These two Pacific Northwest cities combine to make a fulfilling road trip
Although quite distinct, the Pacific Northwest cities of Portland and Seattle make a great vacation pair. These siblings divided by state lines are equally as beautiful and interesting, but in different ways.
Travelers can take various pathways between Portland and Seattle. For the most scenic (and slow) route, drivers can veer to the coastline and hop the cities there. But even the most straight-shot route, up Interstate 5, is full of fun stops (although the traffic can be pretty rough in town).
A drive straight through will only take about three hours, but you can drag it out over a few days and see scenic parks and mountains, museums and gardens, islands and lakes.
Here are 10 of the many great places to visit on a road trip from Portland to Seattle.
Lan Su Chinese Garden
239 NW Everett Street, Portland
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| Stunning Chinese garden in Portland |
Bachelor Island
Columbia River, near Ridgefield
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| Birds in the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge |
The massive Columbia River, also called the Great River of the West, is considered by some to be the most significant environmental force in the Pacific Northwest, according to the Center for Columbia River History.
Lake Sacajawea
Longview
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| Scenic Lake Sacajawea |
Silver Lake
Silverlake
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| Mt. St. Helens reflected in Silver Lake |
Mount St. Helens Visitor Centers
Castle Rock
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| Mount St. Helens from a distance |
The Forest Learning Center is free and family-friendly; the "eruption chamber" is especially interesting.
Lewis and Clark State Park
4583 Jackson Highway, Toledo
Stay the night at the Lewis and Clark State Park in Washington, a 621-acre park uniquely located in an old-growth forest. Visitors can take a self-guided tour of the old trees, mostly Douglas fir and red cedar, and explore the beauty along five miles of hiking trails or on horseback.The Olympic Flight Museum
7637-A Old Highway 99 SE, Olympia
The Olympic Flight Museum in Olympia, Washington, is where the history of flight still lives on. You'll see more than 20 vintage aircraft in excellent condition, including military trainers and an assortment of historic helicopters. The museum also holds an annual air show that attracts many visitors to the region.
Point Defiance Park
5400 N Pearl Street, Tacoma
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| Sunrise on Owen Beach at Point Defiance Park |
Point Defiance Park is a 700-plus-acre urban park in Tacoma, Washington, with breathtaking flower gardens, beaches, a forest, trails and even a zoo and aquarium (the only combined zoo and aquarium in the area). More than three million people visit this park every year.
It’s a uniquely Washington destination that allows visitors the chance to experience all different kinds of nature in one spot, right in the city.
Saltwater State Park
25205 8th Place S, Des Moines
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| Saltwater State Park in Des Moines |
Just before you get to Seattle, stop in Des Moines, Washington, the home of Saltwater State Park. Here, visitors can find camping along 1,445 feet of shore, surrounded by marine life that thrives in tide pools. This is the only state park in the U.S. with an underwater artificial reef. It’s also a protected marine sanctuary and a great place to go swimming.
Harbor Island
Duwamish River, Seattle
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| Harbor Island by night |
There are so many worthy places to visit in Seattle, but one that strikes the curiosity of many travelers is Harbor Island. This unusual man-made island was originally built in 1909 as the biggest artificial island in the world. Today, it is still the biggest in the U.S. and a popular home for industrial businesses.
It may not be the most scenic place in Seattle, but its history is fascinating.
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