PNW & Seattle/Victoria
@the beach in Olympic National Park, 2024
“Seattle is for people who love culture, but refuse to sacrifice their wild nature to attain it.”
The Pacific Northwest (PNW), sometimes referred to as Cascadia, is a geographic region in western North America bounded by its coastal waters of the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains to the east. Though no official boundary exists, the most common conception includes the U.S. states of Oregon, Washington, northern Idaho, and the Canadian province of British Columbia. Some broader conceptions reach north into Alaska and Yukon, south into northern California, and east into western Montana. Other conceptions may be limited to the coastal areas west of the Cascade and Coast mountains.
Your trip to the Pacific Northwest unfolds like a perfect blend of rugged nature, coastal charm, and vibrant city energy. It begins on the Olympic Peninsula, where the air smells like cedar and saltwater, and ends across the border in Canada, surrounded by manicured gardens and Victorian architecture.
You settle into Port Angeles, a gateway town pressed between the Salish Sea and the towering Olympic Mountains. Each morning starts with a warm cup from Blackbird Coffee House, a cozy local spot that feels like the town’s living room. From there, you venture into Olympic National Park, where moss-draped forests, glacier‑carved peaks, and wild beaches like Rialto and Ruby stretch endlessly.
In Seattle, you dive straight into the iconic Pike Place Market. The fishmongers shout, the flowers burst with color, and the smell of fresh seafood and pastries fills the air. You grab lunch right in the market — the kind of meal that tastes better because it’s part of the atmosphere.
That evening, you join the crowd at T-Mobile Park for the Minnesota Twins vs. Seattle Mariners matchup. The stadium buzzes with energy, the roof arches overhead, and the game becomes one of those perfect travel moments where home and away collide.
No Seattle trip is complete without ascending the Space Needle. From the top, the city spreads out like a map — Elliott Bay, Mount Rainier in the distance, and the neighborhoods stitched together by hills and water.
Victoria, BC & Its Gardens
Your final chapter takes you across the border to Victoria, Canada, a city that feels both elegant and relaxed. You wander through its world‑famous gardens — likely Butchart Gardens — where every path leads to another explosion of color, sculpted greenery, and quiet ponds. It’s a serene, beautiful ending to a trip defined by contrasts: wild coasts, bustling markets, towering architecture, and peaceful botanical artistry.
