Pacific Northwest
May 24th, 2016, 12:30 PM
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Pacific Northwest
Looking for advice for a ten day trip to the Pacific Northwest. We are a family of five with children aged 6, 6 and 5. We are flying into SEA at noon on August 22nd and departing from SEA at 3pm on September 1st.
Our list includes - Mt. Rainier, Olympic National Park, Victoria, Vancouver, Whistler, Seatlle, +/- North Cascades
As of now we are thinking of heading to Mt Rainier on the day we land and then start on our way to Olympic national park. The next morning reach Olympic National Park and stay in the park for two nights. The fourth day in the morning take a ferry to Victoria and spend a day and half in Victoria. On the fifth day in the late afternoon take a ferry to Vancouver. On the sixth day make a day trip to Whistler. Spend the 7th day in Vancouver. On the 8th day stop in the North Cascades on the way to Seattle. Spend the last 2 days in Seattle.
Aug 22nd - Rainier
Aug 23rd - Olympic
Aug 24th - Olympic
Aug 25th - Olympic/Victoria
Aug 26th - Victoira/Vancouver
Aug 27th - VancouverWhistler/Vancouver
Aug 28th - Vancouver
Aug 29th - Vancouver/North Cascades/Seattle
Aug 30th - Seattle
Aug 31st - Seattle
Sept 1st - Seatlle
Depending on how things are going we may skip the North Cascades, assuming we'll be burnt out.
The BC ferries seem expensive for car transport. Would it be better to make a base in Vancouver and take a round trip ferry to Victoria for a day instead? If we do that, should we circle back to Seattle from Olympic National Park and take a roundtrip train to Vancouver and back to Seattle? Are we doing too much? Our kids travel well. Originally we were going to skip Rainier but we were told to definitely include it. For whale watching I am hoping the ferries will suffice. Lastly we are skipping the islands (Gulf/SanJuan) given lack of time. Is that reasonable? Any comments and words of advice/wisdom would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Our list includes - Mt. Rainier, Olympic National Park, Victoria, Vancouver, Whistler, Seatlle, +/- North Cascades
As of now we are thinking of heading to Mt Rainier on the day we land and then start on our way to Olympic national park. The next morning reach Olympic National Park and stay in the park for two nights. The fourth day in the morning take a ferry to Victoria and spend a day and half in Victoria. On the fifth day in the late afternoon take a ferry to Vancouver. On the sixth day make a day trip to Whistler. Spend the 7th day in Vancouver. On the 8th day stop in the North Cascades on the way to Seattle. Spend the last 2 days in Seattle.
Aug 22nd - Rainier
Aug 23rd - Olympic
Aug 24th - Olympic
Aug 25th - Olympic/Victoria
Aug 26th - Victoira/Vancouver
Aug 27th - VancouverWhistler/Vancouver
Aug 28th - Vancouver
Aug 29th - Vancouver/North Cascades/Seattle
Aug 30th - Seattle
Aug 31st - Seattle
Sept 1st - Seatlle
Depending on how things are going we may skip the North Cascades, assuming we'll be burnt out.
The BC ferries seem expensive for car transport. Would it be better to make a base in Vancouver and take a round trip ferry to Victoria for a day instead? If we do that, should we circle back to Seattle from Olympic National Park and take a roundtrip train to Vancouver and back to Seattle? Are we doing too much? Our kids travel well. Originally we were going to skip Rainier but we were told to definitely include it. For whale watching I am hoping the ferries will suffice. Lastly we are skipping the islands (Gulf/SanJuan) given lack of time. Is that reasonable? Any comments and words of advice/wisdom would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
May 24th, 2016, 12:46 PM
#2
When you are done with Olympic, park the car in Port Angeles and take the ferry to Victoria as foot passengers.
There are several hotels within walking distance of the dock.
Take the ferry back to Port Angeles and resume the trip with your rental car.
I don't like taking rental cars into Canada so just return the car in Seattle and take the morning train to Vancouver.
I believe there is bus service from Vancouver to Whistler.
Return to Seattle by Amtrak train or bus from Vancouver.
Any chance you would want to take the train to Portland and see some Oregon scenery and fly home from PDX?
There are several hotels within walking distance of the dock.
Take the ferry back to Port Angeles and resume the trip with your rental car.
I don't like taking rental cars into Canada so just return the car in Seattle and take the morning train to Vancouver.
I believe there is bus service from Vancouver to Whistler.
Return to Seattle by Amtrak train or bus from Vancouver.
Any chance you would want to take the train to Portland and see some Oregon scenery and fly home from PDX?
May 24th, 2016, 01:47 PM
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You are trying to cover a lot of ground in your 10 days. Two half days in Victoria wouldn't be enough for me, nor would just one full day in Vancouver. And if I was going all the way to Whistler, I'd want an overnight there.
Likewise, if I was going to drive the North Cascades Highway, I'd want an overnight there as well.
Your kids may travel well, but are they content to sit in the car for hours at a time? This seems to be mostly a driving trip.
If it was my trip - and it isn't - I'd do some cutting of destinations to be able to spend some time in the places that interest me most.
As you can probably tell, you could spend three or four weeks n the Pacific NW and not see it all, so chose the things that interest you most for your 10 days.
Likewise, if I was going to drive the North Cascades Highway, I'd want an overnight there as well.
Your kids may travel well, but are they content to sit in the car for hours at a time? This seems to be mostly a driving trip.
If it was my trip - and it isn't - I'd do some cutting of destinations to be able to spend some time in the places that interest me most.
As you can probably tell, you could spend three or four weeks n the Pacific NW and not see it all, so chose the things that interest you most for your 10 days.
May 24th, 2016, 02:29 PM
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The two parts that seem most problematic to me: Whistler and North Cascades. I just don't see you having the time, and I think you'd regret having the kids in the car for those periods. You need 2 full days in Vancouver, anyway.
May 24th, 2016, 02:31 PM
#5
In my view with three small children you're planning way too much time in the car.
First, one doesn't stay in Olympic National Park. The park comprises a core of mountain and forest wilderness with no roads crossing the peninsula. Instead, visiting Olympic NP involves traveling around the periphery of the park, where there are lakes, rocky beaches, rain forest valleys, and mountain vistas, all surrounding the core, but separated from each other by many miles, and in some cases several hours of road time.
So even visiting ONP involves a lot of car time, and accommodations are quite scarce on the western half of the peninsula where some of the key destinations are located. It's slow going, both getting there and getting around the peninsula.
I would drop Mt. Rainier altogether and reallocate that time to the Olympic Peninsula and/or Puget Sound. If your plane lands at noon, by the time you've gotten bags, picked up a rental, and driven 2 1/2+ hours to Mt. Rainier, it's probably going to be close to 5 PM. Lodging in and around Mt. Rainier is limited, and the next day you'd be looking at 4-5 (boring) hours just to get to the closest part of Olympic NP from Mount Rainier (around Lake Quinault.) Unless you want to spend even more time in the car on the second day, that would leave only the previous evening to actually SEE anything at Mount Rainier.
Instead, after getting the car I'd do one of three things. The first option would be to drive into Seattle and take the Bainbridge Island ferry across Puget Sound, then drive to somewhere closer to Port Angeles. That way you'd have all of the second day to begin your visit to Olympic NP.
The second option would be to drive south from the airport to Olympia, then west and north to Lake Quinault, which would take about as long as it would to get to Paradise on Mt. Rainier. Lodging is also scarce and often fully booked around Lake Quinault, so this choice would be dependent on being able to find someplace to stay.
The third option would be to drive north past Seattle to Mukilteo, a nice little town around 30 min. north of the city (an hour from the airport) and spend the night there. There are good accommodations and kid-friendly places to eat, and it's a charming little town. Fish and chips at Ivar's, hit the driftwood-covered beach next to the cute lighthouse, relax after a long day of travel.
The next morning, take the ferry that leaves Mukilteo to Whidbey Island. Drive up Whidbey to a second ferry, this one from Coupeville to Port Townsend, a lovely Victorian town on the Olympic Peninsula, and from there to Port Angeles.
The first two choices would give you three full days on the peninsula; the third would give you two days but would add in Whidbey and Port Townsend, IMO worth the exchange.
Personally I'd avoid the expense of taking the rental car to Victoria; both the Port Angeles - Victoria and Swartz Bay - Tsawwassen ferries are very expensive for vehicles. Instead I'd just do a day trip as walk-on passengers on the Coho ferry. Then after Victoria, drive to Vancouver using the same Port Townsend - Coupeville ferry and WA 20 back to I-5 for the trip north.
Or honestly (and we don't know you or the kids) I'd be tempted just to drop Victoria altogether and give more time to Vancouver and Whistler. Yes, Victoria is pretty around the Inner Harbour, but it's mobbed with tourists, and the thought of wrangling three kids aged 5 and 6 gives me a headache. Better (in my mind) to reallocate that day to Stanley Park in Vancouver, where there are numerous kid-friendly things to do, from the great aquarium to a miniature train, a water park, walks in the woods...
Some other notes: You won't see whales from the ferries unless you're incredibly fortunate; very, very rare. There's a whale watching service out of Port Angeles that I would frankly use in lieu of the Victoria day.
There's no way to see the North Cascades en route back from Vancouver. North Cascades NP is a whole separate itinerary, requiring a couple of days on their own, and even then the main features of the park require long hikes from the highway. Don't worry, you'll see plenty of spectacular mountain scenery at Hurricane Ridge in Olympic NP and around Whistler.
If you get back to Seattle and are still desperate for more mountain scenery, do Mt. Rainier as a day trip.
I think the key is going to be to slow things down and realize that the distances and driving times are probably much greater than you imagine. You may have the most patient and happy children of all time, but most kids I know would be on a hunger strike with your original plan.
First, one doesn't stay in Olympic National Park. The park comprises a core of mountain and forest wilderness with no roads crossing the peninsula. Instead, visiting Olympic NP involves traveling around the periphery of the park, where there are lakes, rocky beaches, rain forest valleys, and mountain vistas, all surrounding the core, but separated from each other by many miles, and in some cases several hours of road time.
So even visiting ONP involves a lot of car time, and accommodations are quite scarce on the western half of the peninsula where some of the key destinations are located. It's slow going, both getting there and getting around the peninsula.
I would drop Mt. Rainier altogether and reallocate that time to the Olympic Peninsula and/or Puget Sound. If your plane lands at noon, by the time you've gotten bags, picked up a rental, and driven 2 1/2+ hours to Mt. Rainier, it's probably going to be close to 5 PM. Lodging in and around Mt. Rainier is limited, and the next day you'd be looking at 4-5 (boring) hours just to get to the closest part of Olympic NP from Mount Rainier (around Lake Quinault.) Unless you want to spend even more time in the car on the second day, that would leave only the previous evening to actually SEE anything at Mount Rainier.
Instead, after getting the car I'd do one of three things. The first option would be to drive into Seattle and take the Bainbridge Island ferry across Puget Sound, then drive to somewhere closer to Port Angeles. That way you'd have all of the second day to begin your visit to Olympic NP.
The second option would be to drive south from the airport to Olympia, then west and north to Lake Quinault, which would take about as long as it would to get to Paradise on Mt. Rainier. Lodging is also scarce and often fully booked around Lake Quinault, so this choice would be dependent on being able to find someplace to stay.
The third option would be to drive north past Seattle to Mukilteo, a nice little town around 30 min. north of the city (an hour from the airport) and spend the night there. There are good accommodations and kid-friendly places to eat, and it's a charming little town. Fish and chips at Ivar's, hit the driftwood-covered beach next to the cute lighthouse, relax after a long day of travel.
The next morning, take the ferry that leaves Mukilteo to Whidbey Island. Drive up Whidbey to a second ferry, this one from Coupeville to Port Townsend, a lovely Victorian town on the Olympic Peninsula, and from there to Port Angeles.
The first two choices would give you three full days on the peninsula; the third would give you two days but would add in Whidbey and Port Townsend, IMO worth the exchange.
Personally I'd avoid the expense of taking the rental car to Victoria; both the Port Angeles - Victoria and Swartz Bay - Tsawwassen ferries are very expensive for vehicles. Instead I'd just do a day trip as walk-on passengers on the Coho ferry. Then after Victoria, drive to Vancouver using the same Port Townsend - Coupeville ferry and WA 20 back to I-5 for the trip north.
Or honestly (and we don't know you or the kids) I'd be tempted just to drop Victoria altogether and give more time to Vancouver and Whistler. Yes, Victoria is pretty around the Inner Harbour, but it's mobbed with tourists, and the thought of wrangling three kids aged 5 and 6 gives me a headache. Better (in my mind) to reallocate that day to Stanley Park in Vancouver, where there are numerous kid-friendly things to do, from the great aquarium to a miniature train, a water park, walks in the woods...
Some other notes: You won't see whales from the ferries unless you're incredibly fortunate; very, very rare. There's a whale watching service out of Port Angeles that I would frankly use in lieu of the Victoria day.
There's no way to see the North Cascades en route back from Vancouver. North Cascades NP is a whole separate itinerary, requiring a couple of days on their own, and even then the main features of the park require long hikes from the highway. Don't worry, you'll see plenty of spectacular mountain scenery at Hurricane Ridge in Olympic NP and around Whistler.
If you get back to Seattle and are still desperate for more mountain scenery, do Mt. Rainier as a day trip.
I think the key is going to be to slow things down and realize that the distances and driving times are probably much greater than you imagine. You may have the most patient and happy children of all time, but most kids I know would be on a hunger strike with your original plan.
May 24th, 2016, 03:16 PM
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Somehow I missed the kids' ages. If it were me, I'd pick two destinations- one city, one not city. And I don't think I'd do ONP at all- it's very much a driving and hiking NP, and for the most part, it's not scenic driving. As gardyloo says- you don't stay in the park, you stay nearby and drive from spot to spot. But maybe your family is much more tolerant of the car than mine.
I guess my main question is: what do you want to do in these places? Originally, I had been thinking the kids were older and you were after scenery, hiking, and some adventure. But at those ages, most kids aren't interested in scenery, don't want to hike far, and they're pretty happy anywhere except in the car lol.
I'd do Seattle, Vancouver, Whidbey Island/Mukilteo/Deception Pass with maybe a day trip to Rainier. Or drop Canada entirely- do Seattle, ONP, Portland, northern Oregon coast. Between border wait and traffic, Vancouver and Whistler take much longer that I expect. But admittedly I'm definitely more of a beach person than a mountain person.
If you have any aquarium fanatics, don't skip the aquarium at Stanley Park. That and the rest of the park can wipe out a whole day easily.
From an adult's perspective, I agree about Victoria. The thought of taking 3 kids that age in August...but as a kid, I loved it; it has a great museum, plenty of kid attractions, and it's very walkable, with interesting stuff to look at.
I guess my main question is: what do you want to do in these places? Originally, I had been thinking the kids were older and you were after scenery, hiking, and some adventure. But at those ages, most kids aren't interested in scenery, don't want to hike far, and they're pretty happy anywhere except in the car lol.
I'd do Seattle, Vancouver, Whidbey Island/Mukilteo/Deception Pass with maybe a day trip to Rainier. Or drop Canada entirely- do Seattle, ONP, Portland, northern Oregon coast. Between border wait and traffic, Vancouver and Whistler take much longer that I expect. But admittedly I'm definitely more of a beach person than a mountain person.
If you have any aquarium fanatics, don't skip the aquarium at Stanley Park. That and the rest of the park can wipe out a whole day easily.
From an adult's perspective, I agree about Victoria. The thought of taking 3 kids that age in August...but as a kid, I loved it; it has a great museum, plenty of kid attractions, and it's very walkable, with interesting stuff to look at.
May 24th, 2016, 06:22 PM
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I agree with whoever told you not to miss Mt. Rainier.
My idea of a good 10-night trip with three small children would be more like this:
*Mt. Rainier - 1 night
*Olympic National Park - 2 nights
*Victoria as foot passengers from Port Angeles - 2 nights
*San Juan Island by ferry from Port Townsend for whale watching - 2 nights.
*Mt. Baker - 1 night in Bellingham
*Seattle - 2 nights
With three small children you won't feel rushed when you take the easy hike to Marymere Falls (at Crescent Lake in the ONP) or the hike at beautiful Artist Point at Mt. Baker.
Make Washington State ferry reservations well in advance.
HTtY
My idea of a good 10-night trip with three small children would be more like this:
*Mt. Rainier - 1 night
*Olympic National Park - 2 nights
*Victoria as foot passengers from Port Angeles - 2 nights
*San Juan Island by ferry from Port Townsend for whale watching - 2 nights.
*Mt. Baker - 1 night in Bellingham
*Seattle - 2 nights
With three small children you won't feel rushed when you take the easy hike to Marymere Falls (at Crescent Lake in the ONP) or the hike at beautiful Artist Point at Mt. Baker.
Make Washington State ferry reservations well in advance.
HTtY
May 25th, 2016, 01:33 PM
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Victoria is a walkable city...if you are a teen or older. Not for kids as young as yours. The same is true of ONP...what are the kids going to get out of it? Are they hikers? Lots of car time going from place to place. Note that US-101 goes around the park, not through it.
https://goo.gl/maps/gEHRiBb7inp
https://goo.gl/maps/gEHRiBb7inp
Jun 12th, 2016, 03:57 AM
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Thank you all for the insight and advice. We will drop the North Cascades from our trip. We will start of with Olympic national park and keep Rainier for the tail end of our trip only if we have time. After that I am unsure how to proceed.
One option would be to do a one-way car rental and return the car in Port Angeles and take ferry transportation to Vancouver via Victoria. Then we could take the train back to Seattle.
Another option would be to do a day trip to Victoria from Port Angeles as previous suggested and then heading back to Seattle and training it back and forth to Vancouver.
Another option is to head out Vancouver via train from Seattle and use Vancouver as a base and do a trip to Victoria from there.
Lastly is at advisable to train back and forth to Vancouver from Seattle or should we drive straight to Vancouver from Olympic National Park.
Thanks for all your help.
One option would be to do a one-way car rental and return the car in Port Angeles and take ferry transportation to Vancouver via Victoria. Then we could take the train back to Seattle.
Another option would be to do a day trip to Victoria from Port Angeles as previous suggested and then heading back to Seattle and training it back and forth to Vancouver.
Another option is to head out Vancouver via train from Seattle and use Vancouver as a base and do a trip to Victoria from there.
Lastly is at advisable to train back and forth to Vancouver from Seattle or should we drive straight to Vancouver from Olympic National Park.
Thanks for all your help.
Jun 12th, 2016, 07:53 AM
#11
The problem with Olympic NP is that there are no "through" roads and no lodging within the park.
If you are landing in Seattle at noon, spend the afternoon in Seattle and then that night in or near downtown.
Rent the car and head to Olympic early the morning.
See what you can of Olympic and then decide if you want to go to Rainier or just back to Seattle to return the car. It may come down to how well the kids are behaving or if it is raining.
There are 2 daily Amtrak trains from Seattle and several Amtrak buses to Vancouver.
They all load at the newly remodeled King St. station which is close to Century Link field where the Seahawks and several other teams play.
Go to Vancouver via train or bus and see that city. Take the ferry to Victoria if the weather is good and then return to Vancouver for the return train or bus to Seattle.
If you are landing in Seattle at noon, spend the afternoon in Seattle and then that night in or near downtown.
Rent the car and head to Olympic early the morning.
See what you can of Olympic and then decide if you want to go to Rainier or just back to Seattle to return the car. It may come down to how well the kids are behaving or if it is raining.
There are 2 daily Amtrak trains from Seattle and several Amtrak buses to Vancouver.
They all load at the newly remodeled King St. station which is close to Century Link field where the Seahawks and several other teams play.
Go to Vancouver via train or bus and see that city. Take the ferry to Victoria if the weather is good and then return to Vancouver for the return train or bus to Seattle.
Jun 12th, 2016, 08:05 AM
#12
I just think you have WAY too many areas and are trying to cover way too much distance for a 10 day trip, especially with three little kids in tow. These are BIG states out this way in the PNW!
Any 2-3 areas alone would make a good trip:
Seattle/North Cascades
Seattle/Victoria/Vancouver
Seattle/ONP/Pacific coast beaches/Rainier
Seattle/Vancouver/Whistler
Seattle/San Juan Islands
suze, in seattle
Any 2-3 areas alone would make a good trip:
Seattle/North Cascades
Seattle/Victoria/Vancouver
Seattle/ONP/Pacific coast beaches/Rainier
Seattle/Vancouver/Whistler
Seattle/San Juan Islands
suze, in seattle
