trips4fun

My wife and I are planning a trip to the Seattle area at the end of August and beginning of September and could use some insight about the itinerary. We will have 14 days as mapped out below, (but arrive in the evening and leave around noon, so really 12 full days) and I am having a little difficulty figuring out how much time is appropriate in each place, how much driving I may end up doing (I don't want to spend the vacation in the car) and also whether we should consider a quick visit to Portland or part of Oregon. We will be flying in and out of Sea-Tac.

We enjoy general sightseeing, short-moderate day hikes, etc. My wife is also interested in Dale Chihuly's glass work, so a visit to the Gardens in Seattle and to the Tacoma museums are on the agenda. We have never been to Seattle, but have visited Vancouver and Victoria, so we will skip that this time to give us some more time in other locations. I would like to make as few hotel changes as is reasonably possible, but everything is so spread out, I'm not sure that is very realistic. This is the tentative (very rough) plan for now and I would appreciate any input about this and to help crystalize specifics about timing, places to visit and where to stay along the way.

Day 1 - Arrive in Seattle in PM. Stay either close to Airport or in Seattle.
Day 2 -- Seattle
Day 3 - Seattle
Day 4 - Pick up rental car, drive from Seattle to Anacortes, leave car and take ferry as foot passenger to San Juan Islands
Day 5 - San Juan Islands
Day 6 - Ferry back to Anacortes, drive and take Coupeville Ferry to Port Townsend. (How long will this take? Will there be time to explore Port Townsend?) Stay in Port Townsend.
Day 7 Olympic Peninsula (North Olympic National Park?)-- Not sure where to stay and how much is possible to see over next couple of days.
Day 8 Olympic Peninsula (West Olympic National Park?)
Day 9 Mount Rainier (where to stay?)
Day 10 Mount St Helens? Portland?
Day 11 ??
Day 12 Tacoma
Day 13 Tacoma back to Seattle
Day 14 Fly home

Many thanks for any help.

spirobulldog

Our favorite thing in Olympic.
Sol Duc Falls, Hoh Rain Forest, Rialto Beach to Hole in the Rock @ low tide, Hurricane Ridge. I really like Sol Duc Hot Springs, my wife thought it was dirty and crowded.
We stayed one night each at Sol Duc, Kalaloch, and Crescent Lake Lodge. Did have a meal at Quinault. I liked Kalaloch and Quinault best.

I hope you can give a full day at Mt. Rainier. It is spectacular and wildflowers there are amazing. We spent 2 days there and it wasn't enough. We stayed at Paradise Inn. Down below at National Park Inn would be my second choice. Hike Panorama Point.

Day 11. I would do Columbia River Gorge.

I don't know anything about Tacoma. What are you doing there for 2 days?

We spent 12 days in Washington and 13 days in Oregon on 2 seperate trips, btw. There is that much to do in each place. Like both trips equally. I might be tempted to save Mt St. Helens, Columbia River Gorge, and Portland for another time and just spend 14 quality days in Washington. Perhaps spend another day at Olympic and Rainier. Perhaps 1-3 days in North Cascades.

spirobulldog

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...e-watching.cfm

Here is a trip report from last year last week of July/First week of August. Somewhat 2 seperate trips but really just 1 for me. My wife was with me part of the time and my daughter part of the time. My wife teaches high school and my daughter was taking summer college classes. Our public school in Oklahoma starts first week of August, and daughters college ended last week of July. So, we didn't go as a family on this particular trip.

sunbum1944

Love Lake Crescent and the lodge- we rented kayaks on a day when the lake was like glass - really beautiful.

I too did not like the hot springs and being butt to butt with a bunch of people I did not know.
Hurricane Ridge is a pretty steep hike to the top but worth the effort - loved it.

I was at Lake Quinault last weekend- the lodge is beautiful- had lunch on the deck- BUT- boating or paddle boards no longer allowed in the lake - only swimming and wading.

How are you going to get around on the San Juans without a car? I think you will be missing out on some of the scenery without a car. A friend of mine just got back from there- went kayaking with the Orcas and one went right under the kayak and came out on the other side- think that sounds like a fun experience!!

Pt Townsend is a charming town to visit- but we only spent a few hours there and then on to Lake Crescent where we stayed for 3 nights.

There is so much to do in the area I think including Portland would be pushing it.

spirobulldog

We went with James Maya (small boat). He knew every whale by name. Saw whales the entire 4 hours or so on the boat. Kayaking would be awesome though. I think you would feel closer to them, but don't think you would be able to stay with them but for a few minutes.

trips4fun

Spirobulldog, thanks for the link to your trip photos and the information. Seems like there will be more than enough to do and I do want to relax and not rush things, so perhaps we will bypass Oregon this trip. Our vacation will be in part over Labor Day weekend, so I am hoping accommodations will not be a problem for those few days. I imagine we may have to have a "plan B" just in case our first choices aren't available.

As far as Tacoma, we thought we might stay there for two evenings, but it would really only be one day. We would get there late, spend a day, and leave the following morning. Basically, we just want to check out the town and a couple of museums to see the glass work, etc. Perhaps it isn't even a full day. Will need to look into it a little more.

Sunbum, my understanding was that the ferries are very crowded and to avoid waiting we thought we would travel as foot passengers and take public transportation while in the islands. If that's not a good idea, someone please let me know.

Thanks.

llilley

Spirobulldog your pictures were really helpful. It looks like you enjoy the same things my husband and I do. As this question from trips4fun... Is it possible to do Seattle area and see the Oregon coast and the Columbia River George in a one week trip. We want to go to the Market is Seattle but are not big on cities. Also, is Victoria or San Juan Islands better to see? What do you do there? Did you use a long lens for the whales or are they that close? Great pics!

Fodorite018

Labor Day weekend here is REALLY busy, so get your lodging secured ASAP.

The ferries get very busy on the weekends, but I do think having a car in the San Juans is best.

spirobulldog

If you get there as on Ferry is leaving, then just line up for the next one in the parking lot and go eat breakfast. We did it on foot. All we did was the Whale Watching. If you are going to be there for a day or two, then I think having a car would be far better.

I would bet that lodging at Olympic, Mt. Rainier, and San Juan Islands would be hard to come by. I made mine 1 year in advance.

sunbum1944

I guess whether you have a car or not depends on what island you are going to stay on and your hotel location on the island.

Am sure there are cabs, shuttles- or mopeds to get around- enjoy- its a beautiful place.

I think 2 nights in Tacoma might be too much- I'd spend an extra night in the San Juans

spirobulldog

cabs are somewhat difficult when 200 people step off the boat and several people are looking for them. There wasn't a whole lot on the island when we went. I had prearranged one as directed by my whale watch guide

tomfuller

See if you can get public transport to the ferries since you want to be a foot passenger.
Day 10- see Mt Rainier and stay in Packwood on US 12.
Day 11- leave Packwood turn off US 12 in Randle and take the paved FS road south past the east side of Mt. St. Helens. Go over to the Windy Ridge Observatory then back to the main road and continue south to hit the Columbia Gorge at Carson. Head east on WA 14 to cross the "Bridge of the Gods" into Hood River Oregon. Spend a night there before heading west on I-84 and the old US 30 to see the waterfalls on the way back to Portland.
It is less than 3.5 hours north on I-5 from the Portland airport to the SEATAC airport.

trips4fun

Tom, thanks. I'm not sure I understand your suggestion completely. Are you suggesting spending one more day at Mt. Rainier and then doing everything you suggested on Day 11, going to Portland on Day 12 and Tacoma on Day 13?

trips4fun

Spiro, good suggestion about pre-arranging a taxi. I'm still not certain if we should take a car. I guess we don't have to decide just yet.

trips4fun

After doing a little more research and checking accomodations we have revised the itinerary a little. We decided to spend 3 nights on Friday Harbor and take a day trip from there over to Orcas Island. We have adjusted the schedule as follows:

Day 1 Arrive Seattle
Day 2 Seattle sightseeing
Day 3 pickup car and go to Anacortes. Take ferry to San Juan Islands
Day 4 Explore San Juan Islands
Day 5 Ferry to Orcas Island return and stay in Friday Harbor
Day 6 Take morning ferry back to Anacortes, drive to Coupeville and take ferry to Port Townsend. Stay in PT
Day 7 possibly spend a little more time in Port Townsend or just move on to Olympic National Park. stay in Port Angeles (Olympic Lodge)
Day 8 Olympic National Park, 2nd night in Port Angeles
Day 9 Drive toward Lake Quinalt area. I might be able to get accomodations at the lodge, but will need to stay 2 nights.
Day 10 Either stay close to Lake Quinalt for 2nd night or close to Mt Rainier.
Day 11 Mt. Rainier
Day 12 Tacoma, stay in Seattle
Day 13 More Seattle sightseeing
Day 14 Fly home

Questions. Does Port Townsend warrant more time? Are we better off spending an extra day/night close to Lake Quinalt (so stay for 2 nights in Port Angeles and 2 nights at Lake Quinalt) or spending 2 nights close to Mt. Rainier?

Any other thoughts or insights?

Many thanks again for the help.

sunbum1944

A word of warning about Lake Quinalut- I was there last weekend and the Native Americans who apparently have control of the lake- have decided to not allow any boating, kayaking, paddle boarding on the lake- you can swim and wade- that's it. For awhile they did not even allow swimming- they say its for environmental reasons. No info about how long they expect this to be in effect.

We did have a lovely lunch on the deck of the lodge, and did some of the short hikes

Fodorite018

Port Townsend is a nice little town, but with limited time you can do it in a full day. Fort Worden is a must there!

The Olympic Lodge in Port Angeles is a good place. We have stayed there a few times and have been pleased. If you can get a room facing the back where the golf course is, the view is better.

spirobulldog

sunbum,

I think I am correct on this. Aren't Lake Quinault and the Lodge both actually not in the National Park? So, I guess it is certainly possible that national park wouldn't be able to have any say at all on that? I would understand no power/motors, but I wouldn't see the harm in kayak or canoe.

sunbum1944

They way I understand it is that the lake is on the reservation and the land around leased to park service-

I thought Quinault was in the National Park but one piece of info I read says -" on the edge of" so not really sure.

Well you would think a little kayak or paddle board would not be harmful but signs at edge of lake state you can be fined for anything other than wading or swimming- except for tribal members who are allowed to fish, boat etc -

nukesafe

I did not read all of the responses, but I can give you some input about the San Juans and Anacortes. We rent a guest room in Anacortes through Airbnb. (NOT an advertisement!) We have guest that follow similar itineraries to yours all the time, so we know the problems.

First, be sure you have reservations on both the ferry to Friday Harbor, and on the one from Coupeville to Port Townsend. Also, plan on getting to the ferries very early; it gets CRAZY on Labor Day weekend. On the Friday and Saturday traffic waiting for the ferry sometimes backs up to our house (two miles), and local traffic has to find alternative routes to the west side of town. Parking at the ferry terminal can be a bitch, as well.

We usually give it at least an hour from our house in Anacortes to the Coupeville ferry but, again, give yourself some cushion, as the ferries sometimes run late on busy weekends.

I agree with others that you probably need a car for any of the other islands, other than San Juan. That ferry unloads in Friday harbor, and the town itself is very walkable. If you plan on kayaking, zip-lining, or whale watching, you either leave from the town, or they meet you with a van. There is also public transport to places like Roche Harbor. Orcas Island, on the other hand has nothing at the ferry terminal and the town, Eastsound, is a long distance away.

Port Townsend is certainly a worthwhile stop. We sometimes just take the ferry over for the day. Our favorite place to eat is a really funky pub that is mostly inhabited by locals. Sort of hidden as it is up a lot of stairs and around the corner of a bleak hallway, but it is charming, with great burgers. http://www.sirenspub.com/

I'm sure you will enjoy your stay out in our neck of the woods.