Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

The sun rises over the Enchanted Valley in Olympic National Park.

With so much to see and do in the Pacific Northwest, making plans for a year’s worth of travel can feel like throwing darts at a map. I don’t know about you, but when I’m planning my travels I always ask myself the same questions:

What great sights do I still need to see? Where have I been that I want to visit again? What trips have I planned before that never quite panned out?

Of course, a few recommendations are helpful, too. Once again, I’m kicking off the new year with 25 Northwest adventures, taken from my own 2019 travel plans and some of the amazing places I saw in years past. They include outdoor excursions, trips to small towns, beautiful lodges, and attractions both natural and manmade, running from northern California to the Canadian border.

Of course, the Pacific Northwest is a much larger region than that, with a seemingly endless number of places to see. You can certainly follow some of these travel plans to letter, but I’d also encourage you embrace the spirit of discovery, using this list as a springboard for your own Northwest adventures.

Happy trails! I hope you have a great year exploring our incredible corner of the world.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

OUTDOORS

Olympic National Park

Last spring I spent a week exploring the wilds of Olympic National Park, and incredible as it was, I left with a sense of longing for the parts I didn't see. Such is the magnitude of the beauty of Olympic, a place for hikers, mountain climbers, beach combers and forest dwellers alike. Dive in, explore and then go back for more.

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Terry Richard/The Oregonian

Waldo Lake Wilderness and Diamond Peak Wilderness

In November, the U.S. Forest Service announced a new permitting system for much of Oregon's central Cascade Mountains, set to take effect in 2020. It will cover the popular Three Sisters and Mount Jefferson wilderness areas, but won't apply to Waldo Lake and Diamond Peak, two underappreciated wilderness areas nearby. Lead the flock in 2019, and do your part to help disperse crowds in central Oregon.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

Klamath Basin

You don't find Klamath Basin near the top of many bucket lists, but the wetlands straddling the Oregon-California border are home to some seriously incredible sights. Any bird migration season will bring a lot to see at the Upper Klamath and Lower Klamath national wildlife refuges, but if you stop by in the cold of winter you'll find throngs of bald eagles, which flock there to feast on waterfowl every year.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

Blue Mountains

The Blue Mountains are one of the more underexplored areas of the Pacific Northwest, running through the corners of northeast Oregon and southeast Washington. The range is managed by the Umatilla National Forest, which runs wilderness areas, hunting grounds and developed campgrounds. The mountains are also flanked by the towns of Pendleton and Walla Walla, both worth more than a day trip in their own right.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

Oregon State Parks

I spent much of 2018 traveling around Oregon to document and rank our very best state parks. The journey took me up and down the coast, out to the desert and into the mountains, where the parks department has helpfully established well-run campgrounds and day-use areas in some truly remarkable natural places.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

TOWNS

Leavenworth

For decades Leavenworth struggled as an aging pioneer town in Washington's north Cascade Mountains, but after giving itself a very Bavarian makeover, it has since grown into an international tourist destination. Leavenworth is known for its Oktoberfest and Christmas celebrations, but it's also a popular spot for hikers going to or coming from The Enchantments, a nearby slice of alpine paradise.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

Ashland

The cultural capital of southern Oregon, Ashland is a great destination for what's found within and all around it. Nightlife in Ashland is necessarily centered around the world-famous Oregon Shakespeare Festival, as the town's many restaurants and bars – some with a medieval theme – fill up before an evening show, and empty as the curtain goes up. But the town is also close to some spectacular natural attractions, including the Mt. Ashland Ski Area and the ecological wonderland of Cascade-Siskiyou.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

Bandon

The southern Oregon coast has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to natural beauty and attractions, and Bandon is one of the best small towns to anchor your visit. The town has a requisite lighthouse, craft brewery and sandy beaches, but is also home to a renowned sand labyrinth artist, world-class golf course, recycled art museum and a trio of dueling seafood shacks.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

San Juan Island

"Island life" in the Pacific Northwest means a tour of the San Juan Islands in the Salish Sea of northwest Washington. The largest of the islands, San Juan Island, is a great place to stay and explore, home to whale watching tours, a thriving restaurant scene, museums and two national historical parks.

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AP Photo/Visit Spokane, Ben Tobin

Spokane

The hub of eastern Washington and a gateway to northern Idaho and Montana, Spokane is more than just a stopover town. The second largest city in Washington, Spokane has all the trappings of a major small city, with more than enough parks, museums and restaurants to explore for days. The city is centered around the Spokane River, with a sprawling waterfront park and waterfalls cascading beneath the many bridges that lead across town.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

LODGING

Lake Crescent Lodge

One of several lodges in Olympic National Park, Lake Crescent Lodge stands out with its storied history and beautiful setting. Built on the shores of beautiful Lake Crescent in the northwest corner of the park, the lodge is a comfortable place to stay while exploring the park, or a spot to spend a few days relaxing, soaking up the beauty that surrounds it.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

Paradise Lodge

A lot of places like to call themselves "paradise," but Paradise Lodge in southern Oregon is one of the few that can own the moniker. Perched on the cliffs above the wild and scenic Rogue River, the lodge is only accessible by trail, river or air (jet boats are the most popular form of transportation) giving it a sense of privacy and isolation. During the day, you can hike the Rogue River Trail that passes by, or else lounge on the deck overlooking the river.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

Deluxe Cabins

Oregon state parks offer tent sites, trailer sites, yurts, tepees and cabins, but none match the relative luxury of deluxe cabins. Complete with a bathroom, shower, refrigerator, microwave and TV, each deluxe cabin sleeps up to five people, making your stay in nature just a little more comfortable.

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Terry Richard/The Oregonian

Crystal Crane Hot Springs

Crystal Crane is a natural hot spring resort found way out in the desert of southeast Oregon. While soaking is the main attraction, it's worth it to stay the night. Crystal Crane offers a wide array of accommodations, including cabins, tent sites, a ranch house and – best of all – a tepee with a private soaking tub inside.

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Wikimedia Commons/Graystock

Dog Bark Park Inn

Perhaps the most unique bed and breakfast in the Pacific Northwest (and that's saying a lot) the Dog Bark Park Inn offers the rare opportunity to sleep inside a giant beagle. The two-story dog-shaped inn found in northern Idaho is only open from April to October, and has only one room that sleeps four people. But if you're a serious dog person (and especially if you're a serious beagle person) this is a must-stay kind of place.

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Courtesy of the National Park Service

ATTRACTIONS

Oregon Caves

One of the most beautiful but least-visited national park sites in the Pacific Northwest is the Oregon Caves – also known as the "marble halls of Oregon" – a stunning cave system found beneath an old-growth forest in the Siskiyou Mountains near the California border. Be sure to stop by between March 23 and November 3, the only time of year when you can actually get a tour of the caves.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

Oregon Country Fair 50th

This year the Oregon Country Fair is turning 50, and you better believe organizers and attendees will be finding ways to make it special. The event is already known for its colorful whimsy, and considering its evolution from the hippie era through the new age and into the 21st century, there will be a lot of colorful history to draw upon.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

Shore Acres holiday lights

Shore Acres is already one of the most unique state parks in Oregon, offering visitors dramatic ocean views, a beautiful sandy cove and a formal English garden, but come late fall the park offers one more unique twist: an annual holiday light display. Go for the animated pelicans and whales, then linger a little longer by the viewpoints, where you can listen to the ocean tumble and crash in the dark.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

The Living Rock Studios

The Living Rock Studios is one of the most fascinating roadside attractions in Oregon. The two-story building in Brownsville both houses and is made out of an incredible collection of rocks, gemstones and petrified wood – a divinely-inspired monument constructed by surveyor and artist Howard B. Taylor. Since Taylor's death in 1996, the attraction has been run by his three daughters, all of whom have suffered serious health issues in recent years, placing the future of his legacy in serious question.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

Seattle Museums

Seattle has a lot going for it, but one of my favorite ways to tour the city is through its phenomenally diverse and fascinating museums. A few days can take you to the big ones – Chihuly Garden and Glass, Museum of Pop Culture, Frye Art Museum – but don't sleep on the smaller places as well, like Living Computers, the Seattle Pinball Museum and the Wing Luke Museum.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

ROAD TRIPS

7 Wonders of Oregon

The Seven Wonders of Oregon is a brilliant piece of marketing that came courtesy of Travel Oregon back in 2014, but it also frames a great way to see the diverse natural beauty of our state. From the Pacific coast to the Wallowa Mountains, from the Columbia Gorge to Crater Lake, you won't find a stronger representation of all the awesome sights found in Oregon.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

Oregon's most beautiful places

This past summer we sat down to definitively rank the most beautiful places in Oregon. It wasn't easy (and naturally has a very healthy dose of subjectivity) but the ranking makes a great bucket list from which you can draw any number of incredible road trips. I'd recommend a summer vacation along the Cascade Mountains.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

Nez Perce National Historical Park

Unlike most other national parks, Nez Perce National Historical Park is not found at a single location, but spread out between 38 sites across Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana, tracing the traditional lands of the Nez Perce people and following their attempted flight to Canada in 1877 to avoid persecution by the United States government. A good starting place is Old Chief Joseph's Gravesite near Joseph in northeast Oregon.

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Terry Richard/The Oregonian

North Cascades

You'll have to take a road trip to truly explore North Cascades National Park, one of the best-kept secrets in the Pacific Northwest with only about 30,000 visitors annually. You can approach it from the north on Mt. Baker Highway, hit the middle of the park on North Cascades Highway or come up from the south along Lake Chelan. Once you're there, hit the sprawling and incredibly beautiful network of backpacking trails, or just enjoy the views from the road.

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Courtesy of Bureau of Land Management

Oregon Gold Rush

It wasn't just California that saw a gold rush in the 19th century – Oregon had its fair share of miners and dredges as well. Today, you can follow the path of those prospectors by taking an Oregon gold rush road trip to original mining claims, Old West towns and rivers where you can still pan for gold. You'd be hard-pressed to make a profit on your journey, but finding a few flakes of gold is always fun.

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--Jamie Hale | jhale@oregonian.com | @HaleJamesB



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