Seattle area suggestions

[Ursidae69]

ExPo Members:

I have a wedding to attend in August in Seattle and I am planning to take some days afterward to explore the area some. I'll be in a rental car and will have limited camping gear.

I'm looking for things you think are "must-see" sort of attractions within 3-4 hours in all directions. Also looking for kayak outfitters you recommend for a day or two on the water someplace.

Thanks...
:arabia:

 

[pwc]

For kayaks, Seattle Raft and Kayak. Great people we took lessons from just Saturday. $25/day on Lake Washington.
Otherwise, there are places in the San Juans but that might be a bit of a stretch depending on time. if not on a weekend, the San Juans would be good.

Let's see.....other must sees.....
- Mt. Rainier
- North Cascades Highway (a bit more time though)
- My. St. Helens
- There's whitewater rafting on a few rivers then
- Olympic National Park
- If you're into planes there's both the Museum of flight by Seattle and Boeing's Future of Flight up north in Everett with a plant tour where you can see the new 787 being built
- all kinda of hiking within 1-2 hours of seattle
- There's a bird like place around here some place you'd like too but I'd have to find it.

 

[mountainpete]

If you want a campground really close the action of Seattle, my wife and I loved Dash Point State Park. The site we had was beautiful and we were still close to all the action of the city. It even had flush toilets and showers. Perfect for camping at night and exploring the urban areas during the day. Nice beach a short walk away too.

Overall, the area was beautiful and all the people we met were so nice. I'm allready planning a longer return trip!

Pete

 

[TeleScooby]

Seattle Raft & Kayak is owned by a friend of mine...great spot on Lake Washington. You can also rent from Agua Verde, near the University of Washington and in the basement of the best Mexican restaurant in town! The family that runs the kitchen is from Baja, so the cuisine is alittle different than your standards...and the Margaritas are amazing...

As for multiday kayaking, check out Odyssy Expeditions (i think that's right) out of Friday Harbor on San Juan Island.

Other "must see" things:

Pike Place Market (I'll tell you in PM about the best fish and chips in the city)
Underground tour (kinda hokey, but one of a kind!)

I'll see what else I can come up with other than trails that are close to town for some hiking...of course if you want to get a beer, just let me know!

 

[pnwadventurer]

My votes are for:

Mt Rainier
Olympic Peninsula
North Cascades

Just be aware that some destinations may have road closures due to last Fall's floods. There is a database of road and trail closures at http://traildamage.wta.org/

Steve

 

[Ursidae69]

Thanks for the suggestions, sounds like my 5 days is getting filled up fast. :chowtime: I think I'm going to bring my backpacking tent and bag on the plane and camp the whole week out of the rental car.

Any suggestions about driving up into Canada? I've never been.

 

[Railvan]

If you have the time, I'd suggest doing a loop over the Cascades. From Seattle, you can head north on I-5, then east via Highway 20, and 153, and then south down the Columbia River to Wenatchee on 97, and back west over Highway 2. This is a great way to sample some of the states varied scenery. When you are eastbound on Highway 20, you can take a side trip to Harts Pass, which has the highest pass with a road in the state. (A SUV might be good idea, depending on the road conditions this year). If you really want to stay off of Interstates as much as possible, you can use Highway 9 between Bothell and Sedro-Woolley instead of I-5. Highway 20 passes throuugh the North Cascades National Park. Much of Stevens Pass on Highway 2 is National Forest with plenty of camping available.

Brian Rutherford
http://www.pbase.com/railbat

 

[mountainpete]

Thanks for the suggestions, sounds like my 5 days is getting filled up fast. :chowtime: I think I'm going to bring my backpacking tent and bag on the plane and camp the whole week out of the rental car.

Any suggestions about driving up into Canada? I've never been.

Driving straight up the Vancouver is a typical interstate drive with lots of shopping along the way. Vancouver is a very nice city - especially the north end - and areas like Whistler and Squamish are only a few hours away.

Another option though might be to circle up to the Okanagan so you can see both some of Washington State and British Columbia.

My wife and I recently did the circle loop starting at Osoyoos BC (the Okanagan is beautiful area full of vinyards and orchards). We came down highway 97 all the way down to connect to Interstate 90. Then we went towards Seattle. I-90 is a great highway. I thought the area of Snoqualmie Pass was beautiful. The Jack-in-the-Box in Issaquah made for a good lunch too (we don't have JITB in Canada).

On the way back, we took I-5 north to Burlington and then went east on Highway 20. This was a nice secondary highway with lots of state parks along the way. I particularly liked an area that I think was called Ross Lake. The highway went up the mountain around the lake and it made for some beautiful views. The town of Winthrop was really cool too - it was all done in a western theme which was pulled off really well. We then connected back to 97 and up to Osoyooos.

If you cross over into Canada, the best idea is to drive North towards Kelowna. This area of Canada is hot in the summer - not just by Canadian standards either. Nice place to relax on a beach or hike the backcountry.

Thanks,

Pete

 

[paulj]

What would you want to see in Canada, specifically British Columbia?

There are 4 crossing points on the west side of the Cascades. The busiest is Peace Arch - I5. Normally waiting times heading south, back into the USA, are longest. You can information on this at http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/ (which has lots of other good Washington travel information).

All of these western points of entry put you into the suburbs of Vancouver. If you want wild scenery you still have to drive a bit. If you have limited time in the northern parts of Washington (around Bellingham) you might enjoy a drive up around the north side of Mt Baker more (WA 542).

If you have time to make a 2 day drive over to the east side of the Cascades, I would recommend crossing on WA 20, the North Cascades Hwy, and back via US2. The Canadian Crowsnest highway (3) through Manning Prov Park is worth a drive, but would take longer, and the mountains aren't quite as spectacular as the Washington ones.

On the other hand, if you want the best Chinese and Indian food in the region, a trip to Vancouver is worth it. And if you are Anglophile, crossing over to Victoria is a good idea. But on a short time budget, a day trip by boat or sea plane to Victoria might be a better idea.

Another loop over the mountains is over on I90, north on US97, and back via US2. If I have time, when crossing over US97 I like to detour onto the older road, old Blewett Pass. This is paved but narrow and infinitely more twisty than the modern crossing. (http://www.brian894x4.com/Washeastcascadestripday2.html - lots of good area history on this drive)

paulj

 

[paulj]

When you are eastbound on Highway 20, you can take a side trip to Harts Pass, which has the highest pass with a road in the state.

I just saw on the Okanogan forest district site that there is a major rock slide at Deadhorse Point on the Harts Pass road, so that is may not be passable for some time.

paulj

 

[kcowyo]

I really liked the Olympic NP area on a visit through Washington a few years ago. Tons to see and do -

I had a great micro brew in a bar on the water in Port Townsend
Saw the Killer Whales in Bremerton
Took the ferry to Whidbey Island
Had a couple of great breakfasts at the Hungry Bear Cafe in Sappho
Drove out to Neah Bay, the westernmost point in the US
Visited the Museum on the Macah Indian Reservation
Took a soak in the Sol Duc Hot Springs
Drove up to Hurricane Ridge Ski area
Entertained the locals with my constant mispronunciation of Sequim and Suquamish
Hiked around and photographed Lake Crescent. Spectacular.

Not sure how far NE of Seattle it is, but the drive on Hwy 20 into the North Cascades NP was tremendous as well.

 

[paulj]

Here's a suggestion for a 3-4 day loop that would give a good diversity of views:

from Seattle head north to the Everett area, and take the Mukilteo-Clinton ferry to Whidbey Island (early on a weekday would be best). Meander up the island, checking out various state parks http://www.parks.wa.gov/parks/regislands.asp
particularly Fort Ebey and Deception Pass. This gives a good sampling of Puget Sound coast and history.

Then east on WA 20 into the Cascades. Rockport State Park is a nice campground, and a good place to see old growth temperate rain forest with the drive to the Olympic Nat. Park. Side drives along here can take you to the south flank of Mt Baker, or back to Seattle via Darrington. Also you can drive to a trailhead on Sauk Mountain above Rockport for a quick sample of Cascades hiking.

At Marblemount you can take a side drive up the Cascade River. WA 20 continues east via a major hydro project - Diablo and Ross dams, and into the North Cascades Nat Park. Major passes, with hiking options, are Rainy Pass and Washington Pass. East of these passes you drop down to the dryer side of the mountains, with western style towns like Winthrop and Twisp.
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/passes/northcascades

Then south toward Lake Chelan and Wenatchee. The short loop returns via US2 and the Bavarian styled tourist town of Levenworth. A longer loop goes over Blewett (US97) to I90. I like to continue south to Yakima via the canyon road south of Ellensburg. Then return west via 410 over Chinook Pass and the NE side of Mt Rainier. http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/passes/chinook/
You would need to use US12 if you want to cross the south side of Rainier.

 

[Willman]

This is a great website for more info on a lot of the above places!!!

http://www.experiencewashington.com/v5/home/default.aspx

Enjoy...I miss my home town of the Seattle area!!

:arabia:

 

[Ursidae69]

Wow, I'm overwhelmed with good info, thanks guys. :bowdown: I'll start processing this in the coming weeks. Hopefully we can have a meet-n-greet too. The wedding I'm attending ends Sunday night (8/12) and then I'm starting my exploration via rental car until my flight out of Seattle the 18th.

I just realized that I need to buy some maps. My 10 dollar Wal-Mart atlas won't cut it this time. haha

 

[Willman]

My 10 dollar Wal-Mart atlas won't cut it this time. haha

Thats funny.....I just looked at that one today....I passed it up....need a smaller one.....