The Pacific Northwest is a mood. This perfect one week Pacific Northwest itinerary will take you from Portland to Seattle, Vancouver to Victoria, with day trips and detours in between. With just seven days in the Pacific Northwest, you can cover a lot of ground and I guarantee you too will fall in love with this magical corner of the country.
How to Spend One Week in the Pacific Northwest
Day One
- Pick Up Rental Car
- Day Trip from Portland to Columbia River Gorge & Mount Hood
- Dinner in Portland
Day Two
- Morning Trip to Cannon Beach
- Afternoon in Portland
Day Three
- Drive to Mount Rainier
- Drop Rental Car Off in Seattle
- Afternoon in Seattle
Day Four
- Day in Seattle
Day Five
- Amtrak from Seattle to Vancouver
- Afternoon in Vancouver
Day Six
- Pick up Rental Car
- Drive to Squamish
- Evening in Vancouver
Day Seven
- Whale Watching Boat from Vancouver to Victoria
- Afternoon in Victoria
Where to Stay
Traveling with limited vacation days is all about balance. Balancing your time, balancing your expectations, and most importantly, balancing your budget. When planning week long trips, I typically look for a budget friendly hotel, a VRBO or home rental, and one splurge night, usually to end the trip on a high note. The same is true for this one week Pacific Northwest itinerary.
Portland: Hilton Portland Downtown
Seattle: VRBO Home Rental
Vancouver: Sutton Place Hotel
Victoria: Fairmont Empress Hotel
The Perfect One Week Pacific Northwest Itinerary
Day One: Day Trip from Portland to Columbia River Gorge, Lavender Valley, & Mt Hood
After flying into Portland late Friday night, we picked up our rental car, got our caffeine fix from Stumptown, and were ready to take on the first day of our week long Pacific Northwest itinerary – an ambitious day at that.
Columbia River Gorge
Columbia River Gorge is a National Scenic Area just 30 minutes from downtown Portland featuring vistas, hiking trails, and over 90 waterfalls. The postcard stop in the gorge is Multnomah Falls, the second largest waterfall in the US behind Yosemite. Only .25 miles from the parking lot to the viewing platform, it’s an easily accessible stop that draws huge crowds.
Multnomah is a must see, but if you’re looking to be more immersed in nature, stop at Wahkeena Falls trail on the way to Multnomah. It is approximately a 3 mile loop that will take you past Wahkeena Falls, Lemmons Viewpoint, and Fairy Falls.
The parking lot for Wahkeena is located just before the Multnomah Falls parking lot. Trails are open daily from 9-5, but plan to arrive early, as weekends can get crowded and parking lots fill quickly.
Explore Downtown Hood River
After a morning of hiking, we continued another 30 minutes along the Columbia River to the Fruit Loop town of Hood River, home to a number of local vineyards and craft breweries that make for a perfect lunch stop. We made our way through the farmers market to Full Sail Brewing Company for a quick beer and bite before continuing on towards Lavender Valley.
Detour to Lavender Valley & Mt Hood
Although we were too early in the season to see the lavender in full bloom, our day wouldn’t have been complete without a glimpse of Mt Hood through the aromatic buds. To see the fields in all of their glory, plan a trip for early July.
From Lavender Valley, Mt Hood — Timberline Lodge to be exact — is about 50 minutes. If traveling in the off season and forego Lavender Valley, factor in about 1 hr 30 min driving directly from Multnomah. Mt Hood could be a full day on it’s own, but we just made a quick stop to walk through the historic lodge, size ourselves up against the snow piles, and be back on our way back to Portland to refresh before venturing back out for a casual but delicious pasta dinner at Grassa.
Day Two: Sunrise at Cannon Beach, Afternoon in Portland
The beauty of Portland is the variety of day trips within a 2 hr radius. We’re lucky enough to include two in this Pacific Northwest itinerary. Day one brought us to gorges, vistas, and mountains, while day two brought us to the beach. Keep in mind we’re still talking Pacific Northwest in May, so not exactly sunshine and swimsuits.
Morning at Cannon Beach
Haystack Rock is the pinnacle of Cannon Beach. As the tide retreats, it reveals a hidden world of starfish, crabs, and anemones. To see the vibrant marine life, check tide charts of 0.0 feed and lower and plan to be there an hour before low tide.
Venture on to Hugs Point, five miles south of Cannon Beach, where the changing seasons create a beach waterfall and mussels line the walls of sandstone caves.
Low tide brought us to Cannon Beach in the early hours, so we were able to hit The Wayfarer for breakfast and iconic views before heading back to Portland.
Afternoon in Portland
The rest of the afternoon was ours to explore the city. Our favorite neighborhoods to get lost in were Mississippi and Pearl District. Pearl District’s cobblestone streets are home to brewpubs and breweries; also where you’ll find Powell’s, famously the largest independent bookstore in the world. Mississippi Street is lined with adorable shops and some of the best food in Portland.
Day Three: Mt Rainier Detour to Seattle
It rains in Washington. I know this is like saying the ocean is wet, but I feel it is important to state the obvious to ensure I am managing expectations of anyone using this Pacific Northwest itinerary in the off seasons. When you only have a few days in each city, it doesn’t allow for much flexibility for weather and unfortunately our day at Mt Rainier fell victim to Mother Nature.
Portland to Seattle is a 3 hr drive. Add a detour to Mt Rainier and total drive time is closer to 6 hrs.
As we neared Rainier and it got — well, rainier, our dreams of Paradise, Nisqually Vista, and Myrtle Falls quickly fizzled. Closed roads and inclement weather lead us to a quick 1.5 mile walk through the Grove of the Patriarchs, a forest of thousand year old red cedars on an island in the middle of the Ohanapecosh River.
For the best conditions and snow-free trails, plan your visit for mid-summer.
Day Four: The Perfect Day in Seattle
After three days of early mornings on the road, Seattle brought a sense of calm. One day in Seattle was just enough time to get a feel for one or two neighborhoods, and check a few things off our Seattle must-see list.
Pike Place Market
Pike Place needs no introduction. The neon lights, fresh fish stalls and famed eateries speak for themselves. Skip the Starbucks Reserve and instead check out the coffee chain’s humble beginnings at the original Starbucks location, just across the cobblestone street from the market.
Capitol Hill
Every city has that one neighborhood adorned by locals but often overlooked by tourist. Capitol Hill was one of those “off the beaten path, but not really off the beaten path at all” type of neighborhoods that I love to explore without a plan. Be sure to venture into Elliott Bay Book Co and Oddfellows Cafe for lunch.
Brewery Hopping
Our favorite way to give our wandering feet a break is by stepping into one of the many breweries that line Seattle’s waterfront like Pike Brewing Co and Old Stove.
Smith Tower Observatory
For sunset sips with a side of history, head to Smith Tower from 4-6pm to take advantage of happy hour deals and be transported to the 38th floor rooftop bar in an original 1914 Otis elevator.
Day Five: Vancouver
With so much to do both in and around the city, I’ve narrowed it down to my favorite thing to do in Vancouver, favorite neighborhood to explore, and one thing I’m sad to have missed.
Bike Along Stanley Park Seawall
Upon arrival in Vancouver, our first stop was one of the bike rental shops on the outskirts of Stanley Park. With bikes in tow, we set off for the Seawall path.
Explore Gastown
The oldest neighborhood of Vancouver exudes historical charm. Think cobblestone streets, historical buildings now repurposed into boutiques and restaurants, and an old steam clock that still rings promptly every 15 minutes.
Granville Island
With only one day in Vancouver, it was impossible to see it all. Granville Island remains top of my list for a return trip.
Day Six: Day Trip to Squamish
Coined the Adventure Capital of the World, there is no shortage of things to do in Squamish. We opted for a day of white water rafting. Do yourself a favor and book. this. trip.
After a morning of adventure, we grabbed an outdoor lunch, swung by Shannon Falls and hit the scenic Sea to Sky Highway back to Vancouver for the night.
If you have extra time, add the Squamish Sea to Sky Gondola to your day for all the views and a classic PNW suspension bridge. Closer to Vancouver you’ll also find the Capilano Suspension Bridge and the Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge (this one is free!).
Day Seven: Whale Watching to Victoria
The logical way to travel from Vancouver to Victoria is via ferry; When you’re looking to maximize time and pack the most into every minute, you get creative with your transportation. While most whale watching trips start and end at the same destination, Prince of Whales Whale Watching offers a four-hour, one-way tour from Granville Island, Vancouver to downtown Victoria.
Upon arrival in Victoria, we had one afternoon to see it all.
Inner Harbor
A stroll around Inner Harbor will bring you past a few key sites: the historic Empress Hotel, Parliament building, and the Royal BC Museum nestled between the two.
Government & Lower Johnson Streets
From Inner Harbor, take Government Street north to explore restaurants, shops, and markets of Victoria\’s main downtown district. Browse boutiques amongst the vibrant backdrop of Lower Johnson Street. Continue on towards Fisgard Street to find the oldest China Town in Canada.
China Town & Fan Tan Alley
Victoria is home to the oldest China Town in Canada, and second oldest in all of North America. Keep an eye out for the easily missed Fan Tan Alley, where at its narrowest only spans 35 inches.
Fisherman’s Wharf
Walk 15 minutes in the opposite direction from Inner Harbor and you’ll be at Fisherman’s Wharf, a rainbow of houseboats, food stands and shops. If you’re lucky you may even see a few seals popping up to say hello.
Planning one week in the Pacific Northwest? Pin the itinerary now and read later!
