The twin blue-collar cities of Longview and Kelso are sandwiched between I-5 and the Columbia River, approximately 40 miles north of Portland. With a long history in fishing and timber, this freeway stopover is a portal to the Long Beach Peninsula 70 miles to the east. It is also a gateway to Mount St. Helens and Portland, Oregon.

Getting to Longview and Kelso

Community Urban Bus Service (254 Oregon Way, 360/577-3399) provides local service in the Kelso-Longview area Monday–Saturday.

Getaway Express (360/636-5656, $70 one-way) operates shuttle van service between Longview/Kelso and Portland International Airport.

Amtrak (501 S 1st Ave., Kelso, 800/872-7245, www.amtrak.com) trains head north from Kelso to Centralia, Olympia, Tacoma, Seattle, and points beyond, and south to Vancouver, Portland, and California. Service is four times a day. Catch a Greyhound (360/423-7380 or 800/231-2222, www.greyhound.com) at the train station (501 S. 1st. Ave.) in Kelso.