Pacific Northwest & Northern California — Amtrak
2026-07-01 → 2026-07-14 · 5 travelers · 3 stops
Full Amtrak routing, SLC to Bellingham:
Salt Lake City → Chico — California Zephyr west to the Bay, then Coast Starlight north. Or direct-ish via the Zephyr to Sacramento and up. Dixon departs SLC. Group size TBD for this leg.
Chico → Portland — Coast Starlight northbound. One friend joins here (maybe more). Overnight or long day train through the Sacramento Valley and up through Oregon.
Portland → Bellingham — Amtrak Cascades north. A few days in Portland first. People flying in from SLC can catch us in Portland or fly directly into BLI (Bellingham) on Alaska/Allegiant.
Bellingham — home base for a week. The anchor of the trip. Everyone converges here.
Chico
First stop off the train. Chico is a college town (CSU Chico) in the Sacramento Valley with a strong local culture punching above its size. Sierra Nevada Brewery is here — the original location, not the Asheville one. Bidwell Park is massive and walkable. Hot in July, so plan accordingly: morning hikes, afternoon beer.
Portland
Second stop, and where the group starts growing. Coast Starlight from Chico arrives at Union Station. Portland has more going on than its reputation suggests — strong food and coffee culture, good walkable neighborhoods (Hawthorne, Mississippi Ave, NW 23rd), the Gorge is 45 min east. People can join here or meet us later in Bellingham.
Bellingham
Bellingham sits where PNW forest meets saltwater. The Fairhaven district south of downtown is the gravitational center — historic village, ferry terminal, trailheads, independent bookstores, a 55-year-old food co-op. Strong brewery culture, a DIY music scene that punches above its weight, and the closest old-growth forest within city limits. Late July means long days, high odds on Mt. Baker views, and prime whale-watching season.
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