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The town and road map of Southwest Washington will help you locate cities, towns, attractions and points of interest.
Cities and Towns of Southwest Washington
Aberdeen
Battle Ground
Camas
Castle Rock
Cathlamet
Chehalis
Elma
Ilwaco
Kelso
Long Beach
Longview
Naselle
Oak Park
Ocean Shores
Pacific Beach
Raymond
Salkum
Seaview
Skamokawa
South Bend
Vancouver
Washougal
Westport
Woodland
More Washington
ACTIVITIES
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Whitewater Rafting
FOOD AND BEVERAGE
Wine Country
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Southwest
Washington
Southwest Region
Southwest Washington is Lewis and Clark territory, a land rich in American heritage. It was here that Meriwether Lewis and William Clark concluded their 8,000-mile exploration, arriving at the West Coast in the autumn of 1805. Interpretive markers trace the explorers' last 100 miles to the Pacific Ocean.
Known for fertile estuaries and the Willapa National Wildlife Reserve, Southwest Washington is characterized by small towns and century-old landmarks. Meriwether Lewis's notes refer to this region as the most desirable location for a settlement west of the Rocky Mountains.
The region is also home to the lower end of the dramatic Columbia River Gorge, a protected scenic area known for its delicate ecology. The Columbia River curves through Southwestern Washington before the river ends its 1,200-mile journey at the Pacific Ocean. The vibrant city of Vancouver, Washington's fourth-largest metropolis, overlooks the Columbia, adjacent to Portland, Oregon.
And this region recognizes the accomplishments of yet another discoverer, the merchant explorer Captain Robert Gray, who discovered the Columbia River 13 years before Lewis and Clark's expedition. In the city of Aberdeen, visitors can see a replica of Captain Gray's brig vessel, the Lady Washington.
History buffs can explore this region with a driving tour that traces the last 70 miles of Lewis's and Clark's expedition to the Pacific Coast. The tour begins at the intersection of I-5 and Highway 4 and concludes at the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center at Ft. Canby State Park, overlooking the mouth of the Columbia River, where Robert Grey had arrived more than 200 years earlier. Traveling north by car takes the visitor towards Gray's Harbor and the city of Aberdeen, also known as the gateway to the Olympic Peninsula.
VISITOR INFORMATION
Local Media
KUKN 94.5 FM
Country radio for Southwest Washington.
On trips designed by the Nature Conservancy and the Audubon Society, you'll see river otters, osprey, great blue heron, bald eagles, Columbian white-tailed deer and 600 year old Sitka spruce trees.
Grays Harbour Home Page
Website for Tourism Grays Harbour, a guide to local lodging and attractions.
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Mountain
Bike! Southwest Washington: A Guide to Trails and Adventure by John
Zilly. This book has serious research, organization and useful trail maps
and directions. Zilly possesses a flair
for the written word not often found in such practical guides; he steers the
cyclist through a variety of trail conditions and skill levels, highlighting gnarly terrain.
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Great
Places: Washington: A Recreational Guide to Washington's Public Lands and
Historic Places for Birding, Hiking, Photography, Fishing, Hunting and
Camping
by John Kruse. The geology, animal and plant life, and history of
Washington's most-storied and scenic locales, including the best local
lodging and amenities are explained in this full color guide.
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Moon
Washington, 11th Edition (Moon Handbooks) by Matthew Lombardi. This
travel writer and Seattle resident gives an insider's view of everything
the Evergreen State has to offer such as great places to eat, scenic
drives and volunteer vacations. Discover Seattle's arts and culture,
details on climbing Mt Rainier and so much more.
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Frommer's Washington State,
7th Edition by Karl Samson. This expert author tells you where to find great places to stay in every price range,
the best outdoor recreation and much more. Utilize the planning tools to
maximize your next adventure in the Evergreen State.
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