Museums serve as gateways, transporting people to realms of curiosity and providing glimpses into the past, present, and future. Regardless of whether they focus on history, science, art, or culture, these institutions stimulate the imagination, answering queries and inspiring new ones. Regardless of size or age, we have a profound appreciation for exploring museums, regardless of their location. In this article, we highlight 5 of our favorite museums on the West Coast. Let's get to the point!
So what are those best museums to visit on the West Coast?
1. Oregon Museum of Science and Industry – Portland, Oregon
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Explore a 219-foot submarine floating on the Willamette River. It's the USS Blueback, which you may have seen in the movie "The Hunt for Red October" back in 1990. Discover galaxies light years away at a planetarium that illuminates the wonders of the universe. Experience the magic of bringing prehistoric creatures to life in a fully equipped paleontology lab. All these amazing attractions and more await you at OMSI, the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. From its humble beginnings as a collection of odd artifacts in 1903, OMSI has transformed into one of the top science museums in the country, offering a friendly and educational experience for both adults and children.
2. Columbia Gorge Discovery Center & Museum – The Dalles, Oregon
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From ancient times to modern times, this stunning museum located at the entrance of the Columbia Gorge showcases a wide range of historical periods. Within its walls, guests can marvel at a life-sized Columbian Mammoth, while the 54-acre grounds surrounding the museum hold traces of human settlement that go back at least 11,000 years. The area also features sections of the famous Lewis and Clark and Oregon Trails, offering visitors a glimpse into the past. In addition, visitors will find hiking trails, native plants, and an exciting raptor discovery program to further enrich their experience.
3. Maryhill Museum of Art – Goldendale, Washington
Source: Google Search
Located in south-central Washington, a small town with a population of 3,500 may not be the most likely place to discover a full-scale replica of Stonehenge. Nevertheless, it stands proudly here. Originally intended as a mansion by businessman Samuel Hill, this spot offers an overlook of the magnificent Columbia River Gorge. Eventually, Hill transformed the structure into a museum, which gained its dedication in 1926 from his close acquaintance, Queen Marie of Romania. While the Stonehenge replica serves as a tribute to the fallen servicemen of Klickitat County during World War I, it's not the sole attraction of this museum. Visitors can explore over 80 masterpieces by renowned French sculptor Auguste Rodin, a captivating collection of 400 meticulously crafted chess sets, an assortment of Orthodox icons, and a sculpture park showcasing extraordinary large-scale works by esteemed artists from the Pacific Northwest region.
4. The Whale Museum – Friday Harbor, Washington
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This museum, known as the "killer" museum, holds the distinction of being the first in the country that specifically celebrates a wild species – the orcas, often known as "killer whales." Its main goal is to encourage people to take care of all types of whales, with a particular emphasis on the orcas from J, K, and L Pods inhabiting the Salish Sea, which is the body of water surrounding the San Juan Islands. Visitors are given the opportunity to symbolically "adopt" an orca, listen to whale communication, and admire the massive skeleton of a whale suspended from the ceiling. Don't forget to also explore the sightings map, which provides the latest information on where whales have been spotted.
5. Museum of Pop Culture – Seattle, Washington
Source: Google Search
Paul Allen, the co-founder of Microsoft, established the Experience Music Project in 2000. However, over time, it has evolved into MoPOP, an institution that goes beyond music to embrace all aspects of pop culture. Located beneath the iconic Space Needle in a futuristic building designed by Frank O. Gehry, this museum celebrates various forms of popular culture, ranging from television to tattoos. Within its walls, visitors can marvel at an impressive collection of items, including the legendary guitar played by Jimi Hendrix at Woodstock, Luke Skywalker's lightsaber, and the fedora worn by Indiana Jones in "Raiders of the Lost Ark."
Upgrade your airport experience: save big with PNA's smart parking choices!
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You might be surprised about this fact because most people are confident that on-site parking is the best choice when you're traveling by air. But, actually, it's not true, and we'll explain why.
People who prefer to get to the airport by car think that it's the most convenient option since on-site parking is the nearest place to the airport where it's possible to park a vehicle safely for the period of a trip. However, they make a huge mistake, as there is a big chance to face many following difficulties:
- You will need to find a spot in a crowded lot,
- You will need to carry the luggage all the way through the parking lot,
- You must pay expensive fees without great service, and much more.
Sounds not so good, right? But there is one great solution in this situation – an off-site parking option!
The off-site parking service has many advantages, which will definitely convince you to change your choice during the next trip:
- First of all, it's much cheaper. On-site parking can become too costly for you, as the price for such a parking type might equal half the value of the whole trip. The cost of the off-site parking, in turn, will be not so high, offering alongside free shuttles going back and forth between the parking lot and the airport.
- Secondly, it's much faster. By choosing an on-site parking option, you'll be needed to find a free spot in a crowded lot, which takes a lot of time. However, by selecting an off-site parking option, you'll be able to drive directly to the entrance, where staff members will help you to pull your luggage out of your vehicle and load it into the shuttle, as well as park your car securely for you. Finally, a free shuttle will bring you and your bags to the airport.
- Thirdly, it's much more convenient. No more worries about being late to the airport and your flight – the off-site parking is a hassle-free option that is usually faster. Since you use the services of a private company, people want to be sure you're satisfied with the quality and comfort of the services provided, so you don't need to wrack your brain about the quick path to the airport anymore.
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As for the companies that provide the best off-site parking services, we've prepared an ideal option for you. Our booking platform, ParkingNearAirports.io, built excellent relationships with many parking lot operators to leave customers satisfied and their cars – safe. Furthermore, it doesn't matter what the airport you're flying from is – on our easy-to-navigate website, https://parkingnearairports.io/, you'll find the best deals for all the major airports and cruise ports in the United States and Canada.
To understand it better, we can give you an example. Let's imagine that you live in Chicago, Illinois and plan to visit Portland, Oregon. Then, you can use the services of affordable parking near Chicago Airport. If you're flying from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the situation is the same – choose cheap FLL valet parking. So, as you can understand, everything works simply.
By the way, on our website, you can find all the required information about the advantages of off-site parking, airport parking deals, and others. So travel profitably and enjoy your following trip together with us!
