I am falling in love with the PNW for many reasons.

I have been here for 3 of my 4 weeks already and I never want to leave. With my limited time here, I sure have been able to cover some ground between both Washington and Oregon, thanks to a great tour guide. With my adventure coming to a close, here are 20 things I love and will miss about the PNW.

1. The beautiful green scenery.

Coming from someone who lives in Phoenix, Arizona, this type of green is a treasure. Every time
I step outside, I am in awe of how beautiful this place is.
(Picture: Bridal Veil Falls, Oregon)

2. The protection of wild life.

This part of the country has done an impeccable job at preserving the land in order to keep their growing forests and wild life protected and I applaud that - When am I ever going to get this close to any type of wild life?
(Picture: Cape Disappointment, Washington)

3. The gorgeous summer weather.

The Pacific North West is known for their very wet winters. It basically has steady rain from October to May but once the summer months hit, the weather is a gorgeous average of 80 degrees and definitely beats that 123 that I left behind.
(Photo: Pittock Mansion, Oregon)

4. The abundance of waterfalls... if you're willing to hike.

I can't even count how many waterfalls I have been able to see in the past four weeks. It is surreal knowing what wonders are out in the world and here I am experiencing them, so calming but so powerful.
(Photo: Silver Falls, Oregon)

5. Vibrant wild flowers.

Okay, I am used to seeing cacti and palm trees... It has felt like a dream walking side by side with wild flowers of all shapes and colors; a simple daisy for a simple thought.
(Photo: Silver Falls, Oregon)

6. The hundreds of hiking trails.

I've walked... a lot. If my mind serves me right, I have done right around 12 hikes, of all levels, and right around 35 miles on my feet. Oh the places I have been and the things I have seen, and still, I have only scratched the surface.
(Photo: Mt. St. Helens, Washington)

7. The Gorge.

Look how Gorge-ous this is! How could someone not love this? *sigh*
(Photo: Vista House, Oregon)

8. Notorious Mt. St. Helens.

Honestly, this is probably the most surreal thing next to the Grand Canyon. As she sits there, just imagine the power she holds within. Note: in 1980, these flowers were completely obliterated along with everything else in its path. Isn't she a beauty?
(Photo: Mt. St. Helens)

9. The country side.

The hills. The farms. The trees. The bright blue sky. The city is great and all but there's something about how calm and refreshing the country side of Oregon is.
(Photo: St. Paul, Oregon)

10. Picturesque coast lines.

And of course the coast! No. It's not the ocean or the beach, but the coast. Every single coast line along Oregon, or even Washington for that matter, is so breath taking and every angle is photo worthy. I could be over exaggerating but again, I'm from the desert.
(Photo: Canon Beach, Oregon)

11. Heavy flowing creeks.

I have always loved how the rocks guide the water to and from its destination, creating frantic motions and soothing sounds.
(Photo: Bridal Veil Falls, Oregon)

12. Local/organic products.

Both Oregon and Washington are quite big in terms of their food markets. One out of maybe 5 stores in any kind of area is either local produce or all organic. Is there any other place as healthy as this one? I mean even their ketchup and mustard are made with love for the body.

13. Restaurants that use local/organic foods.

And then, of course, restaurants are huge in Portland when it comes with using organic items. I am sure all states have them but going to a high-end restaurant that uses local foods is quite special; the menu is always changing.
(Photo: Meriwether's, Portland, Oregon)

14. Downtown Portland's Victorian houses.

I have always been obsessed with the way Victorian houses looked and the vibe I get from them. (Pretty sure in a past life, I lived in one.) And I can't tell you how many streets I've been down that had houses that looked like this. I am in absolute heaven.

15. Preservation of historic buildings.

Another lovable quality that the PNW does is preserve old buildings and of course make museums out of them. I love learning about other people's lives and the way they may have lived, so I loved visiting a few places that allow for that to happen.
(Photo: Pittock Mansion, Oregon)

16. Cute local shops.

City girl 101: Go shopping... Or at least window shop and love everything you see so next time you know where to go for the good stuff.

17. Art.

Tax payers probably hate city art but since I don't pay for it (yet), I love how creative and fun it is!
(Photo: Portland, Oregon)

18. Unique names; Couch & Willamette.

*Cooch* & *Will-am-met*

19. The popular "Espresso" shacks.

Yesss! Who doesn't love a good cup of coffee with out the huge line? I knew these people were crazy about their coffee but to have many, many, many coffee/espresso businesses, such as this one below, all over, blows my mind. It's quite impressive and I think I may need to invest in one at home.

20. Great people watching opportunities.

Really, the picture says it all.

This may or may not have been a post to show off my photos accompanied by 20 things I love about this majestic place. Hopefully, the next time I visit, I will be here permanently!