Tampamtg11

Will be visiting Seattle next weekend. Will be there from friday through sunday. 2 girls in our thirtys . And suggestions on good eats? Markets? Of course we will be going to Pikes. Would like to take a ferry. Is it worth it this time of year? Any suggestions are appreciated.

Leaving sunday night and want a cool, interesting place to stay on our way to Mt. Hood. Is there anything in between whether it be in Washington or Seatlle. We are staying at the Timberline Lodge tuesday. Just trying to see as much as I can.

NorthwestMale

I contend that you could land in Seattle on a Friday, with zero plans, and the resources at any reputable hotel in the downtown area could keep you packed with things to do all weekend.

As for the ferries... I LOVE the idea of taking a roundtrip ferry ride across Puget Sound (from downtown Seattle) IF the weather is sunny.

You need not even bother getting off on the other side... you just want the views and the photo ops.

I don't think you need commit yourself to too many eateries beforehand. There are lots of options around.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmph, if I were leaving Seattle on a Sunday evening wanting to stay in one spot enroute to Mt. Hood...

(darn, I just studied a map intensely... and despite my being intimately familiar with the Interstate 5 path to Portland, from Seattle, there is NO PLACE there that I would be especially fond of.

Geographic barriers don't offer you many other alternatives to that path. Too much snow on/near Mt. Rainier at this point on the calendar "Highway 410" is still closed for the season.

Going EAST of the mountains from Seattle is a pretty drive for some of the way, but then it gets pretty bare and dull, while there just aren't ideal roads going as direct as you'd like.

I have a longshot idea that I'll just throw at you:

Perhaps somewhere in/near the town of Morton, WA... for your overnight stay.

It's about 90 miles, or 1 hr. 45 minutes, and would entail going south from mid-town Seattle for about 12 miles, then east on I-405 for a couple of miles, then south on Hwy #167 to the town of Puyallup (say "pew-AL-up")... and then due south on hwy #161 to Eatonville.

ANYWHERE out that way would be pleasant if you can find a place to stay. (they won't have a Ritz Carleton anywhere nearby!!)

Ideally you'd awaken to sunny skies and great views of Mount Rainier. (but it IS Seattle in April, so be prepared for something much different).

I'd leave Seattle before 5pm at the very latest on Sunday, if inclined to gain the most from such a path.

On Monday, you'd go due west from Morton to join up with Interstate #5 southbound to Oregon.

... there just... isn't much in the way of grand alternatives in this area at this time of year.

And good views of Mt. Rainier may complement your good views of Mt. Hood to follow.

Good luck!

NorthwestMale

Oops, found this link on the web at some related photos of spots not far from Mount Rainer, including a photo of "Morton":

http://home.comcast.net/~cheg01/C1200.html


This one is "Mount Rainier, from Eatonville"

http://home.comcast.net/~cheg01/03%20%20eatonviille.jpg

Gardyloo

Leaving sunday night and want a cool, interesting place to stay on our way to Mt. Hood. Is there anything in between whether it be in Washington or Seatlle. We are staying at the Timberline Lodge tuesday. Just trying to see as much as I can.

Just push the right pedal and head toward Portland. If you can make it all the way (around 3 hours) stay at either McMenamin's Kennedy School in NE Portland - http://www.mcmenamins.com/427-kennedy-school-home - or the Edgefield, in Troutdale - http://www.mcmenamins.com/54-edgefield-home . Or, stop short in Centralia (around 90 min.) at the Olympic Club - http://www.mcmenamins.com/451-olympic-club-home . All very cool places.

Spend Monday exploring Portland and the Columbia Gorge. The waterfalls along the Oregon side of the Gorge ought to be pretty good right about now.

NorthwestMale

Centralia ????


Yes, they can go to Yardbirds...


LOL

Gardyloo

Centralia ????

Morton??

NorthwestMale

Well, OK, Centralia does have the Burgerville, USA... complete with Tillamook cheese and Sweet Potato Fries... and it's only a few minutes from Chehalis.


The Morton-Elbe-Eatonville area/path has views like these:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/newtsph...7594526527445/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/newtsph...7594526527445/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/newtsph...7594526527445/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/newtsph...7594526527445/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/newtsph...7594526527445/


And the guy's photo set is here, for anyone interested.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/newtsph...7594526527445/


Here is motel info for the area:

http://www.ehow.com/list_6106071_hot...gton-area.html

Of course, betting against the northwest rain in April is rather senseless.

(Sunday's "Seattle" weather calls for "showers and sunbreaks"... so it is purely a guessing game as to what you'd see come Monday morning, or even on a Sunday afternoon drive)

If it is pouring... Exit #82 in Centralia, then go east, to that Burgerville, USA. (but those are all over Portland, so put it off if the scenic path is more your style) (the map I'm looking at has the green, dotted line near the path to Morton... and it doesn't exactly extol the virtues of Centralia)

There's even a gaudy casino nearly draped over the freeway just a bit north of Centralia.

Gardyloo

I only suggested the McMenamins place in Centralia because it sounded like the OP and crew were planning a full day in Seattle, so if they didn't want to go all the way to the Portland area they could stop at the Olympic Club and not have to schlep to/from the freeway in the evening/morning. I do not regard Centralia as a tourist destination, unless you're fascinated by dead Wobblies.

That said, I'd just budget the 3+ hours needed to get to Portland, and get to Portland.

NorthwestMale

Yeah, I do think we are on the same wavelength, and if I KNEW that they could be content doing the full 2.5-to-3-hour path to a mid-town Portland hotel, I'd endorse that too.

And darn, there just aren't many alluring alternatives that are only 'slightly' out of the way at this time of year.

Were it July or August, then sure, take the loop around the east side of Mt. Rainier, but can't even do that now, rain or shine.

So even though they won't likely look BACK here before leaving... I agree that to zing down the freeway (about 170 miles from mid-Seattle to mid-Portland) and get camped at a downtown Portland hotel would be equally wise.

(the Burgerville USA in Centralia is suitably nestled near the halfway point!)

I'd use PRICELINE.com for a room in Portland on that Sunday night, if that is the choice.

tomfuller

If the weather is wet, Powell's books is worth a couple hours in Portland.
The HI hostel on Gilliam is a cheap place to stay for one night.