TRAVEL GUIDE: PACIFIC NORTHWEST - Washington

Lifestyle

16 May

Celebrated most often for its jaw-to-the-floor landscapes, from the mountains to the sea and everything in between, Washington state was the perfect match for my contesting passions of the outdoors and cosy, candle-lit evenings in. Moreover, the state has some real design gems that were often overlooked in guides I had combed through prior to our trip when curating the perfect itinerary.

The ‘why’ came about from a series of events… the lure of mountains, rivers, rugged coastline and vast areas of National Park for hiking initially piqued my interest, then came the stumbled-upon videos from TikTok and Instagram (turned steady stream of content - thanks algorithm), and let’s not forget I am a only but a millennial, who spent their defining years reading, then watching, the Twilight series, which was mostly filmed in Washington State: a picture perfect postcard of the PNW (minus the IRL broody teenage vampires).

Mostly though, it all trickled down to the feeling I get from being fully immersed in nature. The sense of freedom and perspective that goes hand in hand with that is a true gift - something that was instilled in me from a very young age, having grown up on a farm in New Zealand. I spent hours on end as a kid exploring the fossils down by the creek on our property, from a time when the farm was once underwater. Screwdrivers and paint brushes in hand, we would scour the creek bed and spend hours finding the perfect scalloped shell or the rare but prized ‘dinosaur egg’ (which I now sadly know was in fact a nondescript seashell of sorts. Sigh). Exploring the pine tree forests, discovering the best hill to toboggan down, driving around the farm with Dad to spot all the newborn lambs in Spring. The sense of freedom that came from being able to explore far and wide, without a time limit - only the sun going down to send you off home - is something I recognise I was extremely fortunate to have, and certainly something I will always strive to continue making room for in my life.

All that to say - the Pacific Northwest felt a natural choice of destination to land on, and one that I will spend my lifetime recommending to everyone that they visit. I have never felt more immediately connected to myself and nature in a new place than I did there. The dominance of nature was felt through mountainous landscapes, cascading waterfalls, fog-covered moss forests, and rivers filled with salmon that literally leapt up stream in front of your eyes. We hiked for hours through stunning National Parks, saw glacier lakes, ate Cliff Bars with mountain views, whispered as to not scare away wildlife in meadows, went swimming in crystal clear icy lakes. We marveled at jagged rocks along rugged coastline, disappearing towns from wandering patches of sea mist, unexpected run-ins with wildlife when kayaking on coves, and star-sprinkled skies - the kind of stuff that magic is made of.

This is a destination that you must experience at least once in your lifetime. We passed countless families with little ones hiking the same steep trails that burned our legs and made us a little dizzy from altitude - accessibility no doubt an influence, with cities a short couple of hours drive away from the most spectacular settings. Comfort was found at gorgeous accommodations that were nestled amongst the wilderness, a true design-lover’s haven that ticked all the boxes for an inspiring trip.

Go. Book your ticket. Feel inspired.

Scroll on for must-see spots and top picks on where to eat, sleep, drink, and hike in Washington, PNW.

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