August 15, 2023
Summer is such a lovely time in the beautiful Pacific Northwest! While there are a myriad of activities to do in the Seattle area, if you are looking for a quick getaway, you can look north, south, east, or west for options.
Our Neighbors to the North
Victoria
Victoria is a very walkable town. Downtown has known attractions like the Inner Harbor (lumping in the Empress Hotel, Fishermen’s Wharf, Government Street, and Legislative Assembly of British Columbia), downtown, and Chinatown and Fan Tan Alley.
Did you know that Victoria’s Chinatown is the second oldest in North America? (Seattle's is third oldest.) Victoria’s Chinatown is the oldest surviving Chinatown in Canada, and the neighborhood has been designated a national historic site.
Craigdarroch Castle and Beacon Hill Park are worth the extra trek. The castle was built during the reign of Queen Victoria. It was built for Robert Dunsmuir, a Scottish immigrant who made his fortune from coal, to display his wealth and importance. When you visit Beacon Hill Park, watch for the roaming peacocks and peahens while eating ice cream from Beacon Drive In.
The Butchart Gardens are a 55-acre delight that can be enjoyed all year long:
• Spring: Tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths
• Summer: Roses, perennials, and dahlias
• Autumn: Russet, gold, and red leaves
• Winter: Decorations, lighting, and carolers
A national historic site of Canada, the gardens have existed for over 100 years.
If you like fireworks, venture up for Canada Day on July 1 and trek back home in time for the Fourth of July.
Long before European settlers arrived, the Pacific Northwest was home to First Nations people. While visiting Southern Vancouver Island, explore the culture and learn the history.
Getting There
The Victoria Clipper departs Seattle at Pier 69 and arrives at the Belleville Terminal in Victoria’s Inner Harbor. The ferry ride takes around 2 hours and 45 minutes.
The Coho departs from Port Angeles and arrives in Victoria’s Inner Harbor. The ferry ride takes 90 minutes. Note: If you are carless, you can take the Washington State Ferry to Bainbridge Island and take a bus to Port Angeles. Special Note: Pay attention to Rider Alerts.
BC Ferries depart from Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal to Swartz Bay. The ferry takes 1 hour and 35 minutes; the time to drive to Victoria depends on traffic (due to construction).
Vancouver
Vancouver is my second-favorite city on the West Coast. Each time I go, I think I should visit more. Popular attractions include 988-acre Stanley Park, 130-acre Queen Elizabeth Park, and the Granville Island Public Market. Got a sweet tooth? Visit Death by Chocolate.
Like hiking? Save money on the gondola fare and hike up the Grouse Grind in the summer. It’s short but ranked as tough, so train and stretch! From the top, you can watch the lumberjack show or visit rescued grizzlies Coola and Grinder. The location also has great views of the city, and you can zipline. Save your knees and take the gondola down.
Like beer? Do a self-guided craft brewery tour in Vancouver.
The city has outdoor concerts, a jazz and wine festival, Shakespeare, and other theater.
While there, venture to Richmond and have lunch at HK BBQ Master. When they open at 11:00 a.m., there is already a line. Note: They are cash only.
Love Uwajimaya? Visit T&T Supermarket. In the summer, visit the Richmond Night Market, with its Hong Kong night market vibes.
Our Neighbor to the South
Portland, Oregon
I'm an avid reader, so Powell’s City of Books is high on my list. The 68,000-square-foot store covers a city block and has 10 rooms, three floors, 3,500 sections, and over one million new and used books. Swoon.
Portland Saturday Market has 184 regular spaces for craft and food booths, and around 400 artists participate each season, with a different mix of products every weekend. The market is open Saturday from March through December 24. Note: The market is open the week before Christmas for the annual “Festival of the Last Minute.”
- Can’t make it to Portland? Visit the Pike Place Market in Seattle or one of the Seattle Neighborhood Farmers Markets.
The Washington Park International Rose Test Garden is a must for rose lovers. The garden has over 10,000 rose bushes in bloom from late May through October, with over 610 different rose varieties.
Did you know that the Portland Art Museum is one of the oldest in the Pacific Northwest? The current exhibits are Guillermo del Toro: Crafting Pinocchio (through September 17) and Color Line: Black Excellence on the World Stage (through Summer 2023). The museum also has collections of prints and drawings, photography, Asian art, Native American art, Northwest art, as well as other art.
Forest Park, with its 5,156 acres, is one of the largest urban forests in the country. It stretches for over seven miles.
Chocolate Potato Salad ice cream? Cinnamon & Honey Fried Chicken ice cream? These are two of several flavors you will find at Salt and Straw.
- Curious? Visit a Seattle location.
Consider visiting the Freakybuttrue Peculiarium and Museum. Drink and dine at one of the pubs and restaurants owned by the McMenamins family, or stay at one of their hotels.
And don’t forget to stop by Voodoo Doughnut! Go there before or after taking a picture in front of the “Keep Portland Weird” sign.
East
Moses Lake
The 2023 Grant County Fair takes place August 15–19. The fair includes agricultural exhibits, livestock competitions, a carnival, arts and craft exhibits, entertainment, food, activities for children, the Moses Lake Roundup rodeo, and Demo Derby.
Moses Lake is also a great place for recreational activities including boating, fishing, ATVing in the sand dunes, biking, and camping. While there, visit the Moses Lake Farmers Market.
Grant County has wineries in Moses Lake, Ephrata, Mattawa, Quincy, and Royal City. Take the time to visit one or two.
Moses Lake can get quite hot in the summer, so the Surf 'n Slide Water Park aquatic center is a popular location. The facility offers activities and is designed for swimmers of all ages and abilities.
The nice weather makes it a great place to golf as well, including the Links at Moses Pointe and Moses Lake Golf Club. Don’t want to be in the sun? Check out Divots Golf, where golfers use simulator technology to play almost 90 different courses from around the globe.
There are tons of great parks, including McCosh Park (home of Surf ‘n Slide Water Park and Centennial Amphitheater) and Cascade Park.
A few favorite eating spots from childhood include Woody’s Drive In, Chico’s Pizza (love the Hochstatter Special), and the Taco Shop. Need coffee and a snack? Visit Mason’s Place, which is run by a woman from my high school graduation class.
Walla Walla and the Wine Country
Walla Walla has restaurants, tasting rooms, and plenty of shopping. The lovely area has more than 130 wineries and nearly 3,000 acres of grapes.
There is also a lavender farm 12 miles outside of the city that you can still enjoy for limited hours until the end of the month.
The Wine Valley Golf Club in the Walla Walla Valley was recently added to Golf Digest’s list of America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses. It was previously named the number three public course in Washington state (and number 34 public course in the country) by Golfweek.
(South) West
Images of Cannon Beach often include the iconic Haystack Rock. While there, you can explore the downtown, which has galleries and shops.
Oswald West State Park, located south of Cannon Beach, has a beautiful coastline, rainforest, and hiking trail. The Farmers Market runs from June to September. Visit Ecola State Park, with its 9-mile stretch of coastline, forest, and trails and views of the Pacific Ocean, coves, and the Tillamook Rock Lighthouse. It’s also a great place for whale watching during the peak weeks of the migration of gray whales (spring: mid-March to mid-April and winter: mid-December to mid-January).
Seaside is another great beach town for exploration, shopping, and eating. I like to start the morning with an early morning stroll along the Seaside Promenade while most vacationers are sleeping. It is quiet and the low tide makes sea dollars visible on the beach. Another fun activity is to get a group of people and rent a surrey bike. It takes more out of you than you expect, but it’s a great way to kill an hour (or two). If you are into maritime decorations, visit some of the antique stores downtown. Seaside is near some state parks, including Ecola State Park, Hug Point State Recreation Site, Oswald West State Park, Fort Stevens State Park, and Nehalem Bay State Park, where you can hike camp, fish, and bird watch.
And don’t forget the San Juan Islands and the Olympic Peninsula.
