Every year, I have the pleasure of going to the Pacific Northwest, where I travel between Washington and Canada. This year, however, I went beyond my normal one-week stay and additionally traveled to both Portland and Seattle over the course of a two-week period. Among my travels, I have gone to many unique places, and, overall, came to the conclusion that the Pacific Northwest is a great place to vacation. Whether living in the Pacific Northwest or going there for a visit, here are some things to do in Portland and Seattle.

Go to a Coffee Shop

Coffee is a staple in the towns of Portland and Seattle, so, of course, there is a lot to offer in the two cities. Every day of the first week that I was there, I went to a new coffee shop and discovered some distinguishable places.

Note: I ordered an iced black coffee with stevia, which is a substitute sweetener for sugar, at every coffee shop that I visited; however, at times, I was offered some of the regular pour-over coffee, which I also took with stevia.

Coava has two locations in Portland, but I went to the smaller location rather than their espresso bar. The baristas at the Hawthorne location were extremely generous and educated in the art of coffee. The little shop is also a great place to do work, as there were not too many people there, and there was plenty of room to be able to work comfortably. Their iced coffee was also the perfect blend for me, and, as I tried more of their coffees, as they kept offering me more, I loved each blend more than the last.

Cup + Bar is a perfect place in Portland for both chocolate and coffee lovers alike. They make their own products of chocolate and coffee in what used to be a garage, and, while I didn’t try the chocolate, I have heard that it is great. Their coffee is also very good, however, I think that I enjoyed the iced coffee better than the regular coffee because it was a little less tangy than the beans that were in the pour over.

Victrola, which is located in Seattle, has a little bit of everything. It has three locations, but I went to the one on Pike Street, which is huge, and gives lots of space for people who want to work at the shop. The baristas are friendly, and their cold brew, while not that strong, was extremely tasty.

Go on a Hike

Because the Northwest is not as populated and not as city-based as other places, there were forests and hiking trails everywhere. While Portland and Seattle did have their city-type atmospheres with the traffic and the sky-high buildings, there were still places to see the wildlife, especially in Portland.

Multnomah Falls in Oregon has a gorgeous waterfall with a beautiful hike. There is a bridge that can take a person closer to the falls, but it is not that big of a hike for those who do not want to take too long to actually get closer to the waterfall. However, for those who want a longer hike, the path goes on, making it so that you can see all of the gigantic trees and the lake across the way from the waterfall. The views are spectacular and made me want to stay even longer than what was planned.

Another great hike in Portland is in Forest Park, which has many trails for both beginners and for experienced hikers. There are clear paths for people to go on, but it still seems as if the wildlife was untouched, and the trees make the landscapes gorgeous.

Explore Powell’s City of Books

Everyone that knows me knows how much I love to read, so, when I had the opportunity to go to a block-wide bookstore, I went as soon as I could. Powell's City of Books is for all of the book lovers out there because of the millions of books that are on display. From Fantasy to Young Adult to Science Fiction to Graphic Novels, this bookstore has it all. I visited Powell’s twice, and yet, I still felt as if I did not explore it enough in order to fully capture the enormity of the bookstore. They also have many sales and rare collectibles and new and underappreciated books that make this bookstore unlike any place I had been to before.

Eat Somewhere New or Unique (i.e. somewhere other than a Chain Restaurant)

In Portland and Seattle, there are plenty of places to eat that aren’t food chains or run-of-the-mill restaurants that can be seen in any other place. During the trip, my family’s goal was to go to places that were unique to the city, and we accomplished that goal. There were plenty of lesser-known restaurants around the Pacific Northwest that were exceptional, especially in Seattle. Something that is worth noting is the amount of understanding for those with gluten allergies. Many places already had a gluten-free menu, and their flexibility to change orders to a person’s liking was extremely helpful.

For those looking for a restaurant dedicated to a good cause, FareStart from Seattle is a great place to help the homeless with their program where they hire and train homeless people, eventually giving them the opportunity to get their own job in the real world. Also, each waiter serves as volunteers, making FareStart a one-of-a-kind restaurant dedicated to helping those in the community.

Another fantastic restaurant in Seattle is a small restaurant named Mashawi Mediterranean Cuisine. It features an extensive menu that covers all Mediterranean foods, and, in short, is a delicious restaurant. With many food options and enormous servings, this is a place for those who want to branch out in their food experience and to have a great meal.

Visit the Experience Music Project Museum

The Experience Music Project Museum, or EMP, is an amazing place for people like myself who are lovers of music, movies, and television. It has an immense collection of film and TV props along with music memorabilia in their Nirvana and Jimi Hendrix collections, all making a wildly impressive museum for those who love entertainment. Its dedication to pop culture is evident in their passion as they put together the most jaw-dropping exhibits that have extreme detail put into them by people who obviously love what they do.