Spent A Week In Portland and Seattle

[LongJim]

Beautiful area of the country.  Enjoyed the people and scenery up there.  Had the best seafood I've ever eaten in Oregon and at a little place just inside Washington at a town called South Bend.  Talked to a server at Deschute's Brewery in Portland that was from Denton and went to Ryan HS.  Small world.  Prices are ridiculous.  People seemed super friendly.

I won't get into what I thought of the downtown areas of Portland and Seattle, but they are what they are now, and hopefully they will rebound, because both are very cool cities to visit, and good launching pads for exploring the natural beauty of those states.

[Coffee and TV]

Blew my mind to see Mount St Helens in person, and the amount of destruction that it did. The contrast between its barren ashy landscape and the nearby lush greenery and crystal clear waters was amazing. Absolutely go to the Johnston Ridge Observatory if you're ever in the area and do some hiking around Coldwater Lake as well. 

[LongJim]

15 hours ago, Coffee and TV said:

Blew my mind to see Mount St Helens in person, and the amount of destruction that it did. The contrast between its barren ashy landscape and the nearby lush greenery and crystal clear waters was amazing. Absolutely go to the Johnston Ridge Observatory if you're ever in the area and do some hiking around Coldwater Lake as well. 

We drove east on 84 out to Multnomah Falls, and on to Mt. Hood.  You can actually see Mt. David St. Hubbins in the distance if you look north at one point.  Didn't have time to do all we wanted to, but drove out from Portland to Tillamook and ate some cheese.  Then up 101 to Rockaway Beach--(not hard, not far to reach)--Cannon Beach and then Seaside for the night and then on to Washington.  That's a beautiful drive and some very cool, laid back towns up 101. 

It's bow season up there, and the elk have come down to get away from the hunting pressure, and were milling around on an island in Wheeler.  Very cool to see them there.  They actually swim across from the mainland to get to the island where they feel safe, I guess.  Talked to a couple of guys who were heading out on a salmon fishing trip. 

Mt. Hood was pretty impressive.  This photo was from about 20 miles away.  Best part of the trip was actually getting away from the city completely and enjoying the natural beauty of the area.

Edited November 3, 2022 by LongJim

[GBarksdale]

12 minutes ago, LongJim said:

That is stunning!

[CaribbeanGreen]

Great part of the country. Nice people too. Underrated area out that way = eastern washington. Back in my undergrad days I went up there for a road game against Idaho that we played in Pullman at Wazzu. Stayed in Spokane. That drive from Spokane to Pullman was just gorgeous. Beautiful place. 

[gordo nation]

Besides from the recent spike in homelessness and crime, Portland and Seattle are awesome cities! I love how walkable and dense they are, and I wish cities in Texas would embrace public transit and urbanism the way those cities have

[MDH]

Spent my HS and first 2 years of college in Victoria, BC so I'm biased but it's lovely up there (in the summer). The climate's a bit much for me personally from Oct through April. Some gorgeous farmland in areas of OR and WA as well.