-known person

Get in
The most convenient "gateways" to the Pacific Northwest are Seattle and Portland. Both of these cities are well-connected to the rest of the world by plane, car and train, and are good starting points for trips to other areas of the Pacific Northwest.

By plane
' and  ',  are the most popular entry points with a wide variety of flights from  Canada, Europe (Germany, Great Britain, Iceland, The Netherlands); East Asia, Mexico and from various cities in the U.S. on a variety of U.S. and foreign flag carriers. To a lesser extent there are also direct flights from France, Qatar, and the UAE to Seattle. Both Portland and Seattle serve as a hub for Alaska Airlines while Delta have a hub only in Seattle. If coming from within the U.S. (typically from Chicago, Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Salt Lake City and San Francisco but there could be more) there are other alternate airports in the Pacific Northwest that are less crowded and may be closer to your final destination in:
 * Seattle Area – Everett Paine Field (Same location as Boeing 747/777 test field ( north of Seattle) and Kenmore Air Harbor Seaplane Base  on Lake Union serves as a float plane base for Habour Air, Kenmore Air and other air taxi services from San Juan Island, South Gulf Islands, Olympic Peninsula and Vancouver Island. There's also the King County Boeing Field for VIP flights, cargo flights and other general aviation use.
 * is a regional airport about 90 miles north of Seattle and 60 miles south of Vancouver, Canada. It is nearest to Whidbey Island, San Juan Islands and the North Cascades. If you are traveling with Allegiant towards Seattle or Vancouver BC this is the closest airport they go to. There are many shorter flights to Bellingham from Seattle and San Juan Islands with turboprop aircraft as well.
 * Boise is not in the "Pacific Northwest" according to this article but it one of the closest airport to Eastern Oregon (Ontario, Pendleton, Baker City); southeastern Wasington as well as Southwestern Idaho.
 * Closest airport to the Mid-Willamette Valley (Eugene, Springfield, Sweet Home, Corvallis, Albany); and the Central Oregon Coast (Newport, Coos Bay, Florence).
 * is major airport for commercial flights serving Medford, Ashland, Grants Pass and the surrounding Rogue Valley in southern Oregon, Southern Oregon Coast and the Siskiyous in northern California. The airport is 3 miles (4.8km) north of downtown off of I-5 at Exit #30 (Crater Lake Hwy (SR-62)) & #33 (E Pine St/Biddle Rd).
 * is major airport for commercial flights serving Redmond, Bend, Sunriver, Prineville and the surrounding communities in Central Oregon. The airport is in the southeast part of town, southeast of the intersection US Hwy 97 & SR-126 and north of Bend along US Hwy 97.
 * , . located 7 mi (11 km) to the west of Downtown off of I-90 from Exit #277B (along US Hwy 2) towards Airway Heights. It is the primary airport serving the Inland Northwest, which consists of 30 counties and includes areas such as Spokane, the Tri-Cities, both in Eastern Washington, and Coeur d'Alene in northern Idaho.
 *  is a commercial airport 2 miles northwest of the city of Pasco and is the third largest commercial air terminal in the State of Washington serving the tri-cities area (Richland, Pasco and Kennewick). It is the nearest airport to Yakima (closer than Seattle) and Walla Walla in Columbia River Plateau and to Hermiston and Pendleton in northeastern Oregon.
 *  is in Canada 27 miles (44 km) north of the border. Travelers going to the U.S. pre-clear in U.S. immigration and customs inspection in a major Canadian airport prior to boarding an U.S. bound flight and land into the U.S. as a 'domestic' flight. Travelers may be required an American and/or Canadian visa(s) to transit through or travel to one or both countries. For Canadians wanting to go to the San Juan Islands, it's the best choice. It also has lots of international flights from Asia, Europe, Australia, Middle East and Mexico as well as from the United States.  There are also shorter flights to Portland, Seattle, Vancouver Island and other remote places in northern British Columbia and the Yukon with Air Canada's turboprop aircraft (Dash 8-400 or something similar).

By seaplane
A quick and spectacular, though not cheap, way to travel. There are many American and Canadian companies offering sea plane travel into and around the Puget Sound area. Such as Kenmore Air and Northwest Seaplanes, both based out of Seattle with regular scheduled flights and chartered flights within the region and into Canada. Many planes only offer between six and eight seats and are small enough that the captain may ask for someone to sit in the front seat next to them. If you ask nicely they may be willing to take you on a scenic route or follow a pod of whales as opportunities and schedules allow.

By train

 * Routes traveling between Pacific Northwest and other areas:
 * Amtrak Cascades: Operates twice daily between Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia. Additional service between Vancouver BC & Seattle by Amtrak Thruway Bus.
 * The Coast Starlight: This scenic route connects between Seattle and Los Angeles via Portland. This route is often hours late, so for regional trips the Amtrak Cascades is more reliable; however, investments have been made to improve on time performance.
 * The Empire Builder: Starts in Chicago and goes west via Spokane, where it splits up into two branches: one goes to Portland and the other goes to Seattle. Due to the scenery it traverses, this route can book out rather quickly in the summer.

By car

 * I-5.svg Interstate 5 runs north-south from the Canadian border through Seattle and Portland to California. From the east, there are two main options:
 * I-84.svg Interstate 84, from Salt Lake City and Boise, Interstate 84 enters Oregon and follows the Columbia River to its western end in Portland. WA 14 runs parallel to Interstate 84 along the Washington side of the Columbia River between its junction with Interstate 82, north of Hermiston, to Interstate 5 in Vancouver WA.
 * I-90.svg Interstate 90, Connects Boston to its western terminus in Seattle via Chicago and Spokane.


 * I-82.svg Interstate 82 starts from its junction with Interstate I-84 (Exit 179) east of Hermiston, Oregon and winds its way through the Tri-Cities and Yakima in the Columbia River Plateau region in the southeastern part of Washington. Ends at I-90 (Exit 110) east of Ellensburg.

Additional major highways entering the Pacific Northwest include:
 * US 2.svg a major east-west highway spanning 2571 miles from Everett to Saint Ignace, MI. In Washington it runs parallel, north of Interstate 90, through the North Cascades, Leavenworth, Wenatchee, Moses Lake, Davenport and Spokane. It continues in through Coeur_d'Alene in Northern Idaho on its way towards Michigan.
 * US 12.svg spans 2500 miles from Aberdeen WA to Detroit MI. In Washington it goes from Aberdeen to Lewiston through Centralia/Chehalis, the mountains between Mount Rainier & Mount St Helens, Yakima, Sunnyside in the Lower Yakima Valley, Tri-Cities, Walla Walla and Clarkston. The highway loosely follows the eastbound leg of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, between Wallula, Washington and Clarkston, Washington, thus being marked as part of the Lewis and Clark Trail. The east end of the highway in the state is at Clarkston, where the highway crosses the Snake River into Idaho at Lewiston. It runs concurrent with Interstate 5 from Exit 88, north of Centralia, to Exit 71 south of Chehalis and along Interstate 82/182 from Exit 31 in Yakima to the Junction of I-182/US 395 east of Pasco.
 * US 20.svg is the longest west to east coast highway spanning from Newport OR to Boston MA which is signed in Newport and at the other end in Boston. It goes across Oregon from Newport to Ontario through Corvallis, Albany, Lebanon, Detroit Lake, Sisters, Bend, Burns and Vale.  It runs concurrent with US Hwy 26 between Vale and Caldwell and along Interstate 84 between Caldwell and Boise.
 * US 26.svg
 * US 30.svg
 * US 97.svg is the continuation of BC-Hwy 97 into the United States from the Alaska Highway in Dawson Creek. It runs parallel with the I-5 corridor from Oroville, WA to Weed, CA where it ends at the I-5 corridor. It passes through Wenatchee, North Cascades National Park, Ellensburg and Yakima in Eastern Washington; and through The Dalles, Redmond, Bend, Crater Lake National Park and Klamath Falls in Central Oregon
 * US 101.svg serves as the coastal highway from Eureka, California to Olympia, Washington where it ends at the I-5 corridor (Exit 105). It passes from Gold Beach to Astoria along the Oregon Coast and from Ilwaco, through the Hoh Rain Forest and around Olympic National Park to Port Angeles in the Olympic Peninsula. The highway connects from Port Angeles, through the Hood Canal, Port Townsend and ends in Olympia. WA 8 connects US Highway 101 west of Olympia to US Highway 101 in Aberdeen without having to drive all the way around the Olympic Peninsula through Port Angeles.
 * US 395.svg enters Oregon through Lakeview, OR and goes up towards Hermiston through John Day and Pendleton. It crosses the Columbia River along I-82 into Washington (state) to Pasco where it splits from I-82 as a separate road towards Ritzville and along I-90 to Spokane.

By cruise ship
Cruise ships arrive in the area in both Astoria, Oregon and Seattle, Washington with continuing connections along the west coast including Canada and Alaska.



By private boat
It is not coincidence that so many cities in this region are on the water. Early settlers found the thick regional forests too impenetrable to navigate by land so waterways became the Pacific Northwests early highway system.

However when arriving from Canada there are only a handful of ports including Roche Harbor, Friday Harbor, Anacortes and Bellingham that are official U.S. ports-of-entry and can process boaters through customs. The Cardinal Rule is touch land at customs dock before any other stops, fines for not doing so can be up to $5000. Besides a passport for everyone on board, you will need your boat's license number and User Fee Decal number.

Customs enforces USDA guidelines for what foods are acceptable to bring into the country and these guidelines are constantly changing so it is best to check in with them before arriving. Boaters are responsible for knowing the prohibited foods and can be fined for not declaring them.

By foot
The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is one of the original United States National Scenic Trails and it travels a total distance of 2,650 miles along the West coast of the United States, from Mexico to Canada. It passes through California, Oregon, and Washington State.

By plane
Flying may be a more reasonable option for crossing large expanses of the two states. Alaska Airlines operates intrastate flights within Oregon and Washington and between the two states from their bases in Portland and Seattle. To a lesser extent Delta also have flights from Seattle to Boise, Eugene, Medford, Portland, Redmond/Bend, Spokane and Tri-Cities. Boutique Air offers flights to Pendleton from Portland.

By car
Outside the main cities of Portland and Seattle, public transportation is scarce and is not of much use for extensive sightseeing, so renting or arriving by car is advisable. Although distances can be long, most roads are paved and well-maintained. Be aware of distances between gas stations and plan accordingly when traveling in rural areas. See By car under Get in for a list of major highways traversing through the two state region.

By bus
Regional transit systems tend to be organized by county however they are often interconnected to cover larger areas and some are coordinated with Washington State Ferries and have many pickups at major airports. Not the fastest way to travel but efficient and cheap for the budget traveler: There are additional private bus companies and public county operated buses traveling to additional places not necessarily served by the above within just Oregon or Washington state. See "By bus" under "Getting Around" in the Washington (State) and Oregon articles and under "By Bus" in the article of a particular city or town (such as Portland and Seattle) for an addition listings.
 * The Oregon Department of Transportation partners with MTR Western and other carriers to run Oregon POINT (or "Public Oregon Intercity Transit") bus routes throughout the state. They operate the following routes:
 * The Oregon Department of Transportation partners with MTR Western and other carriers to run Oregon POINT (or "Public Oregon Intercity Transit") bus routes throughout the state. They operate the following routes:
 * The Oregon Department of Transportation partners with MTR Western and other carriers to run Oregon POINT (or "Public Oregon Intercity Transit") bus routes throughout the state. They operate the following routes:
 * The Oregon Department of Transportation partners with MTR Western and other carriers to run Oregon POINT (or "Public Oregon Intercity Transit") bus routes throughout the state. They operate the following routes:
 * The Oregon Department of Transportation partners with MTR Western and other carriers to run Oregon POINT (or "Public Oregon Intercity Transit") bus routes throughout the state. They operate the following routes:

By train

 * Routes traveling in the Pacific Northwest:
 * Amtrak Cascades: Runs 4x daily between Seattle and Portland (via Tukwila, Tacoma, Olympia, Centralia & Kelso/Longview) and twice daily from Seattle to Vancouver BC (Edmonds, Everett, Stanwood, Mt Vernon & Bellingham); and from Portland to Eugene (Oregon City, Salem, Albany). Additional services between Eugene & Portland are offered by Cascades POINT bus and between Vancouver BC & Seattle by Amtrak Thruway bus.
 * Coast Starlight: Runs once daily service between Seattle, Portland & Los Angeles with the same stops as the Cascades from Seattle to Eugene, OR; except Oregon City and Tukwila.  The train makes additional stops in Chemult and Klamath Falls, OR before crossing into California (southbound) or arriving into Eugene (northbound).
 * Empire Builder: Runs once daily from Seattle to Spokane (via Edmonds, Everett, Leavenworth, Wenatchee & Ephrata) on one branch and from Portland to Spokane on another (Vancouver WA; Bingen, Wishram & Pasco). In Spokane the two branches join to continue eastbound towards Chicago (or split going westbound).

By ferry
Washington State Ferries is the largest system of ferries in the country and the key to navigating western Washington. They offer routes across Puget Sound to the Kitsap Peninsula and to Bainbridge, Vashon, Whidbey and the San Juan Islands as well as continuing service to Sidney BC.

Inland, the state also offers some free ferries across the Columbia River and there are also some county-run ferries to smaller destinations such as to Anderson Island and Guemes Island. Check specific regions for more detailed information.

By light rail
Portland and Seattle have light rail systems that can quickly deliver passengers from their respective airports to their downtown cores. However Portland's system is better developed and offers more options when traveling around that region.

Portland
Portland has two complimentary rail systems, which both tie in to the national rail system, Amtrak. The MAX is Portland's regional rail, while the Portland Streetcar serves central Portland. TriMet's MAX (Metropolitan Area Express) Light Rail connects downtown Portland with Beaverton, Clackamas, Gresham, Hillsboro, North/Northeast Portland and the Portland International Airport on four color-coded lines. The City of Portland owns and operates the Portland Streetcar, which connects NW Portland, the Pearl District, Portland City Center, PSU, South Waterfront, the Rose Quarter, the Lloyd District, the Convention Center and OMSI, on named routes. More about Portland Transit

Seattle
Link Light Rail operates between Northgate through the University of Washington and Capitol Hill to Westlake Center in downtown Seattle and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, running through South Seattle and Tukwila. There's also a shorter and separate segment of the Link Light Rail connecting the Tacoma Dome Station (Tacoma's Greyhound Station) and downtown Tacoma.

By bike
Portland and Seattle are considered some of the most bike-friendly cities in the United States with extensive bike lanes and infrastructure developed for bicyclists including bike racks on buses and designated spaces on light rail. However even rural areas in both states are popular with bicyclists including Oregon's winding coastline.

Natural scenery
A chain of volcanoes defines the spine of the Pacific Northwest, including the iconic snow-packed Mount Rainier, which towers over western Washington and is symbolic of the natural beauty of the area. The PNW includes both the Olympic Mountains on the epic Olympic Peninsula and Cascade Mountains that extend from Washington into Oregon and even down into northern California. Mount Hood is Oregon's most recognizable volcanic mountain and can easily be seen across both states. Between Mount Rainier and Mount Hood is the infamous Mount St. Helens. Further south, a volcano is missing in the Cascades. In Southern Oregon, Crater Lake is all that remains from the massive volcanic explosion of Mount Mazama 7700 years ago.

The Pacific Northwest is a very diverse region including rugged coastlines, unique sand dunes, sparkling streams, huge rivers, wide deserts, and picturesque forested islands, as well as the dramatic mountains. The Columbia Gorge Scenic drive and its waterfalls follows along the mighty Columbia River, which is the natural boundary between Oregon & Washington. Puget Sound is a large, complex waterway created by the most recent glacial cycle, which ended 14,000 years ago.



Historical attractions
Unlike many areas of the country, the prehistory of the region is rich and evident. Areas such as Suquamish still actively practice Native American traditions and Northwest Native American art is a common theme even in contemporary urban public artworks. The city of Seattle is named after Chief Seattle and many other natural and manufactured features bear the names of the areas first peoples which are often difficult for outsiders to pronounce.

Areas such as Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve have kept large areas preserved much as they were when the first European settlers came to the area while the Lewis and Clark National Monument along the Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail has preserved that area for future explorers.

Monuments and architecture
Most of the area's architecture can, of course, be seen in urban areas such as Seattle's Smith Tower, which, although now dwarfed by Seattle's modern skyscrapers, stood for years as the tallest building west of the Mississippi. But interesting architecture can be seen even across rural areas such as the eleven historic lighthouses scattered along the Oregon coast. Michael Graves' the Portland Building in downtown Portland in on the National Register of Historic Places for its primacy in the history of Postmodernism. Frank Gehry's EMP/SFM building is a contemporary architectural highlight in Seattle.

Museums and galleries
There are many world-renowned museums around the region and although most of the well known one's such as the Seattle and Portland Art Museums tend to be in the larger cities, many quality museums can be found scattered across the area and are often a rewarding and enriching break when exploring. Even small towns will sometimes offer their own regional art and historical museums that offer glimpses of local art, history and culture.

Do
The Pacific Northwest is an outdoorsy place that offers an intimidating variety of places to experience nature. Although known for its national parks, there are hundreds of state and regional parks offering a wide variety of recreation from rock climbing to sea kayaking. The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission alone has the largest state-managed mooring system in the United States offering 40 marine parks in Puget Sound that together provide more than 8,500 feet of public moorage space as well as campgrounds and vacation rentals ranging from the primitive and isolated to the comfy and well equipped. There are so many fun activities to do. Also they have amazing Honey.

LGBT tourism
The lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community in the Pacific Northwest is strong and cohesive, and offers a wide range of resources for community members and visitors. Seattle and Portland have some of the highest percentages of gay, lesbian or bisexual residents among large cities in the U.S. Washington state is one of only a few states that legalized gay marriage by a popular vote.

Eat
The Pacific Northwest is a foodie’s dream come true. Talented chefs and entrepreneurs have taken advantage of the Northwest’s incredible seafood, abundant locally-sourced produce, award-winning wines, and well-developed beer brewing tradition to establish a regional cuisine that trumps just about any other area in America. From the hundreds of food carts creatively competing for a niche market in Portland, where experimentation is expected, to top of the line restaurants squirreled away in almost every neighborhood, Pacific Northwesterners have high expectations from their food.

The Pacific Northwest is best known for its salmon, but a large variety of other seafood is available in the area. Oftentimes seafood comes in short bursts with seasonal migrations and is only available for short amounts of time, so watch closely for seasonal specials in restaurants and markets.

Shellfish are the prized resources of the Puget Sound, as the cool, clean waters provide some of the finest shellfish habitat in the world. Washington State is the nation’s leading producer of farmed bivalve shellfish (clams, mussels and oysters) but other specialties like Geoducks are sometimes available for the more adventurous.

The Dungeness Crab is a popular seafood prized for its sweet and tender flesh and high ratio of meat. Its common name comes from the port of Dungeness, Washington where the first commercial harvesting of the crab was undertaken. The Dungeness Crab is a commercially important crab in the state of Washington's territorial waters and was the first shellfish harvested commercially in the area, but other crab species are also common.

The area's mild climate, rich soil, and abundant water resources have created a bountiful climate for the many varieties of fresh produce available across the region. Farmers' markets are common in both urban and rural areas and are a great way to experience local culture and foods.

Apples are one of Washington State's biggest exports, with over 100 million boxes of apples picked every year and shipped around the globe. A wide variety of other crops are also grown in abundance every year, from wheat and potatoes to nuts and vegetables, making fresh local produce abundant.

Drink
Few, if any, American regions can challenge the Pacific Northwest's love of coffee. According to a group of industry market researchers, there were an amazing 1,640 coffee shops in the Puget Sound region in 2011, ranking it the most popular coffee region in the country but coffee is popular all across the northwest. It is not surprising that such coffee giants such as Starbucks have exported the Pacific Northwest's coffee culture around the globe.

Microbreweries and beer in general are a Northwest specialty, and the area has many to offer for beer enthusiasts. In 2012 Oregon had 18.3 craft breweries per 500,000 people making it second only to Vermont in the number of micro breweries per capita. The larger brewers, like Redhook and Pyramid, distribute their products regionally or nationally like their coffee cousins, while other brews can only be found in local stores or bars (some notable brewers don't even bottle their product). Ask your servers for local beer recommendations and search out regional microbrews in stores. Hops are the key ingredient in beer making and Washington State's fertile Yakima Valley is by far the biggest exporter of hops in the US giving area brewers another edge in making the best beers. Eastern Oregon and Washington are known for their wines. Walla Walla alone boasts over 100 wineries – including some of the area and nation's best cellars – with tasting rooms downtown; this area is popular for winery tours. But don't expect the stodginess of elitist wine areas elsewhere; the Willamette Valley in Oregon and the Columbia River Plateau in Washington have many affordable and welcoming communities with small town roots.

Stay safe
The good news is that the Pacific Northwest does not have any regular catastrophic events to worry about on an annual basis. Tornadoes are very rare and hurricanes are non-existent. There is a fair amount of rain, but rarely intense storms. However the area is not immune to major disasters.

Animal safety
Though many of the animals in the area are used to seeing humans, the wildlife is nonetheless wild and should not be fed or disturbed. Stay at least 100 m away from bears and 25 m from all other potentially aggressive animals! Check trail head postings at parks for recent activity and be aware of rules keeping a distance from Orca whales and other marine animals while boating. Regulations for orcas, also known as killer whales, require that boaters stay 200 yards (180 m) away and keep clear of the whales' path. These U.S. regulations apply to all vessels (with some exceptions) in all waters.

Don't disturb resting seal pups; keep children and dogs away and report to the local stranding hotline. Seal pups 'haul out' to get much needed rest when they are young and are often alone for many hours. They are extremely vulnerable at this time and should be left alone. Only about 50% of Pacific Northwest seal pups make it through their first year, so please help to protect their health.

Avalanches
In the Cascade Mountains (which divide the states into halves) there can be significant snow accumulations during the late fall and winter months. This poses a danger for avalanches whenever these areas experience warm periods, regardless of how brief they may be. Mountain passes are sometimes closed for avalanche control and may affect travel plans, especially along I-90 from Yakima to Seattle. Check the Washington State Department of Transportation website for information regarding Avalanche control. If going into the mountains during the winter and early spring, refer to the Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center website for information regarding the current avalanche dangers throughout the Cascade region of the state.

Deserts
During the summer months, the temperatures east of the Cascades often exceed . If you will be outside for long periods of time, be sure to drink plenty of water and limit the intake of alcohol and caffeine to prevent dehydration and heat stroke. Should you plan to venture off into the surrounding landscape, follow desert survival guidelines. Make sure you know where you are going, tell someone where your destination will be, and take an ample water supply with you.

Earthquakes and tsunamis
The Pacific Northwest is near the Cascadia subduction zone, an area off the coast where two tectonic plates are converging, producing very infrequent but massive earthquakes comparable to the biggest ones in recent history, such as the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan. The risk is fairly low — in 2010 scientists estimated only a 10-15% chance of a magnitude 9 earthquake occurring within 50 years, and a 37% chance of a magnitude 8 — but you should learn what to expect and be prepared.

Such a "megathrust" earthquake is sure to destroy many bridges and older unreinforced buildings in the area, which were all built before scientists were aware of the region's history of large quakes, but the bigger danger is from the enormous tsunami that will follow. Major cities like Seattle and Portland are in inland waterways and are partially sheltered, but the Pacific coast will be flooded by water as high as 80-100 ft in some areas with just 15-20 minutes of warning. To get an idea of how bad it will be, you just have to read the Pulitzer Prize–winning 2015 article from The New Yorker, "The Really Big One", in which the regional FEMA director was quoted as saying, "Our operating assumption is that everything west of Interstate 5 will be toast."

The region has a tsunami warning system, and tsunami evacuation routes are signposted in many areas. However, don't wait for a warning: in the event of any earthquake, or if you see what appears to be a very low tide, or substantial withdrawal of water from both the mouth of rivers and the ocean itself, evacuate immediately. Go to high ground; if you can't, go inland. Roads will likely be impassable, so leave on foot. Try to get at least 50 ft above sea level, and find a sturdy building with at least three floors.

The danger doesn't end after the earthquake and tsunami. Be prepared to survive on your own for a minimum of 3 days, but due to infrastructure damage it may be weeks before you receive significant help or supplies. Preparation only helps when done in advance: pack your car with fresh water (or purifiers) and nonperishable food, in addition to a first aid kit.

If you aren't comfortable with the low odds, you can at least choose your destination carefully. Rather than the Pacific coast, consult earthquake and tsunami maps and choose low-risk places; for instance, some parts of the Puget Sound will be relatively sheltered from tsunamis. Choose lodgings in sturdy commercial buildings away from the water rather than residential houses near the beach.

Landslides
During the winter months, the western sides of both states often receive significant rainfall which soften the grounds to such a point that landslides sometimes occur. Be especially alert when driving. Embankments along roadsides are particularly susceptible to landslides. Watch the road for collapsed pavement, mud, fallen rocks, and other indications of possible landslides or debris flows.

If you encounter a landslide, leave the area immediately if it is safe to do so and call the local fire, police or public works department.

Volcanoes
There are several large volcanoes in the region, such as Mount St. Helens, which, in 1980, let loose the largest volcanic eruption in US history. However, the probability of a volcanic eruption in the Cascades is very low, and events usually come with weeks, if not months, of warning. Simply using common sense and heeding any warnings should be more than enough to keep any traveler safe. Cities such as Puyallup and Orting near Mount Rainier have Volcano Evacuation Route signs that should be followed in case of an emergency.

Volcanic eruptions come with several dangers. Lahars are a type of volcanic mudslide associated with a volcanic event.

Crime
Much like any area in the United States, the Pacific Northwest is generally very safe, and the chance of you running into any criminal trouble is unlikely. Certain areas of larger cities can become seedy after dark and it is therefore advised that one avoid being out alone very late at night. Use sensible precautions and don't leave any valuables unattended or in plain sight in your car, especially at trail heads or other areas where you might be leaving your car for some time.

Drugs
Recreational cannabis is legal in both states, and dispensaries are very common. Some jurisdictions, mostly rural areas east of the Cascade Mountains, have prohibited the establishment of recreational dispensaries; however, possession of up to one US ounce (28 grams) of dried cannabis flower is legal for all people in both states. Public use is illegal in both states and is subject to a civil fine, but actual enforcement varies by locale — be smart, know your company and your environment.

In 2020, the State of Oregon reduced the criminal sanctions for possession of small amounts of all drugs. Persons found to possess personal-use quantities of illegal drugs will be cited with a civil violation (similar to a speeding ticket), required to pay a fine, and referred to substance abuse rehabilitation. This is absolutely not an endorsement of illicit drug use, and the treatment requirements may cause headaches for non-local visitors. Washington State has no such provisions and possession of illegal drugs remains a criminal offense.

Cope
Some Consulates and Embassies can be found in the area and tend to be focused around Seattle and Portland with a few notable exceptions. The embassy for Belgium as well as consulates for Canada, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and Taiwan can all be found in Seattle. While honorary consulates for Germany and Denmark can be found in nearby Mercer Island and an honorary consulate for the Netherlands can be found in Bellevue.

Honorary consulates for Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Japan, Mexico and the Netherlands can be found in Portland Oregon while an honorary consulate for the Czech Republic can be found in nearby Lake Oswego.

Go next

 * British Columbia
 * Rocky Mountains (United States of America)
 * California