Victoria,
B.C.
An entirely different country sits well to the south of Bellingham. Although the geographic distance is easily bridged by passenger
ferries, high-speed catamarans, helicopters, and sea planes, Victoria's ambience is a remarkable contrast to that of Washington. With its tea
houses, hedge-lined gardens, period architecture, and rows of British pubs, the city's English heritage gives Victoria a decidedly yesteryear
ambience and a sense of refinement. However, after experiencing the area's rich shopping, gallery, and restaurant scene, it's apparent that
there is a vibrant, contemporary city beneath the Dickensonian exterior.
The island is also fortunate to have the mildest climate in all of Canada, which makes it an excellent destination for outdoors enthusiasts
of all types. Known as the City of Gardens, Victoria has 48 regional, provincial, and federal parks, with Butchart
Gardens as the most famous. The 50-acre park contains four separate gardens and is one of the top ten travel destinations in the world.
There are also hundreds of cycling, hiking, and boating opportunities, for those intent on exploring the rest of the city's diverse natural
heritage.
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Portland, OR
Named as one of the five best places on earth by Travel & Leisure Magazine,
Portland lures visitors with a multitude of charms.
Free from both sales and food tax, the city is a great place to shop and dine. Excellent restaurants, cutting edge galleries are the staples
of the artsy Pearl District, while Nordstrom, Sak's Fifth Avenue, and the Pioneer Place Mall, provide shoppers with upscale, big name stores.
As the city with the largest variety of microbrews, a visit to one of Portland's many pubs is a must for every visitor.
Cultural attractions abound, with options ranging from the extensive collections at the Portland
Art Museum to the oldest major symphony in the West . A must for every bibliophile
is a trip to Powell's, the world's largest independent new and used bookstore. Praised
by everyone from Sunset magazine to London's The Independent, and The Bangkok Post, the shop is so large, that visitors are
handed maps upon entering.
Portland also has plenty to occupy fans of the great outdoors. In addition to the city's 37,000-acres of urban open space, Portland is within
an easy distance to Mt. Hood, the home of North America's largest ski season.
Only a three-hour drive from Seattle, Portland is a great choice for those who want to venture outside of Seattle, but still enjoy a metropolitan
ambience.
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Oregon Coast
Romantic coastal towns and sublime views make Oregon's coastal territory
a prime northwest getaway. While an extended tour down to the California border is an ideal way to explore all the region has to offer, travelers
don't have to go far to find some of America's best beaches and natural landmarks. In fact, Cannon
Beach, located just 75 miles west of Portland, was recently rated "One of the Top 10 Beaches in America" by the Travel Channel.
Mentioned in Lewis and Clark's diaries as "the most beautiful sand shore,"
Cannon Beach occupies a captivating stretch of land between the Pacific Ocean and the Coastal Mountain range. Rising 235 feet above Cannon
Beach's waters is Haystack Rock, the third largest monolith in the world (right behind Ayer's Rock in Australia), and the dramatic focal point
of the beach. As a protected marine garden, the Rock is home to starfish, anemone, crabs, nudibranches, and is the summer nesting ground of
Tufted Puffins. A stay at the Hallmark Resort will get you the closest accommodations
to the Rock, and many of the rooms offer panoramic views and decks from which to observe it. Other natural sights include the annual Gray
Whale migrations (in the Spring and Winter), rainforest hiking trails, phosphorescent sands, and a perfect view of the Milky Way from the
city center.
Cannon Beach hosts several spirited festivals including Sandcastle Day in June,
the Kite Festival in April, and for off-season visitors, the Stormy Weather Arts Festival in November.
Although Cannon Beach offers enough attractions to fill a vacation, the towns
of Oregon's central and southern coasts also have much to offer, and shouldn't be missed.
The town of Yachats, northwest of Eugene, is a peaceful seaside locale where
the main draws are the quiet beaches and dramatic local scenery. The 2,700-acre area known as Cape Perpetua includes 23 miles of hiking trails
that cross rainforest, beaches, and Cape Perpetua Overlook, the highest point on the Oregon Coast. Also at Cape Perpetua is Devil's Churn,
a 100-foot chasm that sprays ocean water 30 to 40 feet in the air. No less dramatic is the Oregon Dunes Recreation Area, which comprises 40
miles of sand dunes, some as high as 50 feet. The area includes fishing lakes, hiking trails, and campsites.
Any visitor to the Central Oregon Coast should make a point of seeing the Sea
Lion Caves, 11 miles north of the town of Florence, and listed in the Guiness Book of World Records as the "Largest Sea Caves
in the World." Formed 25-million years ago, the basalt formations are as high as a 12-sotry building and the length of a football field.
And better yet, the caves are home to approximately 200 sea lions, that congregate and breed in and around them.
Further down the coast is the southern city of Coos Bay. A historic community
with the charm of a New England seaport, Coos Bay is the largest natural harbor between Seattle and San Francisco. There's ample opportunity
for clamming, crabbing and other seaside pursuits, as well as more cosmopolitan activities, such as the Coos Bay Art Museum and the Mill Casino.
A visit to Oregon's coastal towns combines the perfect blend of enchanting scenic
drives, restful seaside towns, and stunning natural attractions - all within easy reach of Seattle.
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