Photo Credit: Rex Harold
“I gained a profound respect for the wilderness and nature and the benign dark power of woods. I understand now, in a way I never did before, the colossal scale of the world. I found patience and fortitude that I didn't know I had. I discovered an America that millions of people scarcely know exists. I made a friend. I came home.” --Bill Bryson, “A Walk in the Woods”
One of the benefits of living in the Pacific Northwest is access to a wide variety of scenic outdoor activities. From Vancouver, Wash., the Pacific Ocean, Mount Hood, and Mount St. Helens are all reachable by car in two hours or less.
The region’s natural beauty is widely recognized. In 2018, The Urban Outdoor Access Analysis—conducted by the Trust for Public Land in partnership with REI—named Vancouver one of the top 50 cities in the United States to #OptOutside.