VANCOUVER ISLAND
Vancouver Island's west coast gets the full force of winter storms, and one of the best places to immerse yourself in the experience is Tofino. The dreamy little town (winter population around 2,000) midway up the coast isn't on the way to anywhere, making it a sublime winter getaway. Drive 196 miles north of Victoria, or leave the motoring to Pacific Rim Navigators and you'll enjoy a fascinating commentary along the way. The $733 price tag may seem steep, but that's per vehicle (maximum six passengers) and you won't have to worry about the airport being closed for weather.
The luxurious Wickaninnish Inn defies nature with its setting on a rocky outcropping where you can absorb the show from the glass-walled dining room or your fireplace suite. The $856 "Storm Watcher" package includes two nights, a guided nature walk, storm caps, guidebooks and two wintery drinks.
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WASHINGTON COAST
Washington state's coastline shoulders up against the Pacific like a bully challenging Mother Nature to give him her best shot. And come winter, she does, sending battering-ram wind, frothy waves and occasional power outages. Kalaloch Lodge, 185 miles from Seattle and 195 miles from Portland, is located between two rain forests, so you're sure to get rain as well as winter storms.
The $169 "Storm Catcher" package includes one night in a picturesque cabin (ask for an ocean view), two Kalaloch mugs, breakfast for two and rain ponchos, valid Jan. 2-Feb. 29. Ocean Shores, one of two spots in Washington where you can drive your car on the beach, is 168 miles from Portland and 134 miles from Seattle. Downtown draws families to its carnival-spirited arcades and taffy shops. The Ramada Ocean Shore's "Storm Watcher" package includes two nights, massage and spacious rooms for $530. Large oceanfront suites with fireplaces and soaking tubs set the stage for the "Perfect Storm" package at Ocean Shore's Quinault Beach Resort and Casino. The $299 enticement includes one-night's accommodations, two half-hour massages, breakfast and dinner for two at ocean-front Emily's.
Further south on the Washington-Oregon border at the southern tip of the Long Beach Peninsula, the Columbia River bursts into the Pacific Ocean like a racehorse escaping the starting gates, creating an intimidating confluence of fresh and salt water. Storms add to the chaos, bringing 15-foot swells and winds as high as 70 miles an hour. For panoramic views, head to the North Head Lighthouse or the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, both at Cape Disappointment. Long Beach is 112 miles from Portland and 171 miles from Seattle.
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OREGON COAST
Highway 101 runs the length of Oregon's cove-studded coastline, hugging the shore for most of its 340 miles. A couple dozen towns and even more state parks are fairly deserted in the winter, all the better for storm watching. With a location named Cape Foulweather, you know you need to pack a rain jacket when you stay at The Inn at Otter Crest. You'll have a seagull's-eye view of incoming storms from your condo-style room perched on a rocky headland. Packages start at $87.90 a night and include two rain ponchos. Otter Crest is 140 miles from Portland and 294 miles from Seattle.
Romance the storm at posh Stephanie Inn in Cannon Beach. The low-slung, clapboard lodge invites cuddling and has been a favorite destination for lovers for more than a decade. Haystack Rock, a 235-foot-tall sea stack just offshore, challenges waves and wind while the town's upscale galleries and restaurants lure visitors. The Romance Package is $99 a night and includes a bath basket, half-pound of chocolate, rose petals sprinkled on the bed at turndown and more.
Go for high drama and feel the full fury of winter at the Heceta Head Lighthouse. Six rooms in the light keeper's residence are open to guests and the Mariner's Room has the best view. Rates are $133-$244 and include a seven-course breakfast. The lighthouse is located in Yachats, 160 miles from Portland and 332 miles from Seattle.
IF YOU GO
U.S. citizens who fly in and out of Canada must have a valid passport. At the present time, photo ID is sufficient if you travel via car or ship, but passports will be required in 2008.
Track storms in advance at www.weather.gov.
Vancouver Island, British Columbia: www.vancouverisland.travel.
Oregon: www.visittheoregoncoast.com.
Pacific Rim Navigators: 250-266-0202, www.pacificrimnavigators.ca.
Wickaninnish Inn: 800-333-4604, www.wickinn.com.
Long Beach Lodge: 877-844-7873, www.longbeachlodgeresort.com.
Pacific Sands Beach Resort: 800-565-BEACH, www.pacificsands.com.
Kalaloch Lodge: 888-896-3826, www.visitkalaloch.com.
Ramada Ocean Shores: 360-289-7700, www.ramadaoceanshores.net.
Quinault Beach Resort and Casino: 888-461-2214 or www.quinaultbeachresort.com.
Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center: 360-642-3029, www.fs.fed.us.
Breakers of Long Beach: 800-219-9833, www.breakerslongbeach.com.
Inn at Discovery Coast: 866-843-5782, www.innatdiscoverycoast.com.
Inn at Otter Crest: 866-869-4291, www.innatottercrest.com.
Stephanie Inn: 800-633-3466, www.stephanie-inn.com.
Heceta Head Lighthouse: 866-547-3696, www.hecetalighthouse.com.
Linda Hagen Miller is a freelance travel writer.
