The Pacific Ocean region of the United States is home to over 8,600 miles of coastline. In addition to large cities, this area is home to varied landscapes, including great beaches, deserts, glaciers, and more than 20 national parks. Read below to learn more about this area of the United States.

Places to Visit and Things to Do:

• California: Home to several large cities, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Oakland, San Jose, and Sacramento, the Golden State is the most populous state in the United States. California is known for famous attractions such as Disneyland, the Golden Gate Bridge, the Hollywood sign, and Alcatraz. California also has several of the most popular national parks, such as Yosemite, Death Valley, and Joshua Tree

• Oregon: Home to the city of Portland, Oregon is known for Crater Lake National Park, over 300 miles of Pacific Ocean coastline, and having the word’s last remaining Blockbuster. The Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Mount Hood National Forest, and city of Astoria are other popular places to visit

• Washington: Known for the Space Needle, Washington is also known for several national parks, including Mt Rainier National Park, Olympic National Park, and North Cascades National Park. Besides the Space Needle, Seattle also is home to Pike Place Market, Puget Sound ferries, and several great attractions in Seattle Center. Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument is known for the volcanic eruption in 1980, and is a popular area to visit

• Alaska: The most northern and largest state in the United States, Alaska receives many tourists each year to see the national parks, glaciers, and northern lights. Many people go on an Alaskan cruise to see the coastal towns, such as Glacier Bay, Juneau, and Ketchikan. Fishing, wildlife viewing, hiking, rafting, and other outdoor activities are popular

• Hawaii: Located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, Hawaii is comprised of 137 islands. Tourists typically visit one or more of the 6 main islands - Hawaii, Maui, O’ahu, Kauaʻi, Molokaʻi, and Lānaʻi. Hawaii is a great state for surfing, snorkeling, scuba diving, hiking, helicopter tours, parasailing, fishing, golfing, and other outdoor activities. Hawaii is home to many all inclusive resorts, and is known for their shave ice

Travel Tips:

• Go to the right state at the right time of the year. For example, the northern lights in Alaska are mostly likely to be seen between September and April, while Hawaii is best visited between March and September, when the state receives less rain than during winter months

• Prepare for multiple climates. While the climate of Alaska is certainly different than that of Hawaii, some of these states have vastly different climates between different parts of the state. For example, temperatures in Death Valley, California can reach over 110 degrees over summer, while northern California only reach 60 degrees over summer. Additionally, the state of Washington receives some of the most rain in the country each year, especially from November to April

• Buy a National Park Pass. The pass costs $80 for a year of unlimited access to national parks. Meanwhile, individual parks charge up to $35 to enter a park, meaning as little as 3 visits to a national park can save you money