Summer Activities in the Northwest
1. Take a tour of the Seattle Underground
The Seattle Underground is a network of underground passageways and basements in downtown Seattle, Washington, that was ground level at the city's origin in the mid-19th century. When the city was rebuilt after a devastating fire, the streets were simply elevated. These spaces fell into disuse, but have now become a fun and unusual tourist attraction.
2. See the sights in small-town Missoula, Montana
Situated at the confluence of three rivers and surrounded by mountains, Missoula is known for its outdoor fun, but the city’s charming downtown is equally vibrant. During the day, take a historic walking tour past 19th-century buildings now reused as shops, restaurants, and cafes. On Thursday nights, join Downtown ToNight, a free event featuring live music and food. On Saturday mornings, downtown is bustling with the Missoula Farmers Market, going strong since 1972.
3. Explore Portland, Oregon
Oregon’s largest city is known as one of the coolest spots in the country. It has great cafes and restaurants, art galleries, fabulous farmers markets, urban bicycle routes, and more. You even can take a tour of the city’s food carts and sample everything from vegan burgers to Polish dumplings.
4. Celebrate Native American culture at a powwow
Summer is the season for powwows in Wyoming. The celebrations started when the Plains Indians danced to honor tribal members, mark important events, or to pray for protection. Now Native Americans also hold powwows to keep their cultures and traditions alive. Many are open to the public and feature dancing, music, and traditional food.
5. Experience the arts in Boise, Idaho
Enjoy the cultural life in Idaho’s capital. During the summer, the Idaho Shakespeare Festival stages plays (not all by Shakespeare) in an outdoor amphitheater and nature reserve. At the Boise Art Museum, the collection includes a variety of media and styles, with a summer installation of a 40-foot ribbon of wood in the sculpture court.
6. See how nature is reshaping Mount St. Helens
Mount St. Helens erupted in 1980, the deadliest and most economically destructive volcanic event in the history of the U.S. Since then, nature has been patiently at work restoring the surrounding landscape – with truly miraculous results!
7. Visit Old Faithful in Wyoming
Take a hike along Yellowstone National Park’s Upper Geyser Basin and discover the largest concentration of hot springs on Earth. The most famous – Old Faithful – erupts on schedule. The popular park also is home to bears, wolves, bison, elk, and antelope.
8. Experience the beauty of Glacier National Park
One of America’s favorite parks, Glacier spans more than a million acres of Montana wilderness and includes pristine forests, alpine meadows, rugged mountains, spectacular lakes, and more than 700 miles of hiking trails. Another highlight is a drive on the Going-to-the-Sun Road through the park's wild interior, providing some of the best sights in northwest Montana.
9. Visit a lava field
Explore the striking, otherworldly landscape at Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve Park in central Idaho. This ocean of lava flows, with scattered islands of cinder-cone volcanoes and sagebrush, was formed during periods of eruption from 2,000 to 15,000 years ago.
10. Volunteer in your local community
Whether you prefer to walk the dogs at an animal shelter, serve food at a soup kitchen, or plant a tree with a conservation group, there are many ways to volunteer in your local community. You’ll find plenty of other opportunities at networkforgood.org/volunteer/ or volunteermatch.org/. Be sure to tag #cieegivingback when you post your photos!
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