Hi there, all -- need a bit of advice. My wife and I (and our 4-year old) will be visiting family in Oregon in August and want to tack on a couple of days of R&R before flying home via Seatak. We've done Seattle/Vancouver/Victoria a few times (and love them), but want to try something new. We've always heard good things about the San Juans, but never been and don't know the particulars at all. Same with the Olympic Peninsula. We're probably more into nice scenery and ambience, good food and comfort than heavy-duty adventuring on this trip (although might like to sneak in some fishing if convenient). So what would you do? What's a great 2 or 3 day getaway from Seattle?

With a 4-year old, Port Townsend comes to mind. My kids loved it there, at all ages from 4 on up to adult. Fort Worden, a state park, has a nice beach, a small sealife center (with a hands-on pool full of creatures), and acres of old fort complete with WWI bunkers to explore.

Chetzemoka Park has a great play area for small children.

The town is a charming Victorian, perched on a small peninsula at the northeast corner of the Olympic peninsula. There are lots of nice places to stay and good restaurants. It is an easy drive up to Hurricane Ridge for a daytrip, or out to the Dungeness Spit for a walk on the driftwood-covered beach.

You can take a sightseeing or wildlife tour by boat:

http://www.pugetsoundexpress.com/

For fishing (flyfishing), try Bob Triggs, or the Port Townsend Angler:

http://www.washingtonflyfishing.com/guides/littlestone/

http://www.ptangler.com/

Never been to the San Juans? There's your answer.

I'll leave the specifics to others who have a better feel for it. We've only done a couple day trips, once just riding the boat, another time with our car and spending the day on Orcas.

I second the San Juans <G> Would spend every weekend there if we could! Definitely book a whale watching trip, even if you don't see orcas there is plenty of other wildlife to see. Orcas Island has nice lodging & restaurants, San Juan Island is busier & has Lime Kiln Park, the best spot for orca watching from land. Also has British Camp & American Camp where you can hike & see a little bit of history. Lots to do!

Serendipity42

Drove out to the Ferry that goes to the San Juans and wish we would have had time to go. Probably should book lodging before you go.

I suggest the Cascade Loop, driving via Darrington and Marbelmount to Winthrop.

Stay at Sun Mountain Lodge (upscale) or Wolf Ridge Resort (family oriented log cabins in woods).

Return to Seattle via the Methow Valley, the Columbia River Gorge (97 Alt.), Chelan, Leavenworth, and Stevens Pass (Route 2).

This is a beautiful drive of which we never tire.

http://www.cascadeloop.com

I like Enzians suggestion. The place that we always stay at in Port Townsend is the Morgan Hill Guest Cottage. It has a great little loft for kids and is within walking distance of Chetzemoka Park. Fort Worden has Officers Row to check out, but also the old bunkers up on the hill are great fun to check out, and the lighthouse at the bottom.

I'm not sure they are still open, but the old Officer's Quarters at Fort Casey on Whidbey Island are now a B&B, not fancy, but a great location and Whidbey, like the San Juans offers a chance to kick back and enjoy. Good food in Coupeville, which also offers The Anchorage B&B. Trails around Fort Casey are moderate in nature and take you to great views.

The San Juans are enough of a pain to get to (drive to Anacortes, wait for boat, then long waits returning) that it will suck a lot of the joy out of a couple of days, especially if your 4 y.o. does not possess world-class patience.

I think Port Townsend is a good idea, including possibly a day trip to Port Angeles to go up to Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park, and/or a meal at the 3 Crabs in Dungeness (food okay, setting fab.)

The Cascade Loop is also a good idea but again, only if your child is happy spending long stretches in the car.

Presumably you've visited the Columbia Gorge; if you haven't then your problem is solved - head east from Portland on the south side of the river (use the "historic" highway) as far as Cascade Locks, then switch over to the Washington side. You might have a look at the Flying L Ranch - http://www.mt-adams.com/index.html near White Salmon (WA) for a night. Next day, continue to Goldendale, maybe stopping at the Maryhill Museum http://www.maryhillmuseum.org - a very interesting place and the peacocks will entertain your kid. Then north on US 97 to Toppenish for a buffalo burger at the Yakama Tribal Center, spend the night or not, then into Seattle on I-82/I-90. Very enjoyable couple of days.

Port Townsend, Whidbey Island, and the San Juans are all good ideas that fit what you're after.

Depending on your budget there's a float plane that goes to the San Juans from Seattle, besides car or ferry.

Another direction I think is spectacular is due East... over to the North Cascades. In about a 4-hour drive over to areas like Mazama and Winthrop. Fun little towns, inns, camping and dramatic scenery.

This is great intel -- thanks, all. I've just been hearing more raves about the San Juans from a friend, but I'm a bit concerned about the travel hassle mentioned. I'll check the floatplane option. If that works, any specific lodging on Orcas or San Juan that you'd recommend?