brie

This board was a great help last summer and it's (past) time to plan this summer's trip. We are flying into Seattle on Sunday 7 Aug and leaving Weds 17. It will be my husband and my 10yo son and me. We are sometimes city folk but are interested in doing some (day) hiking and exploring on this trip. (Last summer in CA highlights varied from hiking in Yosemite to modern art museums, with the monorail at SFO perhaps topping my son's list. Go figure.)

The list of places I'd like to go and things I'd like to see is way too long for this trip, so I'll throw a bunch out and see whether anyone is up to the challenge of (a) suggesting which are the must sees or (b) proposing an itinerary that won't leave us exhausted. I fully realize that half the list will have to go....

* Seattle. We have to make a couple of visits (one in the city and one in Bellvue), so we'll probably wind up staying a couple of nights at some point, either together or split.

* OP. Sounds lovely, though big and overwhelming and I'm not sure where to focus or how to think about it.

* Mt. Ranier and/or general travel through the Northern Cascades.

* Mt. St. Helens. My son is big into the idea of visiting a volcano, so this is probably one of the musts. Not sure whether it's a day trip or part of a longer itinerary.

* San Juan Islands. Obviously a different direction and a different kind of pace. We used to spend a week on Cape Cod every summer and loved it.

* Vancouver. Charming city.

* Vancouver Island. Yet another very different option.

Ideally, we'd like not to do a huge driving vacation, so in addition to the list being too long, we should optimize for driving that's really worthwhile or that comes in moderate sized chunks. Some of the island/ferry stuff appeals, but ferry lines are probably longer than I appreciate (unless reservations are possible). I'm also not sure when the bad traffic days are in which places. Finally, we're late enough planning that our itinerary *may* be dictated by what's available.

Thanks for any help you can give....

Fodorite018

Definitely indulge your son with Mt. St. Helens. It is such an amazing place! We were there again just last week. We have been quite a bit, but this time we took family who had never been and it was still just as exciting for us. There are several visitors centers along the way to Johnston Ridge(the last center, and closest to the crater). Our favorites are the Forestry Center, Coldwater Ridge, and Johnston Ridge. JR is a must! Most trails around the mountain are either closed or limited for hiking, but there are still a few open and are very much worth hiking. It is a full day trip from Seattle, but definitely worth it!

lmsa_mc

Just got back from the Pacific Northwest and one of our favorite things was Ruby Beach in Olympic National Park. We liked the rainforest also but the beach was beautiful, with tidal pools and seastacks. Make sure you go at low tide (tide table website is http://www.olypen.com/cgi-bin/tidetables. Also, was reading last night on National Park Service website for Olympic National Park and the Hood Canal Bridge is going to be closed periodically in August, sometimes for long periods. There is a schedule listed as well as alternate routes on nps.gov.

suze

I would nix both Vancouver and Vancouver Island. Simply because they are the furthest north and you've got way too much on your list already!

suze

Depending on times of day, days of the week, and which connections, ferries may or may not have long lines. Reservations are not possible.

christy1

Olympic is good if you want the combo of rainforest, ocean beaches and mountains. If you do go there, stick to the northern half-the Hurricane Ridge area (there are some good hikes in the area), a hike to the wilderness beach at Cape Alava near Lake Ozette, maybe a trip to the Hoh Rainforest if that interests you. I don't think driving the entire way around the peninsula is necessary.
If you mostly want to hike in the mountains, and don't care so much about ocean beaches or rainforest, Rainier and the North Cascades are more spectacular. The North Cascades do add some driving time-in my opinion, it's worth it (fabulous hiking, not many tourists), and if you combine a trip there with a San Juan Islands visit, that makes a lot of sense.
I also agree that St. Helens is fascinating. To minimize driving you could also do Rainier (sort of a before and after type volcano experience) and stay a night or two at someplace inbetween or near Rainier.

I also agree with the previous poster-Vancouver and Vancouver Island (which is really big) are a whole other trip.

Ferry lines to the San Juans are bad going there on Fridays and coming home on Sundays. Still allow plenty of time to catch the ferry-I would be there two hours in advance in August, even on a weekday-but there is a beach right there, it won't be a bad wait.

gough

A couple of thoughts regarding possibility for day hikes. There are spectacular day hikes in Mt. Rainier Nat. Park and near Mt. St. Helens. If it were me I'd stay at least a couple of nights in a location south of Rainier and northeast of Mt. St. H. (On your map look for the towns of Randle and Packwood.)I believe most visitors to Mt. St. H. approach from the west but the northeast is less crowded and very beautiful. Check out the Windy Ridge area for several really good day hikes with good views of Spirit Lake and the volcano. A few weeks ago many of the formerly closed trails near Mt. St. H. were opened, although a few of the closest are still closed. The Gifford Pinchot National Forest website has lots of up to date information on trails.

Any of the trails departing from the Paradise (Mt. Rainier) area will take your breath away. (There are crowds during the summer, but don't despair. After walking even as little as a mile from the parking lot it gets much better.)This is an unforgettable place.

On a different topic, responding to another of your interests. The Henry Art Museum on the U. Washington campus doesn't get much press, but for contemporary art, it often is the place to go in Seattle. (It's small, i.e. very manageable with limited time. Check to see if the temporary show in August is something you might like to see.)

brie

Thanks!! These are great suggestions. Now, reading other posts, I'm thinking maybe Portland/Columbia River Gorge should be on my maybe list. I'm also interested in full itinerary suggestions if anyone wants to be so bold (gardyloo? happytrailstoyou? suze?) And of course there will be hotel questions, but I suppose I need to do itinerary first. (Where is not too terrible to spend the weekend of 8/12-8/14???)

Confused, but very excited....

amandaamanda

Take the passenger Ferry from Seattle to Victoria, Vancouver Island.

Places to visit while in Victoria:
Buchart Gardens
http://www.butchartgardens.com/gardens/

Rent a scooter to putter around
http://www.tourismvictoria.com/Conte...ent/EN/340.asp

Shopping is great, cute little town.

Have dinner at Pagliaccis
http://www.tourismvictoria.com/Conte...sp?id=A0002042

and tea at the Empress.

brie

OK, I'm clearly crazy but here's an itinerary for the collective wisdom of this board to laugh at (and maybe advise on):

Sun 7 Aug arrive SEA 1pm, ferry to Victoria.

Mon ferry to Vancouver, possibly early in the day.

Tues full day in Vancouver.

Weds drive to Whidbey Island, probably via Mt. Baker.

Thurs ferry to Pt. Townsend early, stay in ONP, hopefully near Lake Crescent.

Fri ONP (hopefully same lodging, different touring)

Sat 13 Aug more ONP and lots of driving, ending in the Mt. St. Helens area or somewhere along the way TBD.

Sun Mt. St. Helens; overnight near Mt. Rainier?

Mon Mt. Rainier, driving back to Seattle to sleep.

Tues Seattle, including a Mariners game.

Weds 11am flight out of SEA.

Aside from the fact that we'll need a vacation when we get back, the weekend visit to MSH, and the fact that we should spend an extra day in Seattle to visit some friends, what are the other major bugs in this itinerary? Or are there just too many to mention?

tuscanlifeedit

We did a trip to the Seattle area about 9 years ago. We didn't love the city of Seattle, but found it nice enough for two nights. One day was spent a Mt. Ranier.

Next day, we left. Spend the afternoon on Whidby Island, spent the night, and the ferried to Friday Harbor. Stayed 2 or 3 nights with a car. Saw a lot and loved it all.

Ferried back to Wash. and then drove to Vancouver. Stayed 3 nights and loved it.

I wish we had had time for more, but I can tell you that we were done with Seattle sooner than we expected, and hadn't had nearly enough of Vancouver and its surroundings when we left. We also felt that San Island with a car was a treat; we explored most of the island, saw a whale up close to the shore at sunset) ate terrific food, and more.

One more highlight: in Vancouver, the Anthropological Museum at the University of BC was one of the best museums I've ever been to. A huge hit on our trip.

Hope this helps. Debbie

christy1

The Victoria addition doesn't make sense. You know that the ferry from Seattle to Victoria is passenger only-no cars-right? So you'll be picking up a car in Victoria? The last ferry is at 3:15, so you'd have to hope your flight wasn't late-what if you miss the ferry? If you made it, you'd get there at 5:30 pm, at since you are planning on ferrying to Vancouver early the next morning, it doesn't really seem worth it to go to Victoria.

Other than that, you can certainly do this trip, you just won't have very much time in any one place. It will be more like doing reconnaisance for where you might want to come back and spend a more relaxed vacation.

amber100

We did a similar tour about 3 years ago.
I am giving a suggested itinerary with ideas of what too do.

Day one Arrive Seattle.
Walk around the waterfront or Pikes Peak

Day two
Seattle Aquarium, Space Needle, Experience Music Project
Also there is a science discovery museum across from the Music Project.

Day Three a whale watching tour in the Pugeot Sound.

Day four shopping Pikes Peak, anything you missed or Washington ferry trip too one of the Islands.

Day Five Leave Seattle Drive too Mount Rainer. Several Hikes that you can take.

Day Six stay near Mount St. Helene. We stayed at the Red Lion Hotel in Kelso. Several hikes in Mt. St. Helen we took one that we went into a cave with lanterns. Your son would love it. I agree with Grouch about the east side of Mount St. Helene more destruction. We spent the entire day driving, hiking and viewing the destruction.

Day Seven Leave Mount St.Helen and tour the visitor center, the IMAX movie and on too the Olympic Peninsula. Stay on the beach at the beginning of the Peninsula.

Day Eight Start driving and stop for hikes as you desire. Absolutely gorgeous we loved the rainforest. Spend the night at Port Angeles.

Day Nine take the ferry too Victoria. Take a bus tour go to the Buchart Gardens
http://www.butchartgardens.com/gardens/. We are not into gardens but this one was impressive. Walk around downtown Victoria take the ferry back too Port Angeles that night.

Day 10 back to Seattle and your baseball game.

Day 11 depart.

I hope this gives you some ideas

brie

Thanks! These sample itineraries are especially helpful because they give me an idea of what is realistically doable. I am thinking that we might trade off the Olympic Peninsula for more sanity in the rest of the trip. (My husband wants to spend fewer hours in the car, if possible, and ONP is so spread out...)

I have come up with another possible itinerary. Would this be a huge mistake?

Sun 7 Aug arr. SEA 1pm, spend night in Seattle.

Mon Seattle, including baseball game.

Tues spend the day between Seattle and North Cascades, possibly Mt. Baker. Is there anywhere here to hike (read walk a mile or two, not serious climbing!) with pretty views that's not a long or difficult drive? Find someplace lovely to stay.

Weds More hiking? Wind up in Vancouver.

Thurs Vancouver.

Fri Vancouver to Victoria.

Sat 13 Aug ferry from Victoria to Anacortes. Wander around Whidbey Island.

Sun drive down to Mt. Rainier or Mt. St. Helens, possibly by way of friends in Bellvue.

Mon visit whichever mountain we're at.

Tues swap mountains and see the other one.

Weds early drive to catch an 11am flight out of SEA.

Possible changes:
* We could move Seattle from Monday 8th to Sun 14th, splitting the Whidbey Island/Mt Rainier MSH drive.
* We could do the NC-Vancouver-Victoria-Whidbey loop in the opposite direction.
* We could eliminate either Whidbey or the NC/Mt Baker days, but I was hoping to find nice exploration of nature to intermingle with the more urban days. I'm still missing ONP, though I think that this is less driving...

christy1

That makes more sense, and you get to take the scenic San Juan ferry ride. There's some neat parks on Whidbey-Deception Pass, South Whidbey, and Ebey's Landing, for example.

This page lists some very short trails from Artist's Point, at the end of the Mt. Baker Hwy. Scroll down to the bottom for the Heather Meadows and Artist's Point ideas:
http://www.bellingham.org/PDF/hiking_trails.pdf
There's probably some nice B and B's on the Mt Baker Hwy.