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Wandering Washingtonian
The Ultimate Pacific Northwest Bucket List
Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia are truly exceptional!
Full of natural beauty, outdoor recreation... and enough to fill a lifetime of exploration and adventure.
The items below with a "✔" are experiences we have done, and truly believe should be on everyone's PNW bucket list. Anything without a check mark is an experience that we hope to do soon!
We will continue to add to the list as we identify more! Let us know if you have advice for us... we are always looking for new ideas.
Note: This bucket list is heavy with Washington adventures... since we are just wandering Washingtonians.
Wandering Washingtonian's
Ultimate PNW Bucket List
100+
Things to do
in the Pacific Northwest
British Columbia
1. Backpack to Garibaldi lake, and push for Panorama Ridge at sunrise ✔
2. Explore Lake O'Hara
3. Take a harrowing boat ride to Hot Springs Cove on Vancouver Island ✔
4. Stroll the beaches between Ucluelet and Tofino ✔
5. Bike around Stanley Park in Vancouver ✔
6. Backpack to Berg Lake ✔
7. Have a relaxing evening at Emerald Lake Lodge ✔
8. Feast on the buffet at the Riverside Cafe in Valemont ✔
9. Hike the Iceline Trail in Yoho ✔
10. Walk across the Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge ✔
11. Camp along the shores of Watersprite Lake ✔
12. Rejuvenate with a stay at Clayoquot Wilderness Resort
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13. Dip your toes in the glacier lake above Wedgemount Lake ✔
14. Gaze upon Mount Assiniboine with your own eyes
15. Spend the night at Elfin Lakes
16. Backpack the Rockwall Trail
17. Ski the slopes at Whistler ✔
18. River Safari to count the bears in Blue River, BC ✔
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Washington
19. Push for the summit of Mount Adams at sunrise
20. Take a dive into Colchuck Lake ✔
21. Visit the Big Four Ice Caves ✔
22. Have a nice soak in the Goldmyer Hot Springs
23. Swim in the turquoise waters of Lake Blanca ✔
24. Spend a night in a fire lookout ✔
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25. Snag a permit to backpack the Enchantments
26. Snowshoe to Scenic Hot springs
27. Summit Mount St. Helens during early spring ✔
28. Camp at Spider Meadows during wildflower season ✔
29. Relax on the Yakima River ✔
30. Spend the evening at Gothic Basin ✔
31. Visit the iconic Palouse Falls ✔
32. Hike Dog Mountain during peak wildflower season ✔
33. Soak in the outdoor hot tub at Skamania Lodge ✔
34. Drive Hart's Pass
35. See Mount Adams' reflection in Takhlakh Lake ✔
36. Backpack the Wonderland Trail
37. Spend a night (or more) in Stehekin
38. Test your car's limit & camp at Twin Lakes (4x4 required) ✔
39. Witness sunrise at Summit Lake ✔
40. Sit around a fire and eat oysters at Hamma Hamma Oyster Bar ✔
41. Get a room at Paradise Inn in Mount Rainier
42. Snowshoe to Artist Point ✔
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43. Stay at Ross Lake Resort
44. View the golden larches on an autumn hike on Heather-Maple Pass Loop ✔
45. Swim in Crescent Lake ✔
46. Hear glaciers cleave on the Heliotrope Ridge Trail ✔
47. Pose with the world's largest Sitka Spruce ✔
48. Soak in the Woodland hot tub at Wellsprings Spa ✔
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49. Sip wine atop the Space Needle ✔
50. Climb to Camp Muir
51. Sleep in a treehouse on Lopez Island ✔
52. Toast marshmallows on Shi Shi Beach ✔
53. Take a seaplane to the San Juan Islands
54. Attempt to spend the night in the Park Butte Lookout ✔
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55. Experience Oktober Fest in Leavenworth ✔
56. Catch Sunset at Fremont Lookout
57. Snag a permit for Royal Lake or Basin ✔
58. Ride upon a Washington State Ferry ✔
59. Go fishing or crabbing on the Puget Sound ✔
60. View the Salmon Ladder at the Ballard Locks ✔
61. Camp at Deception Pass State Park ✔
62. Search for the abandon chalet in Enchanted Valley
63. Enjoy appetizers on a rooftop in Seattle ✔
64. Play wildlife bingo when backpacking Seven Lakes Basin ✔
65. Spend a quiet weekend on Lummi Island ✔
66. Go to the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival ✔
67. Setup camp at a glacial site on Sahale Arm ✔
68. Enjoy the jaw-dropping drive along highway 20 ✔
69. Backpack to Jade Lake
70. Get your car sandy in Long Beach ✔
71. Eat a slice of pie at Cooper Creek Inn in Ashford ✔
72. Tide pool on the Ozette Loop Trail ✔
73. Let your four-legged friend swim in each lake on the Chain Lakes Trail ✔
74. Traverse Olympic National Park
75. Catch autumn at Yellow Aster Butte
76. Spend a cozy winter night at High Hut
77. Behold peak wild flower season at Mount Rainier ✔
78. Rest for a few nights at Alderbrook Lodge ✔
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79. Backpack Thornton Lakes and Trappers Peak
80. Hike in the Hoh Rainforest in the rain ✔
81. Relax after backpacking in Snowgrass Flats
82. Float through Leavenworth ✔
83. Weekend getaway in the old western town of Winthrop ✔
84. Watch eagles fly over head at Kalaloch Beach ✔
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85. Stay in a beach cabin at West Shore Resort on Orcas Island ✔
86. Cruise around Lake Union in a Hot Tub Boat
87. Disperse camp along a forest road ✔
88. Sail to Sucia Island
89. Early spring backpack to Ancient lakes
90. Look for Orcas from Lime Kiln Point State Park ✔
Oregon
91. Camp at Sparks Lake ✔
92. Float through Bend, OR on the Deschutes River ✔
93. Backpack around Mount Hood on the Timberline Trail
94. Eat a Voodoo Doughnut ✔
95. Stargaze at Crater Lake Lodge ✔
96. Mountain bike around Sun River Resort ✔
97. Stay at Olallie Lake Rustic Resort
98. Snap photos with the famous Haystack at Cannon Beach ✔
99. Overlook Cape Perpetua ✔
100. Hike the Broken Top Trail
101. Make a toast in Willamette Valley
102. Avoid dying from Thirst on the Misery Ridge Trail at Smith Rock State Park ✔
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103. Stroll the aisles of Powell's Books ✔
104. Summit South Sister
105. Photograph the Painted Hills
106. Gaze upon 10 gorgeous waterfalls on the Trail of Ten Falls ✔
107. Spend a romantic weekend at Five Pine Lodge
108. Trek through the Eagle Cap Wilderness
109. Drive the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway ✔
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Let us know if you would like a printable version of this list, and we will provide one for you!
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