Of course, no one wants to get caught outside in a winter storm, but what if you could get a safe, dry front-row seat to watch a storm in action?

For starters, don’t confuse the term “storm watching” with “storm chasing.”

Storm chasing involves the somewhat dangerous experience of driving toward a tornado or hurricane.

Storm watching involves sitting in the comfort of a hotel while watching massive waves crashing against the beach.

The best place to experience winter storm watching is the Pacific Northwest, which gets huge gale-force winds and heavy rains, but not a lot of snow.

On Vancouver Island, British Columbia, The Wickaninnish Inn is known for its storm-watching packages, where guests get prime ocean views from every room and public space.

Even the spa and restaurant offer close-up views of 20-foot-high waves.

On Cannon Beach in Oregon, the Stephanie Inn is another popular spot for storm-watchers, where you can see the Pacific waves crashing over Haystack Rock from the comfort of your own room.

And in Northwest Washington, Whidbey and Camano Islands are located in what’s called a “rain shadow” between the Cascade and Olympic Mountains, so you can view the effects of the Pacific storms without getting slammed by all the precipitation.

On these islands, there are more than 130 lodges with water-facing windows to experience storm waves at their best.

Learn about storm-chasing with Storm Chasing Vacations.

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