Janet Oken

Our family is planning a 2 week trip to the Pacific northwest the last week in July and first week in August. We're flying into and out of Seattle. Any suggestions for where to visit and nice places to stay?

jj

Janet: From Seattle, visit Snoqualmie about an hour east, where there's a fine restaurant in the Salish Lodge, at the brink of Snoqualmie Falls. Or catch a ferry to the Olympic Peninsula and visit quaint towns like Poulsbo and Port Townsend. Mount Rainier is also about an hour away with excellent hiking trails. Stehekin in the North Cascades is so remote, the only way to get there is by float plane or boat, the mountains are beautiful and everyone waves at you. Take the train to Portland and the Columbia River Gorge and Mt. Hood. My memories of the Pacific NW would fill volumes. Enjoy, enjoy!

Dan

Janet - my wife, son and I spent two weeks touring Washington and Oregon in 1995. Spent first night at Snoqualmie Lodge - jj is right, it's terrific - then drove up to Anacortes and took state ferry to Orcas Isand - stayed at Rosario Lodge 3 nights - fantastic - while there, took an amphibious plane ride over San Juan Islands - then took ferry back to Anacortes, drove thru Whidby Island and got ferry across to Port Angeles, drove Olympic Peninsula - stayed three nights at Lake Quinault Lodge in Olympic Forest (hiking, boating, etc) - then crossed Columbia River at Astoria and drove to the Inn at Otter Crest, just south of Depoe Bay - three nights on a cliff overlooking Pacific - from there, east to Mount Hood and the Timberline Lodge (skiing in July - a real treat) - then to the Skamania Lodge on the Columbia River at Stevenson, WA - did white water raft trip on White Salmon River, drove the Gorge - incredible beauty. Then back to Seattle for one night at the Inn at the Market and took plane home to PA. We had been in the NW a few years earlier as well and both times were awesome - so many sights that leave you speechless, good food, clean air, etc. etc. etc.
Hope you can us a few of my suggestions. Have a great time.

Janet H.

You may not be aware that the U.S. dollar is currently worth a lot more in Canada right now, and probably will still be in the summer. So make sure you pop over to Victoria, BC on Vancouver Island. You can take the Victoria Clipper passenger only ferry right from Seattle, or the Princess Marguerite car ferry. Or if you go to Port Angeles, you can catch the Coho (Blackball) car ferry. All come to Victoria. Also, if you go to Anacortes or Orcas Island as another writter recommends, you can take the ferry from either place to Sidney, BC, which is just 20 mins. from downtown Victoria. There are so many great hotels and B&B's here, and so much to do and see. You could take a train trip up the island (5 hrs. one way, or only go part way). http://islands.bc.ca for more info. on this area.

Valeri Zwick

Drive north of Seattle to Edmonds (it's a suburb), catch the ferry to Whidbey Island and the wonderful town of Langley (lots of antiques, shops, restaurants), then drive down the island stopping at the winery on the way for wine tasting(forget the name but right off the main highway),continue to Coopville (wonderful little town with shops and food) and if you've time go to Fort Casey (right by Coopville)--it's fascinating, then continue to Deception Pass--one of the most beautiful places around--just drive over the bridge or stop and walk on one of the beaches in the huge park then continue to either Anacortes (stay at the Majestic Inn) or LaConner and spend the night--then return the next day via 1-5 or return to Seattle late that night. You get a short but fun ferry ride, a chance to visit some great little towns, a stop at an excellent winery and some gorgeous scenery! You can't miss!

Cathy

Could I get a travel guide for the Pacific northwest-USA & Canada?

randy

Try linking to British Columbia tourism. The B.C. government has all kinds of trave guides, although it will be nip and tuck to get it before you leave. No matter as you will run into a B.C. tourist information booth not long after crossing the border. Vancouver can be great in the summer time. Granville island has a great farmers market as well as antique shops, great restaurants and live theatre. If you head inland to the Okanogan you will discover a summer playground on a warm lake with boating and watersports. I prefer Penticton, but there are lot's of nice places, and if your kids are between 5 and 15, they will love it. If you go, make reservations as the summer can be very busy. Lots of orchards and wineries. Weather is usually hot and sunny. Not a real sight seeing area, but a great family destination.