Courtesy of Leavenworth Chamber of Commerce

by Jamie Hale | The Oregonian, OregonLive

Why save your getaways for warmer months, when a frigid, festive Pacific Northwest beckons in the fall and winter?



The holiday season is an excellent time to explore the northwest, whether you're staying local or venturing out into the farthest reaches of the region. It's good for snowshoers, wine sippers, downhill skiers and ice fishers. It's for those who like to test their mettle on the snowy mountain slopes, and those who prefer cozier comforts.



This being the Pacific Northwest, attractions generally come in scenic natural settings. Some places get decked out for the holidays, throwing seasonal celebrations and stringing up lights. Others offer a denuded natural experience, barren of all but the wind, rain and snow.



This being such a big, beautiful swath of the Earth, there's space aplenty for you to find what you wish. And in the spirit of the holiday season – when generosity ought to reign – it's a nice time to treat yourself to a different kind of vacation.

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A bigger Northwest

For this list I used a much broader definition of "Pacific Northwest," including areas that fall within the boundaries of the Cascadia bioregion. That means everything from southeast Alaska and British Columbia, to western Montana and western Wyoming. This may grate against the Oregon/Washington-centric Northwest map, but if you want a real getaway this holiday season, why not really get away?

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Terry Richard/The Oregonian

1. Bend

Between skiing at Mount Bachelor, the backcountry at Three Sisters and the wide variety of good food and drink in town, Bend is a great place to vacation for the holidays. If you go a little later in the season, you can catch the festivities at Oregon Winterfest, a massive three-day event in February.

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Stephanie Yao Long/The Oregonian

2. Christmas Ships

The creatively-decorated Christmas Ships sail up the Columbia and Willamette Rivers every season, offering a maritime parade from several vantage points in Oregon and Washington. The ships sail from December 1 to 21, and can be seen from different locations throughout the month.

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Courtesy of The Coeur d'Alene Resort

3. Coeur d'Alene

The scenic northern Idaho town is a popular destination year-round, and during the holidays it further boosts that reputation with the Coeur d'Alene Resort's Holiday Light Show, a massive on-water light display complete with a floating Christmas tree, fireworks and lake cruises.

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Courtesy of Recreation.gov

4. Fire lookouts

The immensely popular fire lookout towers are spectacular getaways, especially so in the winter, when beautiful snowscapes make up for the trickier access. Only a few lookouts can be rented in the winter, and competition is fierce. If you can go on a weekday and have some flexibility in your schedule, however, you might still be able to nab a reservation for the season.

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Courtesy of North Shore Nordic Club

5. Flathead Lake

Western Montana's beautiful Flathead Lake is a popular destination in the summer – especially for its proximity to Glacier National Park – but in the winter it's a different kind of beautiful. Ice fishing replaces sunbathing, and cross-country skiing usurps hiking. If solitude and isolation is your idea of a perfect winter getaway, Flathead Lake is for you.

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Courtesy of Chris L. Fussell

6. Holiday Trains

Holiday train rides can be quick trips or all-day affairs. There’s destination train rides and those that offer an evening of family-friendly entertainment. Some are local to the Portland area, others are found in the farther-flung reaches of the Cascades, all offer a different way to celebrate the holidays.

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Courtesy of Chet Davids

7. Lava Hot Springs

Lava Hot Springs isn't well-known outside southeast Idaho, but the tiny town is a great out-of-the-way destination in the colder season. The marquee attraction is the massive soaking pool fed by a natural hot spring, but local lodging, restaurants and hiking trails easily round out a vacation. In February, the annual Fire and Ice Winterfest is a huge draw too.

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Courtesy of Leavenworth Chamber of Commerce

8. Leavenworth

Already known for its Bavarian Oktoberfest, the mountain town of Leavenworth, Washington is also an idyllic destination for the holidays. The New York Times visited one December and described the town as "a bit like the interior of a snow globe." One of the best ways to get there is on the Leavenworth Snow Train, which runs across the Cascade Mountains from Seattle, Edmonds and Everett.

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Stephanie Yao Long/The Oregonian

9. Mount Hood

Timberline Lodge is the obvious highlight of any Mount Hood experience, but with several other ski areas, sno-parks, carriage rides and cozy lodges, there's no shortage of activity on the mountain. See our Mount Hood guide for tips and ideas on visiting Oregon's highest peak.

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Stephanie Yao Long/The Oregonian

10. Portland

Portlanders may be trying to get away from the city during the holidays, but there's just no denying the sheer number of holiday events and opportunities here. Our favorites include the beloved Holiday Ale Festival, curiously delightful Tuba Christmas concert and the Christmas Festival of Lights at The Grotto. Sadly, the traditional Macy's Holiday Parade has called it quits.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

11. State Parks for Black Friday

State parks in both Oregon and Washington are continuing the trend of offering an alternate Black Friday experience, waiving day-use fees at all park sites for the day after Thanksgiving. In Oregon, the occasion has been dubbed Green Friday, while in Washington it will be called Autumn Day.

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Courtesy of Sunriver Resort/Steve Tague

12. Sunriver Resort

The central Oregon resort goes all-out for the holidays, kicking things off with the Grand Illumination festival on Nov. 18, continuing through the season with horse-drawn sleigh rides, the Gingerbread Junction contest, brunch with Santa and elf tuck-ins for the kids. It's also just a lovely spot to visit in the late fall and winter.

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Wikimedia Commons

13. Victoria, B.C.

The most British city in Canada certainly knows how to do Christmas, with holiday markets, light displays and festivals running all season long. The awesome lights on the Victoria Parliament Buildings alone might be worth the trip, but other attractions like museums, gardens and whale watching add to the fun.

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Courtesy of Eric Berger

14. Whistler

One of the best ski towns in Pacific Northwest, Whistler is a place for luxury. The Whistler Blackcomb ski resort is one of the best in the world, and the town's beautiful pedestrian village offers great accommodations and attractions. Whistler hosted many events during the 2010 Winter Olympics, and has since cemented its place among the upper-echelon of North American winter getaways.

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Bill Reynolds/Flickr

15. Wine Country Thanksgiving

More than 150 wineries will open for special tastings, pairings and events during the annual Wine Country Thanksgiving event, which in 2017 runs from Nov. 24 to 26. It's a good excuse to pay a visit to one of the best wine regions in the country – not that you need an excuse to enjoy some world-class pinot noir.

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More ideas

Want some other ideas? Check out the holiday travel list I wrote up last year. There are some repeats between the two, but it never hurts to have more options.

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Stephanie Yao Long/The Oregonian

NORTHWEST TRAVEL GUIDES

Oregon beer tours: You've probably been on a wine tour, so why not a beer tour? Here are 8 trips to take to taste Oregon's best brews.



20 reasons to love Bend: The central Oregon city is a veritable playground – both indoor and out – and a great destination year-round.



Volcano road trip: See Oregon's best volcanic attractions, from active volcanoes to lava tubes and massive craters.

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