Daytripping from Seattle
 

Any good ideas for a nice day trip from Seattle in May/June?

Port Townsend is a lovely location.
So is the Olympic Penninsula.

Whidbey Island

Salish Lodge at Snoqualmie Falls

Mt Rainier

Victoria

All of the above, plus

Vashon Island, returning via Museum of Glass in Tacoma;

Mt. Baker, travel one way via Chuckanut Drive (Mt. Vernon to Bellingham);

Bloedel Reserve (botanical garden) on Bainbridge Island;

Canoe rented from U of W boathouse - paddle through the nature reserve right on Union Bay in the city;

I'll think of more...

Go to Everett and tour the Boeing factory.

BAK

Our last time there, we took a flight from Seattle to Friday Harbor and took a day-long whale watching tour. That was fun! I'm not at my home office, so I don't have the exact information, but I'll look it up when I get back home if you're interested.

One thing we ALWAYS do when we're in Seattle -- stay over at The Inn at Langley on Whidbey Island and have Saturday night dinner there. Fantastic chef, incredible food (the chef and his wife manage the place) and terrific, friendly management who can't spoil you enough.

Fireplace, minibar, verandah overlooking the Sound, and a Jacuzzi in the bathroom (with a window so you can open it and look out at the water as you sip wine and kick back in the tub.) Plus plenty of space to beachwalk, and you can have breakfast there at the Inn. Maybe not what you're looking for if you prefer urban settings, but IMO, it's about as spoiled as you can get and still be rural.

Also, my husband loves to fish and I love anywhere outdoors or on the water. Last time out, we hired a guide out of Forks, drove out there and went salmon fishing. Great fun, too. Had dinner in Port Angeles on the way back.

There's ferry trips that go from Seattle to Vancouver, B.C., if you're interested. I've never done that one, but it sounds like fun.

And if all else fails, you can spend the day wandering Seattle. There's a ton of interesting little shops and such, and it doesn't have the homogenized feel that some cities have.

Now I can't wait to go back! Have a great time!

~Elizabeth

How about a float plane ride for an aerial tour of the region? They leave from Lake Union.

If the weather is sunny, Mt. Rainier would be the #1 thing to see.
I'd recommend, as others did, one of the islands (Bainbridge and Vashon are close and have some nice beachfront parks, while Whidbey is a little further but has some really terrific parks such as Ebey's Landing, South Whidbey State Park and Deception Pass) or Port Townsend (perhaps with a trip to a nearby beach, such as at Fort Warden, as well).

There are a myriad of day trips you could take. What kind of things do you like and enjoy? That could help to get you pointed in the right direction.

Also, how many hours do you like to drive. In 3 hours you can be in Vancouver, B.C. for example. Let us know and we can all give you better answers.

There are no ferry trips to Vancouver BC from Seattle. Perfectly adequate freeway, though.

But there is a ferry from Seattle to Victoria BC.

Campfire on Alki Beach
Chittenden Locks - NW 54th St in Ballard

Mt Rainier Nat'l Park is an easy drive for a great day trip on a nice day. Victoria BC is a fast easy all passenger ferry ride for a day trip - go in the morning & return in the evening, although I would recommend an overnight.

Vancouver and Mt. Rainier both make good day trips.

Go to the Mt. St Helen's visitor center to observe the blast zone (it should be all clear from the last burp), fly fish in a float tube at the base of the mountain as the coyotes call to each other while the sun sets.

mt saint helens isn't really a "nice day trip" from seattle unless you want to spend a lot of time on the freeway

I agree that Mt. Rainier is the number one day trip on a sunny day. It's too bad that much of the drive there is on congested roadways and that the drive isn't very scenic.

Second, I would go for Whidbey Island via La Conner: I-5 to Conway, La Conner (charming town), Deception Pass, Coupeville, Fort Casey State Park, Langley, and Clinton for the ferry back to the mainland. On a clear day, there are great views of the Cascades and Olympics. (If you are an AAA member, they will give you a great map of the island that shows clearly roads that follow the coast closely.)

Other great short trips are best with one night (or preferably more) out of town: Olympic Peninsula, North Cascade Highway and the Methow Valley, Cannon Beach (Oregon), and the Columbia River Gorge are our favorites. Also great are Vancouver, Mt. Baker (especially when Artist's Point trail is open), Mount St. Helens, Orcas Island, San Juan Island (Friday Harbor), and Lake Chelan.