This past summer I discovered the hidden gem of the United States: the Pacific Northwest. Granted, I lived in Oregon during the most beautiful months of the year when it's always sunny and the average temperature is in the high '70s. It does constantly rain during the winter, but many of the locals I met say they dramatize the dark winter months to visitors so they are discouraged from moving in and overcrowding such a wonderful place. The Pacific Northwest is a playground for explorers and dreamers, and I would love to end up there after college. Why? v

1. No humidity

Out in the Northwest, the air is stripped of moisture, creating a light, airy feeling and leaving your hair significantly tamer. Out there, frizz isn't a thing. It's glorious. Also, the clean feeling of air without the thick moisture that we're used to in Georgia makes you want to be outdoors all the time. Which brings me to my next point...

2. Mountains, volcanoes, lakes, waterfalls, etc.

The diverse geography of the Northwest creates countless opportunities for adventure within driving distance of anywhere you live. There are always mountains in the distance, hiking trails galore and beautiful look-out points around every corner. The picture above is at the Colombia River Gorge from a viewpoint at the Vista House. Anything you would want to do outdoors, you can find it in the Pacific Northwest. After exploring Oregon every weekend of the summer, I left with fifty or more outdoor destinations that I still really wanted to visit within the state.

3. Unique beaches

The Pacific Northwest has the most beautiful beaches I've ever experienced, such as the coast at Ecola State Park pictured above. Whether the beach is lined with marbled sand dune cliffs, forests, mountains or enormous rock formations, the beaches provide more to do than just laying out on the sand. Unlike in the east, if you stay overnight in a Northwest coastal town, you can watch the sun set over the ocean. Also, many beaches allow bonfires, which paired with incredible star-gazing due to a lack of light pollution, are the ingredients to a perfect night in my book.

4. Flowers and trees

Washington and Oregon are known for being incredibly green. In fact, many of the plants we buy from nurseries around Georgia are shipped in from those two states. This past summer I saw more varieties of trees and flowers than I have seen in my entire life. The picture above is an image I snapped of flowers growing alongside a back-road on the way to Mount Hood. Also, when adventuring in the Pacific Northwest, it's not uncommon to haphazardly encounter a field of wildflowers (my favorite).

5. Environmentally friendly

The Pacific Northwest isn't just green in terms of plants; it's also one of the most eco-friendly areas across the United States. To live surrounded by an abundance of natural beauty triggers an urge to love and care for the earth. Honestly, it's difficult to find a public place that isn't environmentally friendly. There is always the option to recycle, and I don't mean a little bin placed next to a trash can. In my experience, the recycle bins were nicer than the trash cans.

6. Health conscious locals

The people living in the Pacific Northwest not only care about the health of the earth but also their health and physical well-being. It may be attributed to the countless national parks providing every outdoor recreation imaginable, the spacious bike lanes alongside most roads (Portland = "bike city USA") or the abundance of fresh fruits and veggies that are easily accessible at farmers markets.

7. Rain, rain (don't) go away

Winter rain is the reason why the Pacific Northwest is so green and beautiful. If you live up there, you gotta be okay with rain. The Oregonians I talked to said it's easy to adapt to the gloomy weather, and they even said the rain doesn't stop them from hiking during the winter.

Just toughen up and put on a rain jacket, and if that doesn't work, the Pacific Northwest is known for it's countless ways to consume caffeine. There will always be a cool coffee shop nearby by to provide cozy shelter during a downpour. Plus, winter fog yields some pretty rad pictures.

8. Farmers markets

There will always be a farmers market nearby selling organic fruits and veggies. Also, there are often tents selling bouquets of flowers and coffee. It's so much fun to browse all the tents, trying samples and talking to all the friendly farmers. Farmers markets have a way of bringing the community together. The image above is one I captured of the weekly farmers market at Portland State University. Also, similar to stands for boiled peanuts around Georgia, it's common to find little fruit and honey stands at gas stations or on back-roads across the Northwest.

9. Weird yet friendly locals

Not gonna lie – a lot of people living in the Pacific Northwest are a little different, but they're different in the coolest way possible. I took public transportation into the city every week and met the strangest yet simultaneously nicest people I've ever encountered in my life. Pictured above is "Fisherman Dave," a local I met at Trillium Lake. The Northwest may not be known for "southern hospitality," but that doesn't mean the people aren't compassionate. The guy with the blue hair, leather shorts and swordfish tattoo could easily become your next best friend. You just gotta be accepting of everyone's differences. After all, aren't we all a little weird? The locals out there just don't hide it like the rest of us.

10. Incredible cities

The two coolest cities in the Northwest, Seattle and Portland, are both right next to beautiful bodies of water and surrounded by mountains. They are both known for their beauty, unique tourist attractions, and amazing food. I could write an entire page about how awesome these two cities are, but I'll save that for another article.

There are so many more reasons to love the upper left corner of the USA. I could write about the art scene, the music scene, the book stores, the coffee shops and the fact that it's so much less congested with people than the East. Don't get me wrong I love Georgia, but I fell for the Pacific Northwest, and I fell hard. How could I not?