Vacation in the Seattle Area

[MRM]

Two years ago I asked for advice on what to do during a short stay in the Seattle area. Short Vacation in Seattle Area As a result of that advise we had one of the best vacations in our family's history. We were taking a cruise out of Seattle and had a couple of days before the cruise and four days after. We ended up staying in downtown Seattle the days before the cruise and spent it by having dinner at the Space Needle, walking the downtown area, exploring Pike's Market, and exploring all of the downtown areas accesable on foot. We left the cruise the last night at Victoria, BC and stayed the night. We walked everywhere within easy reach of the waterfront and took the ferry to Port Angeles. We spent the rest of our time touring every inch of Olympic National Park, from Hurricane Ridge to Ruby Beach and Rialto Beach, and Hoh Rain Forest. It was seriously one of the best vacation we ever had and we want to thank all the PP Posters who helped us along the way. And now . . .

We want to go back.

This time just the Wifey and I are going, and we would like to build on our experience. The combination of ocean and mountain and urban adventures available in Seattle are unparalleled. We are planning to leave August 31 and come back September 8. That's basically Labor Day weekend and the week after. We continue to have the impression that we can either go west towards Olympic National Park or the San Juan Islands or go east toward Mt. Rainier, but not both in a single, week-long vacation. Since we've already done Olympic National Park, I'm focusing on the San Juans. We will fly into Seattle that Friday, August, 31, and spend a day or two reliving our urban Seattle/Pike's Market experience, before starting our real vacation. Can we spend a full week in the San Juans without getting bored? Can we spend a couple of days on the Islands and then go east toward Mt. Rainier and spend the rest of the week in the mountains? Or should we just head toward Mt. Rainier, conqueror it by car and hiking, and then head deeper into the wilderness?

I personally love the ferries in the Pacific Northwest region. We've been to Victoria and we've spent a fair amount of time in Vancouver, BC. Still, we're interested in a ferry adventure.

Does anyone have the Seattle area? any recommendations on how to maximize a 7-10 day adventure in the Seattle/PNW area?

[tevake]

Having just seen your comments about wanting to have a sailing adventure.

I'd recomend that you look around PortTownsend for some sailing opportunities.
It is well established as a traditional wooden boat center. There are probably some good sailing charters from there.

I once sailed from there after the wooden boat festival thru Deseption pass into the puget sound, quite the ride.

Could go across the straights into the Gulf Islands, a very nice cruising area.

Cheers Richard

PS just checked, the wooden boat festival is that last weekend that you will be there.

[944 S2]

Well now that you let the secret out!
Oregon coast is worth the visit. Cannon beach and the view from ecola state park is breathtaking. One of our favorites when I lived in Seattle.

[Superman]

There are five national parks from which to choose. It's hard to pick a favorite among them. It just depends on how you want to see them. For backpackers, there are a hundred 'must see' places. North Cascades is the real gem, followed closely by Mount Rainier. For car camping....the number is smaller but not by much, and with hiking trails to explore. Two volcanoes (Baker and Rainier) visible from Seattle. Two distinctly different mountain ranges.

Urban life is nearly as cool. World's best oysters. The 'feel' around this region is breezy, hearty, relaxed and the vistas are mesmerizing. You can't go wrong, my friend.

Strike that. You can go wrong. You can attempt driving in our traffic. Don't do that. Drive during stealthy times.

PS: Rainier is more south than east from San Juans. Some distance. If you do avoid traffic, then the drive is beautiful.

[MRM]

I am so happy that five of my favorite PPBBS Posters have responded to my thread already. It would be my honor to meet any and all of you during our trip. Especially Superman, since he's a Poopy Head. Nota, Tevake, 944 and AB, if there's any way to work a meet with you guys into the trip, I'm all over it like a Midwesterner hitting the Pacific beach for the first time. 944, since you're in Ohio these days, I'd love to meet you, but keep your focus on the midterm primaries. The country is counting on you,

The basic question seems to be boiling down to whether we can spend 6 days in the San Juans and other islands withing ferry distance without getting bored, or whether we should split our time and do the first day or two in downtown Seattle doing stereotypical tourist things, some time in the San Juans, and still have time to drive into the Cascades, or whether we're better off picking two of our three goals?

[Superman]

Dang, that's a busy time. I'm certainly out of town until and including Labor Day. Perhaps back in town later that week, but then gone again when you leave. Plus, I'm at the southern tip of Puget Sound.

[masraum]

Hah, funny, I was going to post tonight or tomorrow asking for info about things to do in Seattle. THe missus and I will almost certainly be there in Sep. It looks like I've got a couple of threads to read.

I was in Seattle almost 20 years ago (May 2000) for work for a week. It was fantastic, the best sushi that I've ever had (Shiros, which has been sold, but Shiro has a new place Sushi Kashiba where we'll definitely be going). I also spent a day (there were issues where we couldn't do the work that we needed to) driving over Mt Ranier and then to Mt St Helens and back. THat whole drive was amazing!

I need to check these out for some stuff for us to do.

[Superman]

There isn't anything to do here. Particularly in the summer and early Fall.

[Ayles]

I’m headed to the San Juan’s tomorrow for a few days of camping on Lopez. If you haven’t booked your lodging yet the options might be limited. We made our reservations for a camp site back in March.

You can do the north cascades easily before or after the San Juan’s if you take the ferry out of Anacortes. Look up Diablo Dam or Baker Lake, maybe Marble Mount or Ross Lake. That would all be pretty easy out of Anacortes.

[Evans, Marv]

Just happens we're leaving Tuesday for a short trip. We'll go the south route around Olympic Natl. Park & stop for a walk in the Quinault rain forest followed by the evening boat ride on Quinault Lake. Then to Port Angeles for the hike to Hurricane Ridge and surrounding area. That will be followed by a day or two to explore Seattle (Space Needle, glass art place at the base, Pike's Place Market, the underground tour, & ???). Then we'll take the gondola up the side of Rainier to walk back down & maybe do a hike or two around there before coming back. I was at Ft. Lewis in the mid 60s & have been back a few times but now in the last thirty years or so.

[LakeCleElum]

Originally Posted by Superman

There isn't anything to do here. Particularly in the summer and early Fall.

Rains every day Sept 1 to July 15.........

[LWJ]

Can you sail? There is someone on Craigslist advertising bareboat or captained sailing in puget sound for somewhat reasonable pricing. If so, lots of campgrounds take boats. It would also be a different way to experience the sound.

Yes. A week in the San juans is doable. Any combo really works but limit seattle driving. It sucks.

I would skip the "must see" tourist stuff. I would see natural wonder type stuff. Mt. Saint Helens is remarkable- and not too far off. I would focus on things that are not in your normal life. Example? I took some swedes to the Oregon Desert for some trout fishing once. They loved it as they have mountains and ocean in Sweden. Desert was novel.

Welcome and enjoy!

[serene911]

Hi Marv, Google Dungeness Spit, It is the longest natural sand spit in the United
States at 6.8 miles. Located in Sequim. I led a number of PCA tours there as a destination. Spectacular views, Sequim is located east of Hurricane Ridge

[WolfeMacleod]

Originally Posted by MRM

August, 31..... Still, we're interested in a ferry adventure.

Does anyone have the Seattle area? any recommendations on how to maximize a 7-10 day adventure in the Seattle/PNW area?

Here's something to do And as a bonus, it requires two ferry rides... one to get there, one to get back, and you get to meet a ton of local Porsche people in one shot.
I could maybe be tempted to make my way out there for the first time in several years...and to share the car perhaps... I haven't driven the new 968 at Autocross yet.

Events - Pacific NW Region, Porsche Club of America

Autocross #8
Bremerton Motorsports Park
8:00 AM

[tabs]

Be sure to step in some homeless fecal matter in the Seattle streets. Bring some home as a souviener along with a few syringes.

[tabs]

Go to Victoria BC. Take the ferry from Anacortes which sails right through the San Juans. Stay a day on Orca island before moving on. Very pleasant.

Buchardt Gardens, old English Inn for Sunday brunch...Empress Hotel for high tea...go antiquing on Fort Steet. Cragiroch Castle..

[island911]

If you want to pack it in, take a seaplane (Kenmore Air) up to the San Juans. Roach Harbor, Friday Harbor... rent a boat to put around in. Or you can jump on the ferry just to see the sights.
Mt. Rainier, you can day trip up to Sunrise. I think it's more impressive than the "Paradise" side. Closer too.

[ledhedsymbols]

Anacortes is a good base of operations for a vacation. The ferries to the San Juans are out of there, so there are lots of day or two trip options available.

It's right in the meat of the salmon season (pun intended) so it might be a good time to book a fishing trip if you have an inkling.

About 45 minutes south of Anacortes is the ferry from Whidby Island to Port Townsend on the Olympic Peninsula if you have a mind to go that way.

Highway 20 is called the North Cascades Highway. If you take it East you can see the Skagit River Valley. It's breathtaking, and the dams are quite impressive. You can take it all the way across the pass to Winthrop in the Methow Valley. Much hotter and drier there. Winthrop is kind of an "old west" touristy town. Fun for a day trip or overnight.

I live in Mount Vernon, which is about 30 minutes east of Anacortes. If you want specific Intel, PM me and I'll help however I can.

Deception pass is not to be missed.

[gtc]

I think your plan of a couple days in the islands and a couple in the mountains is doable. The islands are all a little different, so you can probably just as easily visit one or several.

I stayed at this glamping place on Orcas Island with my girlfirend last year... it was nice and relaxing.
https://www.stayleanto.com/moran-state-park-glamping/

If you are heading down to Mt Rainier, Mt. St. Helens is also worth visiting.

I would suggest you carefully plan your travel in and out of the city. Avoid peak traffic out of Seattle Friday night and Saturday morning, and returning traffic Monday night (labor day), and you will save several hours of driving.

[Ayles]

Live from Lopez Island!