We are getting ready to finish our plans to Pacific Northwest next month.
This is what we have planned:
Arrive in Seattle Sunday afternoon 2pm.
Day 1 & 2 Stay in Seattle
We don't have lodging yet for Seattle. We will have a rental car; should we stay downtown and walk around the waterfront, etc.
We would like to see Pikes Market. Wold also like to take a ferry ride--looking for suggestions.
Drive to Vancouver
Day 3, 4, & 5 Stay in Vancouver
In Vancouver, we plan to do the Sea to Sky highway, see downtown, Harbour Centre, Stanley Park, Capilano Suspension bridge, Grouse Mountain, and maybe Marine Drive
Drive to Olympic NP
Day 6 & 7 Stay Lake Crescent Lodge, Olympic NP
In ONP we plan to see Hurricane Ridge, Ruby Beach, Sul Doc Trai and Rialto Beach
Sunday--Week 2 --Drive south towards Portand
This day is flexible. We want to take our time along the coast but do not think we have enough time to see any of the beach towns in Oregon.
Day 8 ---stay ??
.
Day 9 & 10 --Drive to Hood River-Stay 2 nights in Hood River
Lots to do in Hood river area. We plan to see some of the waterfalls, Oneonta Gorge, and take some of the scenic drives
Day 11 & 12 - Drive to Mount Rainier NP-- Stay 2 nights at Paradise Inn, MRNP
Plan to do some moderate hikes, enjoy the scenery
Day 13 - Friday afternoon --drive back to Seattle area
Spend night near airport; catch early morning flight the next day
We are seniors who enjoy seeing beautiful scenery and moderate hikes.
We have a little flexibility at the beginning of the trip but once we get to ONP, we will keep to the plan.
Thanks for any suggestions or comments.
.
Itinerary for Seattle, Vancouver, Olympic & Rainier National Parks in July
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In driving from Vancouver to the OP, make your ferry reservations early and leave your hotel in time to make the ferry in case you run into one of the frequent delays at the border. (If you arrive on Whidbey Island early, you can check out Deception Pass, Penn Cove, Captain Whidbey Inn, and the cute little town of Coupevill.)
From the OP, instead of driving to Portland, drive south on 101 to Cannon Beach and spend at least two nights on the coast--trimming a night off Hood River, Mt Rainier, or some other destination.
Consider driving to Hood River via Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood and scenic OR-35.
HTTY
In Hood River, book one of the new 3rd floor rooms in the East Wing of the Best Western with a balcony facing the river. We stayed in one last week, and enjoyed it greatly.
A couple of suggestions that may save you some time money and aggavation. You do not "need" a rental car in Seattle when you arrive to see anything within range of the bus system which is broad. Take the Amtrak bus or train to Vancouver. Rent a car in Vancouver to see the things outside the city that you want to see. Many things including Stanley Park are very walkable.
Turn in the Canadian rental vehicle and ride the bus back to Seattle unless you want to take a ferry over to Vancouver Island.
Rent your car in Seattle to set out for ONP.
Sunday-Week 2 cross the bridge at Longview from I-5 and head west to Astoria o US 30. Take US 101 south at least as far as Cannon Beach to see Haystack Rock. You may decide you like the Oregon coastline more than the Washington coastline.
Take US 26 to get back to Portland (or stay in Cannon Beach).
To get from Hood River there is a good paved Forest Service road that goes from Carson WA (Rt. 14) all the way to Randle on US 2. This will take you up on the east side of Mt. St. Hellens. There is a side road that goes over to the Windy Ridge Viewpoint off FS Rd 25. This will show you some better scenery than the I-5 route. You can enter Mt. Rainier on WA route 123 off US 2 a few miles east of Packwood.
Seattle has good public transportation to and from the airport if you want to rent a car downtown.
Thanks to both of you for the excellent suggestions.
I think we will be able to manage some time on the Oregon coast. If not, that will be our our list for a future trip.
Also, tomfuller, thanks for the detailed description of a scenic route to take on the east side of Mt St Helens. With your notes, I was able to find it on a map.