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Hmmm, this actually gets convoluted. If you live in the western side of the states of the PNW, then PNW wins but the eastern side is all desert and can’t hold a candle to New England. New England’s natural beauty is more accessible to the entirety of the region rather than just one corridor (along I-5 basically).
Hmmm, this actually gets convoluted. If you live in the western side of the states of the PNW, then PNW wins but the eastern side is all desert and can’t hold a candle to New England. New England’s natural beauty is more accessible to the entirety of the region rather than just one corridor (along I-5 basically).
So why does EVERYBODY in western Washington DRIVE to eastern Washington EVERY weekend to go hiking, skiing, boating, and every other outdoor activity???
There must be something about "all desert" that they find inviting.
As Henry Kissinger said "all you need to know about a "country" is whether people are trying to get in or out".
How would you say the scenery of Mt Washington (highest peak in New England) compare with Mt Rainier (highest peak in Washington)?
I haven’t been to Mt. Washington so I can compare directly. With that being said, Mt. Rainier is over twice the prominence of Mt. Washington. If fact, Washington State alone has 5 peaks higher than Mt. Washington. Mt. Rainier is one of the most dramatic/beautiful areas in the world. Alpine lakes, wilflowers, snow topped peaks 365 days a year. Seems like an unfair comparison.
So why does EVERYBODY in western Washington DRIVE to eastern Washington EVERY weekend to go hiking, skiing, boating, and every other outdoor activity???
There must be something about "all desert" that they find inviting.
As Henry Kissinger said "all you need to know about a "country" is whether people are trying to get in or out".
Both Western and Eastern Washington are beautiful in their own ways. Chelan County is magnificent, the canyons rolling along the Columbia river gorge or something out of a sci-fi movie. The Palouse’s rolling hills are magical, and beautiful lakes all over NE Washington.
So why does EVERYBODY in western Washington DRIVE to eastern Washington EVERY weekend to go hiking, skiing, boating, and every other outdoor activity???
There must be something about "all desert" that they find inviting.
As Henry Kissinger said "all you need to know about a "country" is whether people are trying to get in or out".
Actually I have not been to Eastern Washington to hike in like 4 years. Last time was state park by Winrhrop I hike on the west side . All the national parks are on the west side .
In my opinion, the PNW without Western Washington/Oregon still beats New England.
The PNW seems definitely more varied and dramatic than New England. The latter's beauty is more bucolic and simple with rolling hills, deciduous forests, rocky shores, and salty marshes.
The most beautiful places in New England are places where natural beauty and man-made structures intersect. The region certainly has beautiful natural scenery, but many other places in the country (including the Pacific Northwest) far excel in that area. I think it's because conservation in general is more popular and successful in the west. The east, and especially New England, has had centuries of development. But, New England excels at managing that human development to enhance the natural beauty. Think of a country road in Vermont or New Hampshire. The most scenic places are near old barns and houses. Same with coastal views improved by lighthouses, docks, and shingled houses. Or look at an old brick mill next to a bubbling brook. Or look at the contrast of autumn colors against the white backdrop of a colonial church.
The most beautiful places in New England are places where natural beauty and man-made structures intersect. The region certainly has beautiful natural scenery, but many other places in the country (including the Pacific Northwest) far excel in that area. I think it's because conservation in general is more popular and successful in the west. The east, and especially New England, has had centuries of development. But, New England excels at managing that human development to enhance the natural beauty. Think of a country road in Vermont or New Hampshire. The most scenic places are near old barns and houses. Same with coastal views improved by lighthouses, docks, and shingled houses. Or look at an old brick mill next to a bubbling brook. Or look at the contrast of autumn colors against the white backdrop of a colonial church.
Ie. Rockport, Nantucket, Newport, Portland and Kennebunkport
I’ve sailed downeast Maine dozens of times. I’ve sailed the San Juans a few times on my sister’s boat. She has a house on Galiano over the border. Maine wins that one pretty easily.
I don’t think the Pacific NW comes remotely close to New England for fall foliage.
Otherwise the Pacific Northwest feels bigger-grander. Other than the Presidential Range, New England has hills rather than Mountains. Other than Logging Truck Maine where nobody goes, New England is very compact. I can get from my house on the Massachusetts SouthCoast to Burlington VT where I went to college in 4 hours at speed limit + 9. My ski condo at Killington I just sold in 3 hours 40 minutes with a gas stop. Bar Harbor in Maine which is as far downeast in Maine as anyone goes is 5-ish hours. Same for Sugarloaf as the most remote ski area at less than 5 hours.
So I can cherry pick a few things where New England has natural beauty that exceeds the Pacific Northwest but the scale is so much smaller that New England loses based on size. Personally, I prefer the aesthetic of Vermont hills with sugar maples and cows over giant evergreens but that’s because I have a lifetime looking at hills with sugar maples and cows.
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