It’s no secret that we love the Western USA. We lived on the west coast for 10 years. You will find our social media channels full of posts that show off the natural beauty of the mountains, lakes and beaches we visited.  While living in San Francisco we would often venture north and visit the Pacific Northwest. We fell in love with it.  After moving away from the west coast we traveled all over the world.  But still, something keeps drawing us back to one of our favorite regions in the world, the PNW.  The combination of mountains, forests, rivers and beaches, along with it’s laid back vibes, super chill people and some top notch places to live has us craving our next visit to this beautiful part of America.  

Today we are sharing our top 3 places to live in the Pacific Northwest.  One thing that always comes to mind when we think about the west coast is cost of living.  Things can be REALLY expensive.  We lived in San Francisco for 10 years, folks.  But what we love about further north toward the Pacific Northwest is that it brings you even closer to the outdoors and natural beauty, but with a much more affordable price tag.  It sounds like a win-win right?  So, let’s just jump right in!

There is no doubt the Pacific Northwest is a breathtaking place to visit. Many of the places you can pick to live in or visit are waterfront communities that have jaw-dropping mountain ranges and wildlife right in your backyard. If you are ready to make a change and looking for a new place to call home, these three places should make it onto your list. If you find yourself falling in love with living in the Pacific Northwest, make sure to check out some prime Seattle real estate and take the leap today. Here are our favorite picks for the top places to live in the Pacific Northwest.

Seattle, Washington

Of course, Seattle has to be on this list. The city has so much to offer. One of the most iconic observation tower in the country and perhaps even the world is the Seattle Space Needle. Millions of people have ridden to the top of the tower and enjoyed the views of Puget Sound and the surrounding area. A must-visit destination on any foodie's bucket list is The Pike Place Market. Not only do they have the fish throwing event that everyone wants to check out, but they also have the freshest ingredients that will delight any amateur or professional chef. Everything is so conveniently located, and if you need to travel, you can hop on a ferry and get to the next location. When you're house hunting, you can specify that you want a mountain view, and you will be treated to stunning views of the imposing Mt. Rainier.

Portland, Oregon

Portland is a city that has undergone a significant transformation over the last 20 years. It is one of the most exciting cities to live in. They embrace cultural diversity and even weirdness. It is an excellent place for health-conscious people to live. Many of the restaurants offer vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options on their menus as premier dishes. And the art scene is just incredible. Housing in Portland is a sound investment because the population is growing year over year. The job market is hot, and unemployment is very low, which will help drive the prices of homes up in the future. 

Twin Falls, Idaho

Twin Falls or the Magic Valley is a beautiful place to live. The city is known as the gatekeeper to the Snake River Canyon, which gives you access to the impressive Shoshone Falls. The city has so much to offer for families that crave outdoor adventure. You can get your heart pumping exercise with some fantastic views of the Snake River and surrounding parks and falls. The housing prices are great when compared to other cities in the Pacific Northwest, and you can be sure you will get more land for your money. Even though it is a city, it has a small-town charm about it that has visitors wanting to stay and call Twin Falls home.

So, if you’re looking for that next place to settle down look no further than the PNW. It’s bursting with lovely cities and towns, relatively inexpensive real estate and an abundance of activities to be active outdoors! What is your favorite place in the Pacific Northwest? Leave us a comment below!