Latest in my series on U.S. tours, I am skipping to the Pacific Northwest. I realize it’s a bit of jumping around, as I just covered New England a few months back. However, I have had a lot of interest in this region of late, so I thought we could venture across the U.S to the White-capped majesty of the Cascades and the winding, Columbia, Snake and Hood Rivers.

The States that make up the “Pacific Northwest” are somewhat debatable. They are flanked by the Pacific Coast to the West – allowing some to claim even Northern California; and the Mountains of the Cascades and Rockies to the East – mimicking the culture and vibe of the Mountain states of Western Idaho and Montana; and they would definitely include most of British Columbia in Canada, as a geological sister and perhaps parts of Alaska. I am going to keep it simple and use my poetic license to give California and Alaska their own chapter and leave British Columbia to the Canadians. However, I will cover a bit of Idaho, because why in the Hell’s Canyon not?

One very cool way to see and explore all the Pacific Northwest has to offer, is to rent an RV and go yourself! Or you can explore in-depths the valleys, rivers and mountains on a luxurious American Queen River Cruise! (A now bucket-list item of mine after booking it for a client) I mean just look at this!

On the American Queen River Cruise, you can start in Portland, Oregon and mosey along to Spokane, Washington or do the reverse and end in Portland. Any which way you choose, there are plenty of small Americana river towns and beautiful sites to be seen along the way. You can even add a pre or post excursion to Portland, Oregon or Coeur d’Alene, Idaho (An American West best-kept-secret of a town).

Fun Facts about the Pacific Northwest:

1. Waterfalls, volcanos, and Lakes and Mountains, Oh My!
   • Mt. St. Helens (pictured from aerial view) is the most active and probably most well-known (but not most dangerous) of all the volcanoes in the Cascade range due to its notorious eruption in May of 1980. It killed 57 people and destroyed homes, bridges and railways and its eruption even reduced its elevation by over 1,000 feet! You can check this beauty out on a private plane tour from Portland and enjoy her from a safe distance in the air, or enjoy a private tour by land from Seattle and keep it terrestrial.
   • Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the US (pictured in May with snow) and was actually formed by the collapse of the volcano, Mt. Mazama. It is known for its deep blue color and water clarity and is extremely popular among tourists. Head there in your rented RV and take a Boat or trolley tour within the Crater Lake National park!
   • Highest waterfall in the continental US: Colonial Creek Falls, “rains” in at more than 2,568 feet and is usually only seen in summer months by hikers to the area. It is however, located in one of the beautiful North Cascades National Park (pictured above in autumn) in Washington State (3 hour drive from Seattle). AGAIN, best to do by RV in the summer months on an active/adventure vacation….OR you can just keep it simple and check out the beautiful waterfalls and wineries just outside of Seattle on a wine and waterfalls tour!
2. The Potlatch is the ‘OG’ of Philanthropy: While the Pacific Northwest may be known for its philanthropic billionaires (Paul Allen and Bill and Melinda Gates), the native tribes of the Pacific Northwest did it first in the form of their “potlatch” meaning “to give,” where hosts gave gifts as a form of demonstrating wealth. You can learn more about the native tribes of the Pacific Northwest by visiting their cultural centers. Below is a list of some:
   • The Makah: “the people who live by the rocks and seagulls” in the Northwestern tip of Washington State on the Olympic Peninsula. You can pay a visit to the Makah Indian Reservation in Neah Bay visit the museum and stay in the accommodations they host while enjoying recreational activities such as hiking, fishing and surfing!
   • The Quileute Tribe’s original territory stretched along the shores of the Pacific from the glaciers of Mount Olympus to the rivers of the rain forests, now you can visit their reservation in La Push, Washington and stay in their Oceanside resort for whale watching, hiking and fishing.
     • (Fun aside: I once had a Quileute princess in a group of kids I was teaching in DC with the Close-Up Foundation. It was the first time I had been introduced to this Coastal Washington tribe!)
   • The Chinook were once the most populous and powerful of the region and now struggle for federal recognition. You can learn more about their efforts, as well as their history here.
3. Coeur d’Alene is a city in Idaho and a Native American Tribe: The Coeur d’Alene once roamed the Eastern Washington Forests and the North Idaho Mountains. They have a number of excursions and cultural events that they will share with visiting tourists to their Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel. I recently learned of this through a post-cruise excursion that the American Queen Voyages promotes. It is run by the Coeur d’Alene tribe and takes visitors on a Birds of Prey tour!

As always, if any of this sounds inspiring or if you want to learn more, you can set up a free Discovery Call with me and I can help you plan your next Pacific Northwest adventure(s)!