BY SAMANTHA BRIGHT / Kalamalama Staff
In my lifetime, I had lived on both the west and east coasts of the United States.
While both have unique charms and characteristics, there is something special about the west coast that I have always been drawn to, more specifically the Pacific Northwest.
Typically, this region refers to Oregon and Washington, and sometimes Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. I specifically will be discussing the sights to see in the coastal states, Oregon and Washington.
One attribute that makes these two states so unique is their variety in landscape. Between the two there are many beautiful beaches, rivers, mountains, volcanoes, lakes, waterfalls, deserts, and more.
One of the most well known sights to see in Oregon is Crater Lake, a massive crater that formed when a volcano known as Mount Mazama erupted and then collapsed in on itself. It is most well known for the clarity and stunning deep blue color of the water.
Some of the best beaches in the United States line the coast of these states, including Cannon Beach and Rockaway Beach in Oregon, or Rialto Beach in Washington.
Not only are the mountains some of the best views in these states, they also have some of the best winter skiing. Mount Hood is a potentially active volcano located close to the northern border of Oregon and is one of the most popular ski mountains in Oregon, along with Mount Bachelor, which is found closer to the center of the state.
In Washington, you can find Mount Saint Helens, which is a famous volcano that last erupted in 2008 and is a popular tourist attraction, as well as Mount Rainier, which is the tallest mountain in the Pacific Northwest, sitting at 14,400 feet.
Between these two states there are four national parks, including Olympic National Park, Mount Rainier National Park, and North Cascades National Park in Washington, as well as Crater National Park in Oregon.
All four are home to outstanding scenery, with hiking trails to see all the forests, rivers, waterfalls and other sights the parks have to offer. Both states are also home to many popular waterfalls, such as Multnomah Falls in Oregon, which is only a round trip of 2.4 miles and is a stunning scenic walk through the surrounding forest.
Washington is home to the Snoqualmie falls, which is only a 1.4 round trip hike where the 268 feet of cascading water can be see as it falls over massive granite cliffs.
The Pacific Northwest is also home to lots of unique wildlife, such as deer, elk, bighorn sheep, pronghorn, bears, cougars, wolves, beavers, and many kinds of birds and fish. On the coasts you can also sometimes spot bottlenose dolphins, humpback whales, gray whales, blue whales, minke whales, fin whales, and even orcas.
Whales can be seen along the Pacific coast as early as May, and typically up until around October, with summer being the best option to spot these magnificent creatures. Both states also have many whale watching opportunities on the coast where you get to go out to sea on a boat and see them.
Many kinds of seals also live on these coasts, including the harbor seal, northern elephant seal, northern fur seal, as well as several kinds of sea lions.
Not only are these states known for their gorgeous natural attractions and scenic views, but many cities and towns in the Pacific Northwest are also worth visiting.
Seattle, Washington, is well known for its Space Needle as well as being the home of the original Starbucks store. Portland, Oregon is known for being a quirky town with many microbreweries and coffeehouses. Some unique sights include the Portland Japanese Garden, the International Rose Test Garden, and the Portland Art Museum.
Other smaller towns also have much to offer, including Bend and its neighboring town Sisters, both located in the center of Oregon next to Mount Bachelor.
Overall, the Pacific Northwest is one of the most unique places to visit because it holds so many different opportunities in one place.
With many outdoor activities to do and sights to see, but also plenty of popular cities to visit for shopping and food. This combination leads to some of the best experiences and makes it an idealistic place to visit.
Samantha Bright is a student at Hawaii Pacific University studying Animation and Multimedia Design. Follow her on Instagram at @sbright0324.
