Top 10 Places In The Pacific Northwest - 4K Travel Guide

What's up guys! My name is Ryan and I want to show you my favorite places in the Pacific Northwest. So here's my top 10. The Pacific Northwest is one of the most beautiful regions in the USA. It's made up of states such as Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and the west side of Montana, and also extends up their British Columbia. From America's best coastline, to the towering Cascade Mountains, Pacific Northwest really is best. Let's start this video off in Oregon. Now I have to say Oregon is one of my favorite states. It's home to massive volcanoes and countless waterfalls. Me and my wife did a road trip through the state several months ago, and it was an extremely enjoyable trip. One of my favorite places we went was the Samuel H. Boardman Scenic Corridor. This place inspired me to pack my bags and make the road trip to Oregon. It's home to some of the most beautiful coastline in the USA, and I just can't say enough good things about this place. We went to this stunning place called Natural Bridges, and it's famous for its sea arches. There's a beautiful viewing deck to observe the arches from above, and if you're feeling adventurous, you can hike down to them and get a glorious view of the coast. I mean, it's just such a magical spot, and if you're down in southern Oregon, you gotta check out the Samuel Boardman Scenic Corridor. After, we're gonna visit one of my favorite places in all of Oregon, Meyer Beach. We were driving up the coast, and I was looking for a place to watch the sunset, and we randomly came across this beach. We pulled over and explored it, and I was just blown away by the beauty of the spot. The tide had gone out, and it revealed a massive beach, and we had it all to ourselves. I felt like a kid again. We were just running around, having a good time. One of my favorite features of the beach was the massive sea stacks. One of them reminded me of Gandalf's hat. I mean, just such a magical time. We spent all the sunset running on the beach. We also explored the tide pools, and then we found another really cool sea stack that had a hole in it, with the waves crashing through it. So, I highly recommend making a pit stop on Meyer Beach. Such a cool and beautiful spot. If you keep driving up the coast, you'll reach Cannon Beach. When you think of Oregon, you might think of this spot. I remember first seeing this beach on Steven Spielberg's movie, The Goonies, and I've wanted to go there ever since. It's famous for its haystack rock. It's this massive 235-foot sea stack that shoots out of the ocean. What's great is that Cannon Beach is only about an hour and a half drive from Portland, so it's the perfect getaway. In 2013, it was listed as one of the world's 100 most beautiful places by National Geographic, and I totally understand why. It's a wonderful place to relax or jump in the water if you can handle the cold. While we're still in Oregon, we're going to head over to the city of Bend. Now, located in central Oregon, Bend is a great city, but what I like about it is all the things that it's close to. It lies right at the base of the Three Scissor Volcanoes and Mount Bachelor. They're such cool-looking volcanoes that overlook the city. An awesome place that's 30 minutes outside of Bend is Smith Rock State Park. It's a beautiful river canyon with prominent rock features. It's a mecca for rock climbing with more than 1,000 bolted routes. Another nearby place is the Tamalich Blue Pool. I've been seeing pictures of this place for years now, so I finally decided to go check it out. It's located about an hour outside of Bend, Oregon, and it's a fairly easy and beautiful hike through the forest. When you reach the pool, you're going to be blown away by the blue color. It's this perfectly placed spring surrounded by a small amphitheater of cliffs. Now, when we were there, it was a really cloudy day, so my camera had a hard time showing how blue it truly is. On a sunny day, the water looks phenomenal. So the reason why the pool is so clear is because it comes from water that filters through porous lava. Now, don't be fooled by the blue water because it is so freaking cold. It averages around 40 degrees all year round. And I wasn't going to jump in, but we decided to send it and test how cold the water was. And after some hesitation, we plunged into the freezing cold water. I mean, I just couldn't believe how cold it was. I'd love to come back next summer with a wetsuit to do some snorkeling and cliff jumping there. After, we're going to head over to Montana to visit Glacier National Park. I've heard so many good things about Glacier, so I decided to go up there a few weeks ago and it lived up to the hype. One of the most popular things you can do in the park is drive on the Going to the Sun Road. It's this incredible route that cuts through the mountains. You'll have a high chance of seeing some wildlife. The first place I went to was the hike to the Hidden Lake Overlook. We parked at the Logan Pass Visitor Center and made the three mile round trip hike. I mean, it was at the end of July and there was still a ton of snow up there, which made the hike fun. The whole way is full of incredible views. We came across some marmots and a mountain goat. The overlook is absolutely stunning. The lake backdrop with the Bear Hat Mountain is just so unique. Now, aside from Hidden Lake, there's just so many other places to explore. I mean, I'm barely scratching the surface. You could spend several weeks exploring all the treasures of this park. Now, another beautiful place in Montana is Flathead Lake. It's about an hour outside of Glacier National Park and it's a great place to stay if you plan on going to Glacier. The lake is absolutely huge and the water is so clear and enjoyable swimming during the summer months. We stayed at this incredible Airbnb right on the lake and we kayaked out to one of the islands. I mean, it was just so nice to spend a few days here relaxing on the lake. I couldn't recommend it enough. Afterwards, we're going to head down to Idaho to visit the Sawtooth Mountain Range. Now, located in central Idaho, the Sawtooths are incredible mountains named for their jagged peaks. Me and my buddy Jake did a backpacking trip here and it was an incredible experience. We started our trip at Redfish Lake and took the last boat ride over the starter 8.6 mile round trip hike, the Saddleback Lake. And we got there while it was dark. But when I woke up, I couldn't believe the view. We were right next to a giant rock wall and pristine lakes. I just couldn't believe how blue and clear the water was. I had a great time going for a morning swim and I found this perfect spot to do some cliff jumps. I mean, it's just hard to beat the feeling of being deep in the mountains, enjoying some alpine lakes. The Sawtooths are such a magical place. Now, afterwards, we're going to head over to Canada to visit British Columbia. Sandwiched right between Alaska and Washington, British Columbia is an incredible area full of massive mountains and endless beauty. It's home to Vancouver, which is the second biggest city in the Pacific Northwest after Seattle. British Columbia is a wonderland if you're into action sports. It has some of the world's best mountain biking and kayaking. And it's also where the ski resort Whistler is located. I mean, there's just so much going on in British Columbia. Now, after we're going to visit Washington State, I was lucky enough to live here for almost a year. It was a special time. I mean, there's just something about living near the Puget Sound and that Pacific Northwest weather that just creates a magical vibe. I live near this beautiful town called Gig Harbor. It's about an hour's drive from Seattle. And it's this beautiful harbor on the Puget Sound. You can check out the shops and restaurants and walk out on the docks. I mean, just such a beautiful place you got to visit if you're in Washington. Now, after Gig Harbor, we're going to visit Seattle. I have to say that Seattle is one of my favorite cities in the U.S. I just love how it's built right on the Puget Sound, contrasted with a skyline full of skyscrapers and a backdrop of the massive Mount Rainier. Now, one place you got to visit if you're in Seattle is Pike's Place. It's a public market that has been open for more than 100 years. It's full of fresh produce stands, unique shops, and the world's first Starbucks. I just love all the colors, smells, and just all-around vibe. Pike's Place is also home to the gumball. It might gross you out, but at least it's full of colors. One thing I definitely recommend doing while you're near the Puget Sound is to take a ride on a ferry. You can drive your car on the ferry from Seattle and they can take you across the Puget Sound to Bainbridge Island or Bremerton. While you're on the ferry, you'll get picture-perfect views of Seattle and it's overall such a good time. Well, that is it for my Pacific Northwest top 10. I mean, there's just so many places that I wasn't able to put in this video, so I'll definitely be making a part 2. Let me know where your favorite place is in the comments below. I also started a relaxation channel where I post hour-long films to bring some peace and nature in your life. I'll be doing a film on the Pacific Northwest very soon. You can find me on Instagram and TikTok at shirley.films. It's Ryan and we will see you later.