When you live along the eastern seaboard, it is difficult to appreciate the differences between our region and the coastline of the Pacific Northwest.

The Northeast Corridor, which consists of large and small cities located between Boston and Washington, is sometimes characterized as a single metropolis with close to 56 million people. In contrast, the sparsely populated northwest features wide beaches, spectacular mountains and a few cities with a reputation for cleanliness, friendliness and outdoor living.

We recently had an opportunity to visit some interesting destinations along the Pacific coast by land and by sea and enjoyed it immensely. Ironically, there is considerable debate as to how to define the Pacific Northwest. Most people agree that it includes the states of Oregon, Washington and the Vancouver area of the Canadian province of British Columbia. Others believe that the geographically and climatically similar parts of California located from San Francisco north are also part of the Pacific Northwest.

It is difficult to do justice to this vast area in a short article, but here some places worth visiting.

San Francisco: The City by the Bay is a spectacular place to look at from almost any location — whether you are crossing the Golden Gate Bridge, sitting in a café having a Dungeness crab at Fisherman’s Wharf, or gazing out of a prison cell at Alcatraz planning an imaginary escape. San Francisco has a most interesting history. It once served as the northernmost outpost of Spain’s empire in the Americas, but later emerged as America’s own foothold on the Pacific coast after the Mexican-American War and the California Gold Rush of the 1840s. The vibrant waterfront became the center of activity for maritime shipping and commerce. By 1915, a world exposition confirmed San Francisco’s recovery from its famous earthquake and showcased the region’s reputation for innovation and an eclectic lifestyle.

Today, there is plenty to do in San Francisco. Many of the 50 or so commercial piers that dominate the northern part of the city now feature an array of stores, restaurants and clubs, as well as an aquarium, sea lion platform and an interesting National Maritime Museum. Ferries leaving from the waterfront transport tens of thousands of people each day to communities around the bay or to the infamous federal prison at Alcatraz. Gangsters and other dangerous felons were imprisoned on the massive rock island there from the 1930s to 1963. The audio tour brings to life the Spartan conditions under which both prisoners and guards served time there, and the legends they created.

Within a short distance from San Francisco are many other attractions worth visiting. Just north of the Golden Gate Bridge lies the bayside village of Sausalito, where Mediterranean-style villas cling to the hillside and tourists flock to cafes and shops along the waterfront. Another few miles along Route 101 lies Muir Woods, where a forest of redwoods containing some of the world’s oldest and tallest trees can be visited. Finally, many people travel to the more than 400 wineries located near San Francisco in the Sonoma or Napa valleys to sample the wares and take in the countryside.

Astoria and the Oregon Coast: The rugged coastline of Northern California, Oregon and Washington extends from San Francisco to Seattle for a distance of almost 1,000 miles with only two small cities in between: Eureka, California, and Coos Bay, Oregon. The three main ways to travel north are via ship; along Route 101, a two-lane coastal highway that meanders through small towns and mountain passes; or by Interstate 5, which is located about 50 miles east of the coast and passes through Portland, Tacoma and Seattle into Canada.

Perhaps the most interesting section of the Oregon coast is the area around the small city of Astoria, where the mighty Columbia River comes down from the mountains to the east and empties into the Pacific. Astoria is historically significant since it marks the location where the explorers Lewis and Clark first viewed the Pacific in 1805 after years of traversing the wilderness. Six years later, millionaire John Jacob Astor established a trading post there, which, by the end of the century developed into a regional center for the fishing, timber, fur-trading and shipping industries. The strategic location of the town and the treacherous nature of the waters also led to the establishment of important forts and Coast Guard installations in the region. This interesting history is told at the Columbia River Maritime Museum and Fort Stevens, the only mainland military installation fired upon by the Japanese in World War II.

Today, Astoria is also known as the gateway to the beach communities of the Oregon coast, which are populated by retirees, tourists and weekenders from Portland. One of the most interesting places to see along the coast is Cannon Beach, located about 30 miles south of Astoria. The wide beach there is enhanced by views of Haystack Rock, a 235-foot-high geological marvel that juts out of the sand just a few feet offshore. Families also will enjoy Seaside Beach, located closer to Astoria, with its beachfront promenade and worldwide sand castle championship.

Seattle: Seattle is one of the nation’s major cities with a population of 3.6 million people in the metropolitan area. Known and respected today as the headquarters or founding place of major companies such as Microsoft, Boeing, Starbucks, Nordstrom, UPS and Amazon, the city also has a reputation for its beautiful surroundings and a cosmopolitan outlook. It is built on several hills on a narrow strip of land bordering on Puget Sound and Lake Washington. In the distance, the Cascade mountain range and snow-clad Mt. Rainier are visible, along with evergreen forests.

Seattle is reputed to have mild temperatures and frequent precipitation, but most visitors are able to work around the elements to take in several enjoyable sites. First, the 600-foot Seattle Space Needle, built for a 1962 World’s Fair, offers spectacular views of the region from its observation deck and revolving restaurant. Second, many people enjoy a visit to Pike’s Place Market, which features local merchants selling fresh seafood, produce, flowers and retail products. Third, people travel north of the city to Everett, Wash., to tour the Boeing Flight Aviation Center and see jets on the assembly line being designed and completed.

Vancouver: Vancouver is an important stop along the Pacific coast. Located just 30 miles north of the Canadian border, Vancouver could have ended up being part of the United States if expansionists in Congress seeking a border with Great Britain at the 54th parallel rather than the 49th parallel had prevailed instead of President James Polk. Today, Vancouver has become a gateway into Canada for foreign investors and immigrants from Asia and elsewhere. Like Seattle, Vancouver has a large harbor for shipping, is protected from harsher norther weather by the surrounding mountains and separated from the Pacific by the 400-mile-long Vancouver Island to the west. These natural features plus a favorable business climate have made Vancouver a popular place for movie and TV production, world festivals and the arts in general. Other prominent industries in Vancouver include computer software, forestry and consumer products.

Vancouver is densely populated with a high cost of living, but the city often is cited as having a high quality of life for residents and many outdoor attractions for visitors. Like much of the northwest, it is not hard to find tours or guides offering activities from whale watching and plane rides to kayaking and hiking in this outdoorsy city. For the less adventurous, one feature is Stanley Park, which recently was named the top park in the world by TripAdvisor. Stanley Park is adjacent to the downtown area and includes more than 1,000 acres of public land on the water with forest trails, playgrounds, an aquarium, beaches and wildlife. Granville Island is considered a must-see attraction because this restored industrial district offers hundreds of shops, theaters and markets all in one location.

Glenn Carberry of Norwich is a local attorney who practices in New London. A frequent traveler, he has visited more than 50 countries and more than 100 World Heritage sites. He writes for The Day about the places to which he has traveled with his wife, Kimberly.