Jun 17, 2025

From mountains and forests to the coast

After spending three days in Seattle, Washington, (see our blog article on Seattle by clicking here) we referred to our Lonely Planet book, “Best Roadtrips Pacific Northwest,” to see the most scenic route to take to Portland, Oregon. We landed on taking part of the Lewis & Clark Trail. Along the way, we enjoyed talking about the history of exploration and heroic efforts from Sacajawea. They couldn’t have done their expedition without such a powerful woman, providing insights and interpretation along with local knowledge of the territory!

It is our hope that if you have a few extra days when in the Pacific Northwest, that you’re also able to see some of the places we share in our itinerary below.

Seattle, Washington to Seaside, Oregon

The drive along U.S. Route 101 was absolutely inspiring. Winding through forests, hairpin turns on mountain roads, and crossing the Astoria-Megler Bridge was a once in a lifetime experience; it is the longest truss bridge in the United States. Here are some stops you will want to add to your list:

Olympia Coffee Roasting Co.

Amazing iced coffee on tap and canned cold brew. Award winning coffee roaster in the heart of Downtown Olympia, Washington minutes from the State Capitol Campus. Be sure to try one of their baked goods. We particularly loved the Old Fashioned Chocolate Donut!

Cape Disappointment State Park

Beautiful state park on Washington’s coast, with an easy path to the North Head Lighthouse. Stunning views from the bluffs to the Pacific Ocean.

Buoy Beer and Pilot House Distilling

We then took a break in nearby Astoria, Oregon, a cute port city at the mouth of the Columbia River and the Pacitic Ocean. Scenes in movies such as “The Goonies” and “Free Willy” were filmed in Astoria! Stop into Buoy Beer garden with food trucks for easy-going vibes, dog-friendly accommodations, refreshing drinks and yummy bites from the vendors! You can even try a flight of mini cocktails to sample the variety of spirits by their own Pilot House Distilling, including vodka, gin, and whiskey!

Flavel House Museum

After lunch, we took a walk down the street in Astoria, and decided to take the self-guided tour of this beautiful museum. The Queen Anne Victorian house was built in 1883 for Astoria, Oregon bar pilot and businessman, George Flavel. The finishes and woodwork were all so well done. No detail was spared. House featured modern amenities like indoor plumbing, large bathtubs, and forced air heating. The shutters were also exquisite and tucked into the window frames when not in use!

Dutch Bros Coffee

As we drove onward to Seaside, Oregon for the night, we needed an afternoon coffee. So we can say that we have finally tried the popular Dutch Bros chain and we must say, it is “killer coffee!” The Double Torture Blended Freeze and Lavender Matcha Latte were both delicious.

Ecola State Park

Just 20 minutes south of our hotel (see below) in Seaside, Oregon is this gem of an Oregon State Park that you absolutely must see. Enjoy an easy walk down to the lookout point from a large parking lot. There you can look out into the Pacific Ocean and see the Haystack Rock at Cannon Beach, one of Oregon’s most recognizable natural wonders. Take in watching the waves and tide pools from high above the water below! Driving into the park, we fell in love with all the trees. Go slow, as the road is narrow and there are no guardrails.

Times Theatre & Public House

After a brief hike, we headed back to Seaside, where we found a highly-rated restaurant for us to have dinner. Part brewery, part theater, everyone said we must check out the Times when in Seaside, Oregon! The food and drink menus have something for everyone’s palette. Edward had the BLT with a whiskey. David ordered the halibut fish tacos with a Sisu Brewing (made in tanks right behind the theatre’s silver screen) Honey Orange Lager.

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Seaside

We enjoyed the convenient location, which is walkable to many of Seaside’s restaurants, shops, and beaches. Even though we were only here for a night, it was comfortable and exactly what we needed! The riverfront location offers a lobby with patio overlooking the water, where seasonal paddleboat rentals are offered for a nominal cost. Be sure to enjoy the breakfast in the morning, with the famous hot cinnamon rolls!

After our stay in Seaside, we drove about 1 hour, 30 minutes to Portland, Oregon. You can see our blog article on everything we did in Portland by clicking here.

Drive from Portland, Oregon to Mount Rainier National Park

3 days later, as we needed to ultimately end up back in Seattle, we drove into [Mount Rainier National Park](https://www. nps.gov/mora/index.htm), about 2 hours, 50 minutes from Portland, Oregon.

Christine Falls

Took a short walk down the stairs from the parking area to take pictures with the serene waterfalls cascading down the mountain.

Reflection Lakes

Unfortunately the lakes were still frozen over, and there was a lot more snow than we anticipated around them. However, we still got a good laugh out of it and found beauty in seeing Mount Rainier so close!

We completed our trip by driving about 1 hour, 30 minutes to the Hampton Inn Seattle/Southcenter (less than 5 minutes to the SeaTac Rental Car Facility for convenient drop-off) near the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport for the night before an early flight out the next morning! Also nearby are favorites like IKEA, Topgolf, and Costco. Who else enjoys seeing what the other Costco Warehouse locations carry have when traveling?! Just us?? No worries.

Thank you for the memories, Pacific Northwest! We look forward to returning with our family in the future!