The Corridors: Nature from San Francisco to Seattle

Wrapped in the fog that drifts in from the bay and draped over steep hills facing the Pacific, San Francisco is one of America's most beloved cities, refined, rebellious and deeply cosmopolitan. Its symbol is the Golden Gate Bridge, the unmistakable red span reaching out towards the ocean, revealed and hidden by the morning mists. To walk the city is to be surprised by its rolling streets, still climbed today by the famous cable cars that scale the heights of Nob Hill and Russian Hill, offering sudden glimpses of the water. Along the Fisherman's Wharf waterfront the sea lions of Pier 39 bark and the air smells of sourdough bread and fresh crab, while offshore stands the island of Alcatraz, with its historic penitentiary reachable by boat. The charm of San Francisco lives in its neighbourhoods: the Victorian Painted Ladies around Alamo Square, the Chinese energy of Chinatown, the oldest and liveliest in America, the rainbow, activist streets of the Castro, and the bohemian ferment of Haight-Ashbury, cradle of hippie culture. At the city's core, Union Square buzzes with shopping and theatres, while the Civic Center and museums such as SFMOMA and the de Young reveal its cultured soul. Green spaces abound: the vast Golden Gate Park holds Japanese gardens, conservatories and trails down to the ocean. The dining scene is among the most innovative in the country, from fusion cuisine to the wines of the nearby Napa and Sonoma Valley and organic markets. From San Francisco it is easy to set out for California's national parks, the redwoods of Muir Woods and the Big Sur coast. Free, creative and swept by the ocean wind, San Francisco wins over anyone willing to be led by its hills and its suspended light.

Bodega Bay gathers around an inlet on the Sonoma coast of California, a small fishing harbour made famous by Alfred Hitchcock's film "The Birds". The quiet bay offers seal and seabird watching, hikes along the cliffs and fresh tastings of oysters and crab. The trails of Bodega Head deliver spectacular views over the Pacific Ocean. Bodega Bay is a coastal pause with wild, cinematic charm. Jenner-by-the-sea marks the point where the Russian River meets the Pacific Ocean, on Sonoma's spectacular coast in California. A tiny village overlooking the estuary, it is loved for its harbour-seal colonies, cliff-top views over the water and blazing sunsets. All around, Highway 1 unfolds breathtaking curves and wind-battered bluffs. A stop of rare beauty for those seeking wild nature and oceanic silence.

Santa Rosa is the lively heart of Sonoma County in Northern California, the seat of Wine Country and a gateway to one of the most celebrated wine regions in the United States. The town centre features the charming Railroad Square, a district of Victorian-era stone buildings now filled with boutiques, cafés and restaurants. Cartoonist Charles M. Schulz, creator of the Peanuts, lived here for years and is honoured by a museum much loved by families. All around stretch hills blanketed in vineyards: the Russian River, Dry Creek and Alexander valleys hold dozens of wineries where you can taste Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Zinfandel, often paired with farm-to-table local cuisine. Its strategic location allows day trips to the spectacular Pacific coast, the giant redwood groves of Armstrong Redwoods and nearby Napa Valley. With tastings, rolling rural landscapes and a mild year-round climate, Santa Rosa is the ideal base for discovering the authentic, gourmet soul of Northern California. Sheer cliffs plunging into the ocean, Victorian-style wooden houses and redwood forests: Mendocino is one of the most evocative gems of California's northern coast. This small artistic village, perched on a headland battered by the Pacific wind, preserves the bohemian atmosphere that made it a refuge for painters and writers, with art galleries, period bed & breakfasts and artisan workshops. The trails of Mendocino Headlands State Park run along spectacular bluffs where passing whales can be spotted, while inland stretch forests of giant redwoods and the county's vineyards, renowned for their Pinot Noir wines. Along the coast one discovers hidden beaches, historic lighthouses and the famous Glass Beach. Mendocino is the ideal destination for those seeking a romantic, timeless stay among wild nature, art and the unmistakable charm of the most authentic California.

Fort Bragg faces the ocean along the rugged Mendocino Coast in northern California. The town is famous for Glass Beach, where decades of waves have polished glass fragments into colourful pebbles, and for the historic Skunk Train railway that winds through redwood forests. The Noyo fishing harbour, wind-beaten cliffs and coastal trails complete a wild and striking landscape. Eureka overlooks Humboldt Bay, along California's northern coast, set amid a landscape of sea fog and redwood forests. Its Victorian old town is one of the best preserved in the state, with the iconic Carson Mansion attesting to the wealth of the timber era. The harbour and waterfront recall its maritime past, while all around stretch the redwood parks, including nearby Humboldt Redwoods State Park. Eureka is an ideal base for exploring the ancient forests and the wild Pacific coast. Redding rises in northern California, on the banks of the Sacramento River, at the foot of the mountains and just a short way from the volcanic Lassen Volcanic National Park. Its symbol is the Sundial Bridge, an elegant pedestrian bridge designed by architect Santiago Calatrava that also works as a giant sundial. The town is a gateway to lakes, waterfalls and forests, including Shasta Lake and nearby Mount Shasta. Between volcanic nature, outdoor activities and clear skies, Redding is the ideal base for exploring northern California.

Klamath Falls rises in southern Oregon, overlooking Upper Klamath Lake, the largest body of fresh water in the region and an important migratory crossroads for pelicans and bald eagles. The city, sunny for much of the year, is rich in geothermal springs that heat its buildings and sidewalks. A convenient base toward the majestic Crater Lake National Park, with its deep-blue lake enclosed in a volcanic crater, it is loved by birdwatching and nature enthusiasts. Between waters, volcanoes and clear skies, Klamath Falls surprises.

Crater Lake astonishes in southern Oregon with its lake of intensely blue water, the deepest in the United States, cradled in the caldera of an ancient volcano. The heart of the national park of the same name, it delivers breathtaking views from the crater rim and from the volcanic islet of Wizard Island. Trails, scenic drives and winter snow make it a wonder in every season. Crater Lake is a geological masterpiece of rare, hypnotic beauty.

Hood River rises in a spectacular position along the Columbia River Gorge, in northern Oregon, at the foot of majestic snow-capped Mount Hood. The town is considered the world capital of windsurfing and kitesurfing thanks to the constant winds that blow along the Columbia River. Surrounded by the orchards and vineyards of the Fruit Loop, it offers tastings of cider, wines and local produce, as well as hiking, cycling and a historic scenic railway. Portland rises at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in Oregon, the capital of the Pacific Northwest's indie and green culture. Nicknamed the "City of Roses" for its splendid gardens, it keeps a bohemian charm built on artisan coffee, microbreweries and markets. The legendary Powell's City of Books is the world's largest independent bookshop, while the Portland Japanese Garden and the International Rose Test Garden offer moments of pure calm. The city is surrounded by prodigious nature: snow-capped Mount Hood to the east, the spectacular Columbia River Gorge with its waterfalls to the west, and nearby the famed Willamette Valley of Pinot Noir wines. Between creative food trucks and a nonconformist spirit, Portland is a city to be savoured slowly.

Olympic National Park encompasses three extraordinary ecosystems in Washington State, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Snow-capped peaks and glaciers of Mount Olympus, the lush temperate rainforests of Hoh with their emerald mosses, and a wild coast strewn with sea stacks coexist in a single park. Hot springs and alpine lakes complete the diversity. Olympic National Park is the ideal destination for those seeking rainforests, mountains and primordial coasts of the Pacific Northwest.

Seattle stretches between the waters of Puget Sound and the shores of Lake Washington, framed by the snow-capped summit of Mount Rainier and the Cascade and Olympic mountain ranges. The heart of the Pacific Northwest and home to an unmistakable urban culture, it is a city that weaves together untamed nature, technological innovation and a creative soul built on music, coffee and markets. A visit often begins at the famous Pike Place Market, one of the oldest public markets in the United States, where fishmongers toss salmon across the stalls and where, in a discreet corner, the very first Starbucks coffeehouse was born. From here the eye travels to the Elliott Bay waterfront, alive with ferries, seafood restaurants and the great Seattle Great Wheel. Nearby rises the Space Needle, the futuristic tower built for the 1962 World's Fair, whose observation deck embraces the entire city; at its feet lies the Seattle Center, with the colourful Museum of Pop Culture designed by Frank Gehry and the Chihuly Garden and Glass, devoted to blown-glass sculptures. The neighbourhoods reveal different faces: Pioneer Square, with its red-brick Victorian buildings and art galleries; lively Capitol Hill, realm of nightlife and the independent scene; and the Chinatown-International District, home to the city's Asian communities. Culture lovers should not miss the Seattle Art Museum, while those seeking views can climb to Kerry Park, a prime spot to photograph the skyline with Rainier in the background. All around, nature is never far away: ferry trips to the Sound's islands, hikes in Olympic National Park and Mount Rainier National Park, and tastings in the wineries of Woodinville Wine Country. A city of gentle rain and ever-changing skies, Seattle reveals itself on foot, coffee in hand, surprising visitors with its balance between metropolis and wilderness.

Anacortes occupies Fidalgo Island in northern Washington State, the main ferry port for boats bound for the enchanting San Juan Islands. The town keeps a pretty historic centre with murals and antique shops, while Washington Park and Mount Erie offer trails and views over the Salish Sea. Orca-watching and kayak trips set out from its waters. Anacortes is the ideal destination for those seeking islands, marine nature and the nautical atmosphere of the Pacific Northwest. Friday Harbor is the lively main port of San Juan Island, the most popular of the San Juan Islands in Washington State. The village gathered around the harbour lines up seafood restaurants, galleries and small shops, while from the surrounding waters depart trips to spot the resident orcas. Trails, historic lighthouses and lavender farms dot the island. Friday Harbor is the ideal destination for those seeking whale watching, pristine islands and the relaxed atmosphere of the Salish Sea.