Socially distanced attractions and activities for a road trip across the Pacific Northwest that are actually worth the stop

Capilano Suspension Bridge Park. Vancouver. British Columbia. Canada.
Capilano Suspension Bridge Park in British Columbia, Canada.

With many international travel restrictions in place, travelers are hitting the road, quite literally, for the summer. Travel experts previously told BI that they expect to see vacation trends shift from traveling by plane to that by car and RV.

road trip

Sources: Business Insider, Business Insider

As fall rolls around and the pandemic continues, we compiled the top-rated attractions across the Pacific Northwest that are worth a socially distanced visit.

idaho road
An SUV parked on a road in Yellowstone National Park, Idaho.

Oregon: Drive through Wildlife Safari in Douglas County, Oregon, to see animals from all over the world without leaving your car.

wildlife safari oregon map

Source: Wildlife Safari

For about $20 a person, you can drive slowly through this 4.5-mile park filled with animals from Africa, Asia, and North and South America.

wildlife safari oregon

Sources: Trip Advisor, Wildlife Safari

The park, which Trip Advisor reviews say takes about 1.5 hours, is ideal for social distancing because you don't even have to leave your car — the animals come to you.

wildlife safari

Sources: Trip Advisor, Wildlife Safari

Further north in Oregon, towards Portland, explore Silver Falls State Park inside the state's temperate rainforest.

Silver Falls State Park

Sources: Trip AdvisorOregon State Parks

Pay $5 for parking and hike the trails and see waterfalls.

Silver falls state park, Oregon.
Silver falls state park, Oregon.

Sources: Trip AdvisorOregon State Parks, The Culture Trip

Some parts of the park are closed due to the pandemic, like the visitors center and one of the play areas. Oregon State Parks warns that you may have to turn around if the trails are too crowded. Other areas are closed due to wildfire warnings. The North Falls and Winter Falls trailheads are open.

Silver falls state park, Oregon
Silver falls state park, Oregon

Source: Oregon State Parks

On the south coast of Oregon, just north of Gold Beach, take a stroll through a garden packed with life-size dinosaur sculptures.

prehistoric gardens

Source: Trip Advisor

The Prehistoric gardens cost between $8 and $12 to enter, depending on your age. Kids under two can go in for free.

Prehistoric gardens in oregon

Source: Trip Advisor, Prehistoric Gardens

The attraction is currently open, but patrons have to stay six feet apart from other groups, per guidelines set by Governor Kate Brown.

Prehistoric Gardens

Sources: Oregon Health Authority, Prehistoric Gardens

Washington: In Tacoma, Washington, stretch your legs and take some photos at the Chihuly Bridge of Glass.

Chihuly Bridge of Glass

Source: Atlas Obscura

The 500-foot bridge has thousands of glass sculptures displayed on it and is above an art museum dedicated to glass. Trip Advisor reviews recommend viewing this free attraction at night when it's lit up.

Washington State, Tacoma, Museum Of Glass, Chihuly Bridge Of Glass, Glass Art In Side Pannels.
Washington State, Tacoma, Museum Of Glass, Chihuly Bridge Of Glass, Glass Art In Side Pannels.

Source: Atlas Obscura, Trip Advisor

While it's partially covered, the attraction is outdoors, making social distancing possible.

Chihuly Bridge of Glass
Pedestrians and Tacoma's Union Station are reflected in the Chihuly Bridge of Glass near the Tacoma Museum of Glass, Monday, May 6, 2013, in Tacoma, Wash. After a hot, sunny weekend in Washington state, forecasters say the fair weather should continue most of this week.

Source: Atlas Obscura, Trip Advisor

East of Olympia, Washington, take a walk among migratory birds at a wildlife refuge.

Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge
Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge

Sources: US Fish and Wildlife Service, Trip Advisor

Trip Advisor reviews say there is a lot to see at the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge. It costs $3 for four adults to enter, and trails are open every day from sunrise to sunset.

Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge
Travel images for "You're Going Where? The Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge is for the birds and fish, amphibians, and mammals, including hikers.

Sources: US Fish and Wildlife Service, Trip Advisor

The refuge reopened to the public on June 8, but the bathrooms and water fountains are still closed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge
Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge

Source: US Fish and Wildlife Service

West of Seattle, in Olympic National Park, drive up to Hurricane Ridge to take a hike or just enjoy the view.

hurricane ridge

Source: Trip Advisor

It costs $30 per vehicle to get inside the park. Trip Advisor reviews say the view is worth the 17-mile drive up a winding road.

Washington State, Olympic Peninsula, Olympic National Park, View From Hurricane Ridge, Clouds.
Washington State, Olympic Peninsula, Olympic National Park, View From Hurricane Ridge, Clouds.

Source: Trip Advisor, National Parks Service

The Hurricane Ridge area reopened after coronavirus-related closures, Penninsula Daily News reported on June 25. A July 10 update from the National Parks Service confirms remains open, but parts of some roads in the park are closed due to wildfires, so be sure to check the NPS website for updates.

Washington State, Olympic Peninsula, Olympic National Park, Hurricane Ridge, Black-tailed Deer In Wild Flowers.
Washington State, Olympic Peninsula, Olympic National Park, Hurricane Ridge, Black-tailed Deer In Wild Flowers.

Source: Penninsula Daily News, National Parks Service

On the eastern border of Washington, pick and purchase some fresh produce at Green Bluff — a cluster of local farms.

green bluff

Source: Trip Advisor

Each farm has its own schedule, so be sure to check their individual websites to see if they are open before going. Links to these sites are accessible through the Green Bluff Growers website.

Apple growers begin picking their crop September 18, 2006 in Green Bluff, Washington. The annual apple harvest is underway in Washington State, the nation's top apple producer, generating nearly half of the U.S. apple crop.
Apple growers begin picking their crop September 18, 2006 in Green Bluff, Washington. The annual apple harvest is underway in Washington State, the nation's top apple producer, generating nearly half of the U.S. apple crop.

Source: Trip Advisor, Green Bluff Growers

They also might have their own coronavirus safety guidelines. For example, Beck's Harvest House is open for the summer season, but they are requiring social distancing and offering smiles in place of handshakes.

U-pick orchard on Walters' Fruit Ranch on September 18, 2006 in Green Bluff, Washington.
Lexi Pearson (L) and her mother Andrea Pearson (R) pick Honey Crisp apples at the U-pick orchard on Walters' Fruit Ranch on September 18, 2006 in Green Bluff, Washington.

Source: Green Bluff Farms

Idaho: Across Washington's eastern border, explore the City of Rocks in southern Idaho.

city of rocks map

Sources: Trip Advisor, National Parks Service

This national reserve is rich with granite rock formations that stretch as high as 70 feet. It is free to enter.

city of rocks idaho
Pinyon pine forest, boulders, pinnacles and mountains of the City of Rocks National Reserve in southeastern Idaho; once a stop on the trail in the 1840s by immigrants bound for California and now a rock-climbing, wilderness and hiking area.

Sources: Trip Advisor, National Parks Service, National Parks Service

The reserve asked park-goers to social distance and to turn around if the parking lot is full in a Facebook post from late June.

A plaque depicting pioneers viewing the spires of the Twin Sisters granite formation in the City of Rocks National Reserve, Idaho, is shown June 14, 2006. A national climbing organization is asking the Park Service to reconsider its 1998 ban on climbing the Twin Sisters, which are considered natural historic landmarks along the California Trail. ()

Source: City of Rocks/Facebook

Up in Boise, Idaho, walk through an alley-way-turned-art-gallery.

freak alley gallery

Source: Trip Advisor

Freak Alley Gallery is the biggest outdoor gallery of murals in the Northwest, per Trip Advisor.

The Freak Alley Gallery
in downtown Boise features walls of alleyways covered in artwork between 8th and 9th streets.

Source: Trip Advisor

It's free to access and outdoors, making social distancing possible.

The Freak Alley Gallery
The Freak Alley Gallery in downtown Boise features walls of alleyways covered in artwork between 8th and 9th streets.

Source: Trip Advisor

In east Idaho, catch a movie at the Spud Drive-In in Driggs.

spud drive in

Sources: Trip Advisor, Spud Drive-In

At this drive-in theatre, you can watch a movie from on a gigantic screen from your car and tune in to the film's audio on the radio.

the spud drive in

Sources: Trip Advisor, Spud Drive-In

Tickets cost up to $9.50 depending on your age. There are new coronavirus-era restrictions, like parking six feet apart and ordering tickets and food online.

the spud drive-in, idaho

Sources: Spud Drive-In, Spud Drive-In

 

British Columbia: Across the border into Canada, take a stroll through British Columbia's Butchart Gardens.

The Butchart Gardens

Non-essential travel into Canada is currently off-limits, and the US Department of State advises against international travel.

Sources: Butchart Gardens, Trip Advisor

The gardens include 55 acres of flowers and other plants from around the world. It costs up to $35 per person to enter, depending on your age.

The Butchart Gardens
A woman takes pictures in the Rose Garden at The Butchart Gardens on July 2, 2011 in Saanich, British Columbia, Canada. The 55-acre garden features Italian, Japanese, and Mediterranean plant life and is major tourist destination near Victoria.

Sources: Butchart Gardens, Trip Advisor

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, there are new regulations like limiting how many people can view the gardens at a time and staying six feet apart from other groups.

Butchart Gardens British Columbia, Canada
Butchart Gardens on August 30, 2014 in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Sources: Butchart Gardens, Trip Advisor

Northeast of the gardens, walk across a suspension bridge above the Capilano River.

Capilano Suspension Bridge Park

Source: Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, Trip Advisor

It costs about $50 to enter, and Trip Advisor reviews say that the views from the bridge are spectacular.

Capilano Suspension Bridge. Capilano Suspension Bridge Park. Vancouver. British Columbia. Canada]
Capilano Suspension Bridge. Capilano Suspension Bridge Park. Vancouver. British Columbia. Canada

Source: Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, Trip Advisor

 

The park reopened in June with coronavirus-era regulations. For example, you must not have left Canada in the last two weeks in order to enter.

Capilano Suspension Bridge. Capilano Suspension Bridge Park. Vancouver. British Columbia. Canada.
Capilano Suspension Bridge. Capilano Suspension Bridge Park. Vancouver. British Columbia. Canada.

Source: Capilano Suspension Bridge Park

Take a walk through a 1000-acre rainforest park on the water in Vancouver.

Stanley Park
Stanley Park

Sources: Trip Advisor, City of Vancouver

Trip Advisor reviews say it takes a couple of hours to walk around the scenic park.

A general view of Downtown Vancouver and Stanley Park during the FIFA Women's World Cup 2015 on June 10, 2015 in Vancouver, Canada
A general view of Downtown Vancouver and Stanley Park during the FIFA Women's World Cup 2015 on June 10, 2015 in Vancouver, Canada.

Source: Trip Advisor

While the park is open, the park's train and information booth remain closed in light of the coronavirus pandemic.

Stanley Park
A woman rides a bicycle in Stanley Park that borders the downtown area of Vancouver, British Columbia on July 3, 2015.

Source: City of Vancouver

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