Ten Ways You Can Tell You Are in The Pacific Northwest

The Pacific Northwest region of the United States is a region of breathtaking beauty and diverse cultural experiences - here is a list of the top 10 surefire ways to know you are there

1. Playing in the tide pool

   Check for a low tide and head to one of the beaches in the San Juan Islands and on the Olympic Peninsula. Here the small-town charm, rockpools, beachcombing and refreshing ocean air are the perfect recipe for a relaxing day.

2. The Mountain is Out!

   Saying the “Mountain is Out” is a well-known phrase meaning the clouds have parted, the sun is out, and the glory of Mount Rainier is in full view. 

3. Going wild is just so darn easy

   No wonder it’s called the Evergreen State! With three national parks boasting wonderful wilderness, an archipelago of 172 islands surrounded by the Salish Sea, and long stretches of Pacific Coast beaches, Washington is the place to truly embrace the great outdoors in all its natural splendour.

4. Sporting socks and sandals unironically

   While some cultures might see the socks and sandals combination as the ultimate crime against fashion, locals here disagree. Visitors looking to fit in should avoid double takes when a pair of socks and sandals strides by.


5. A Burnin’ Love: When date night includes a bonfire

   The pinnacle of relaxed romance is a night spent huddled by a bonfire watching the tide. Nothing spells Northwestern love like ‘smores*, smoke and summer nights’.

   [*Smores, for the uninitiated, are marshmallows and chocolate melted over an open fire and served up in a biscuit sandwich – delicious!]

6. Spotting a “Twihard” or two

   With the 2020 release of Midnight Sun, the fifth and most recent book in the “Twilight” series by Stephenie Meyer, the small town of Forks on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, was in the spotlight again. “Twihards,” have since flocked to Forks in droves since the first movie opened in 2008.

7. Self-confessed ‘coffee snobs’ say no to Starbucks

   Although Starbucks was born in Seattle, a true local in the Pacific Northwest considers it essential to be seen with a latte from local vendors such as Stumptown, Peet’s and Boyd’s. But with so many local baristas all offering equally delicious brews, the choices are endless.

8. Too many great festivals

   From Taste Washington to the Fremont Solstice Parade to Bumbershoot, the summertime is full of dancing and dining celebrations.

9. Buying local is a way of life

From craft wine, beer, spirits and coffee to freshly caught seafood and just-picked fruit off the vine or tree, Washington has a bounty of food and drinks that showcase the flavours of the state.