Visiting the PNW for the first time.

[noE30]

In a week or so (July 20th) I'll be leaving to drive out to the pnw, this will be my first visit to the West coast.
My route will be leaving Mason City,IA and heading north to Albert Lea, Mn to get onto Interstate 90. 90 will lead me through South Dakota, Montana, Northern Idaho, and into Washington near Spokane. Once I reach Washington I would love to have a list of things to check out while in the area. We will spend a few days in Washington and then Drop down into Oregon. After Portland Oregon Ill be taking 84 towards Boise,ID. I do plan on stopping at Hood River while on 84 out of Portland.

Can any of you guys recommend me some things to see or do? If you remember a few months back I made a thread about trying to move to the PNW. This is my trip out there to see where I feel like I could try move to. So if you guys have any more recommendations about cities in the area I would love to hear it. Maybe some of us can meet up even? I'd love to make some contacts in the area! Unfortunately I'm not driving my e30 this trip, but if I move out it definitely will be along for the ride.

One thing I should note is of course it's cool to check out cities and down town areas but what I really like is more out doorsy nature type stuff, mountains, forests, the coast line etc. Help me see the best of the pnw on this trip!

[Mlarsen]

Go to Mt Rainier national park. Spokane is barely Washington, are you planning on heading west the mountains at all? If so check out Seattle, you can do some stand-up paddle boarding in lake Union which is downtown Seattle. What kind of "outdoorsy" stuff are you into? The PNW is kinda a mecca for doing shit outside in the summer.

[noE30]

Go to Mt Rainier national park. Spokane is barely Washington, are you planning on heading west the mountains at all? If so check out Seattle, you can do some stand-up paddle boarding in lake Union which is downtown Seattle. What kind of "outdoorsy" stuff are you into? The PNW is kinda a mecca for doing shit outside in the summer.

I guess I should have explained it better, I'm going all the way to the west coast, Definitely stopping in Seattle. I only mentioned Spokane because that is the first city I'll hit.

Basically I'm going to the pnw to look around and try get some better info about moving out there. Might try find some realtors for housing, potential jobs, etc. I want to get a real feel of the area/cities before I make the move.

[mattscrog]

bend, oregon. thats the spot.

[Mlarsen]

Shhhhh Bend sucks.

[KEVORM]

When on 90 stop at Snoqualmie Falls. Only like 10 minutes off the freeway 30 minutes east of seattle. Pretty cool.

When in seattle go to Dick's for a burger, Beth's for breakfast. Spend sometime downtown. Seattle is fairly walker friendly. Just park near the water or near pacific place and spend a day just walking around the city. It is hilly but compact. Capitol Hill at night is pretty fun. I'd suggest taking the ferry across the water to bremerton and having lunch over there or something. If you walk onto the ferry it's dirt cheap. Go to the museum of flight (just south of the city) if you're into that sort of thing. Tons to do, weather should be perfect.

[the imitator]

bend, oregon. thats the spot.

Says the man from california.
Bend is desert.

If you come through Washington you need to make the drive to Mt. St. Helens, its an hour plus a little more off I-5 and the roads leading to the mountain are a joy to drive, but you'll be slowing down for the scenery trust me.
Lake merwin,Yale Lake, and swift reservoir are all on the way up as well.

If you crave the Beach, Long beach, Washington is a killer place to stop in and eat some killer seafood. you can take the oregon side to Long beach and go Through Astoria, where "the goonies" was shot. Youll pass through Ilwaco which is sort of a flash back in time once you look around, and its a cardinal sin if you don't stop my Cape Disappointment..

Tee columbia gorge is crazy! Climbing up beacon Rock is a normality for us in the PNW, more easterly youll find bonneville dam, you can take the tour at the main house or just walk around the fish latters and watch barges pass through the locks.

hope that helped a little.. our summers stay green ;)

[noE30]

Sounds like some cool ideas so far. I'm stoked to check out as much as possible!

[AbeSonic]

Yeah dude let us know when your coming through Portland and we'll organize some type of meet with the locals

[lambo]

The PNW is fucking gorgeous in the summer time. I was just out there last weekend...it's so god damn green...

[shameson]

Yeah dude let us know when your coming through Portland and we'll organize some type of meet with the locals

I'd be down for this

[noE30]

Yeah dude let us know when your coming through Portland and we'll organize some type of meet with the locals

That would be soo cool. I'll definitely hit some of you up.

[noE30]

Leaving in a few days! Sounds like my cousin lives 20min from Portland, so I know I'll be spending some time there with him. He said he's going to take around the town so who knows what we might do.
Looking forward to checking out his neck of the woods.

[mulletman]

Once you get to Spokane, leave immediately.

It's not called "Spokompton" for nothing.

[noE30]

Once you get to Spokane, leave immediately.

It's not called "Spokompton" for nothing.

Lol I'm not really going to Spokane, that's just the first city I hit