On Thanksgiving, I had lunch with my extended family and I ended up having a conversation afterward with one of my younger cousins, who is looking at colleges in the area during their visit. I don’t really know much about him as his part of the family lives on the East Coast but as soon …
One of the most famous aspects of the Pacific Northwest is the wide variety of marine life that can be found in the nearby waters. Next to green trees and the band Nirvana, it might be the thing that people think of first when they think of the PNW. People don’t often think about all …
An important part of the rich history of the Pacific Northwest is the many Native American tribes who have inhabited these lands for thousands of years. There are many different groups of Native Americans in the region, which is one of the preferred terms, as “America” in this context refers to North America and not …
What comes to mind when you hear the phrase “Pacific Northwest”? For some people, it’s Seattle, some think of Sasquatch, and others imagine a group of states. The definition of “Pacific Northwest” varies from person to person, with some being more strict than others as to which parts of North America actually qualify. Since I …
If you’re anything like me you probably remember the zoos of your youth with fondness. The problem is, that fondness probably turned to sadness when you realized that most zoos are just cement cages for animals to while away their lives in. The zoos in the PNW are from a different mold. I remember the …
“Whistler is getting so boring. I wish they’d have some interesting new attractions” said no one ever. Despite no one clamoring for it, pretty much everything thrill-seeker in the area was thrilled when Whistler announced a new adrenaline-inducing attraction: one of the highest suspension bridges in North America. The Cloudraker Skybridge spans 427 feet over …
If you’re looking towards the PNW for a summer trip, you’d better hurry! The best time to book is always now and the best activities sell out months in advance. Speaking of the best activities, house boating in the Pacific Northwest has only grown in popularity in the past couple of years as people look …
Nearly everyone in the U.S. is familiar with the San Juan Islands. Even if people don’t know them by name they’ve likely seen pictures and know that somewhere off the coast of Washington there are some beautiful islands. But they aren’t the other vacation-worthy islands in the Pacific Northwest. In fact, there is a group …
If you’re hungry for the taste of Europe you might not have to travel as far as you think. There are dozens of places along the coast of the Pacific Northwest where you could feasibly fool yourself that you are, in fact, visiting the Old Country. In addition to similar geography, many towns have either …
When it comes to the PNW, things just keep getting better as you go north. Northern California? Meh. Oregon? You’re getting warmer. But as you move through Washington and into British Columbia you start getting into the most concentrated “Pacific-Northwest-ness” that you can find. Majestic, green, beautiful, everything that the southern part of the PNW …