Olympia WA itinerary help.....
Jun 23rd, 2009, 01:08 PM
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Olympia WA itinerary help.....
We will be leaving for Olympia this Sunday and although I've checked on line and also read the forums I haven't really seen much info so I thought I'd ask if you could help with our itinerary.
We are very active 50 somethings who like hiking, beautiful scenery, (we will have a rental car) good food (local hole in the wall places are a favorite) history, architecture.
We'd also like to drive to Mt. Rainer one day...is there still snow that would not allow this?
We will be staying in Olympia June 28 (arriving in the a.m. from So.Ca.) til July 2.
If you can help with any of your favorite drives, hikes, restaurants etc. it would be most appreciated!
thanks in advance!
We are very active 50 somethings who like hiking, beautiful scenery, (we will have a rental car) good food (local hole in the wall places are a favorite) history, architecture.
We'd also like to drive to Mt. Rainer one day...is there still snow that would not allow this?
We will be staying in Olympia June 28 (arriving in the a.m. from So.Ca.) til July 2.
If you can help with any of your favorite drives, hikes, restaurants etc. it would be most appreciated!
thanks in advance!
Jun 23rd, 2009, 02:09 PM
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There will be snow all over the place at Mt Rainier, but it won't prevent you from getting a close look at the mountains and it will be beautiful.
Other day trip possibilities include Mt Saint Helens, Portland, Seattle, and Ocean Shores.
For dining there, we like the deck at Bud Bay Cafe for lunch and we have also enjoyed lunch at Mercato (Italian) restaurant. These restaurants are both near Olympia's great Farmer's Market.
Other day trip possibilities include Mt Saint Helens, Portland, Seattle, and Ocean Shores.
For dining there, we like the deck at Bud Bay Cafe for lunch and we have also enjoyed lunch at Mercato (Italian) restaurant. These restaurants are both near Olympia's great Farmer's Market.
Jun 23rd, 2009, 02:32 PM
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happytrails....thanks for the restaurant suggestions. If you have a favorite sea food restaurant that you'd like to share that would be great too.
So I guess we'll just drive as far as we can to Mt. Rainier and when we hit the snow we'll stop right?
Mt. St. Helen's...hmmmmm. Never thought of that. I'll have to see how far the drive is. I'd love to see it.
We've been to Seattle in the past but if we have time I'd love to spend more time there. It's a beautiful city.
I don't know of Ocean Shores?
We have 3 full days and one 1/2 day when we get there. We also dont' fly out of seattle until later on our last day so we could maybe see some of Seattle then....
So I guess we'll just drive as far as we can to Mt. Rainier and when we hit the snow we'll stop right?
Mt. St. Helen's...hmmmmm. Never thought of that. I'll have to see how far the drive is. I'd love to see it.
We've been to Seattle in the past but if we have time I'd love to spend more time there. It's a beautiful city.
I don't know of Ocean Shores?
We have 3 full days and one 1/2 day when we get there. We also dont' fly out of seattle until later on our last day so we could maybe see some of Seattle then....
Jun 23rd, 2009, 04:02 PM
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Xihn's in Shelton for seafood is worth the drive. You have lots of day trip opportunities--lots of state parks along Hood Canal, Port Townsend is doable, Rainier and St Helens as already noted. If you're going to the ocean, Ocean Shores is closest but it's pretty tacky...use google maps to see if Kalaloch is a doable day trip. That's a gorgeous part of the coast.
Jun 23rd, 2009, 04:05 PM
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Marginal...
the Olympic penn is what we are really looking forward to seeing. Hoh Rain Forest, Hurricane ridge, Rialto etc.
I don't really know distances yet so I'm not sure how much time driving from one area to another will take or how much we can see in 3 days.
I was hoping for some specific hikes or a "secret" spot that you've enjoyed.
the Olympic penn is what we are really looking forward to seeing. Hoh Rain Forest, Hurricane ridge, Rialto etc.
I don't really know distances yet so I'm not sure how much time driving from one area to another will take or how much we can see in 3 days.
I was hoping for some specific hikes or a "secret" spot that you've enjoyed.
Jun 23rd, 2009, 04:53 PM
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The Bud Bay Cafe is a fish restaurant. I think of it as old school. I often have pan sauteed oysters which come with mashed potatoes and a fresh vegetable in the manner common forty years ago. I don't see that in Seattle, and I like it.
The Olympic Peninsula is great. It's just not a day trip (in my opinion) and you specified day trip. The loop is 335 miles--seven hours of driving if you don't stop. And, there is so much to see and do.
A stay over of at least one night is obligatory, in my view.
The drive on 101 up the west side of Hood Canal is one of my favorites, and the drive as far as Kalaloch ranges from spectacularly scenic (Lake Crescent) to scenic (much of the rest). Unfortunately, the drive from Kalaloch to Olympia is ho-hum though there are some wonderful things to see off the road such as Lake Quinault, the Quinault rain forest, and Maple Glade Nature Trail.
The Olympic Peninsula is great. It's just not a day trip (in my opinion) and you specified day trip. The loop is 335 miles--seven hours of driving if you don't stop. And, there is so much to see and do.
A stay over of at least one night is obligatory, in my view.
The drive on 101 up the west side of Hood Canal is one of my favorites, and the drive as far as Kalaloch ranges from spectacularly scenic (Lake Crescent) to scenic (much of the rest). Unfortunately, the drive from Kalaloch to Olympia is ho-hum though there are some wonderful things to see off the road such as Lake Quinault, the Quinault rain forest, and Maple Glade Nature Trail.
Jun 23rd, 2009, 08:27 PM
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Bud Bay sounds perfect....it's on my to do list.
It's to bad we can't stay a night somewhere along the way but I don't know if it's in the cards for this trip. We already have hotel reservations in Olympia and we'll have to see if we can bow out for one night.
Maybe we could drive in one direction very early on one morning and do 1/2 of the penn and drive the other direction the next morning. It probably wouldn't give us much time to see things along the way though.
I've copied and pasted everyone's ideas.
Thanks for the feedback.
It's to bad we can't stay a night somewhere along the way but I don't know if it's in the cards for this trip. We already have hotel reservations in Olympia and we'll have to see if we can bow out for one night.
Maybe we could drive in one direction very early on one morning and do 1/2 of the penn and drive the other direction the next morning. It probably wouldn't give us much time to see things along the way though.
I've copied and pasted everyone's ideas.
Thanks for the feedback.
Jun 23rd, 2009, 08:53 PM
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Hello
for an update on Mt Rainier you can visit their website at Mt. Rainier National Park
www.VisitRainier.com You can have lunch at Longmire or Paradise inside the Park, and take hikes from either of these places. It may be early for the spring flowers but well worth the visit. In Olympia there are the waterfront places but for a good inexpensive lunch try the Main Chinese Buffet (360) 455-8899 5580 Martin Way E Lacey, WA 98516.
Enjoy your stay
for an update on Mt Rainier you can visit their website at Mt. Rainier National Park
www.VisitRainier.com You can have lunch at Longmire or Paradise inside the Park, and take hikes from either of these places. It may be early for the spring flowers but well worth the visit. In Olympia there are the waterfront places but for a good inexpensive lunch try the Main Chinese Buffet (360) 455-8899 5580 Martin Way E Lacey, WA 98516.
Enjoy your stay
Jun 23rd, 2009, 10:07 PM
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My son (who's a cook at the WaterStreet, a restaurant you might add to your list) lives in Oly and summitted Mt. Ellinor a week or two ago. His pictures are amazing.
I don't know how far you might want to comfortably climb if you're not 23, but....
I don't know how far you might want to comfortably climb if you're not 23, but....
Jun 24th, 2009, 04:56 AM
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This is how I would do a day trip to the Olympic National Park from Olympia.
Drive to Port Angeles via Shelton, Hoodsport, and Quilcene. Drive to Hurricane Ridge and take a hike there.
Drive from Hurricane Ridge to the ranger station at Lake Crescent. Take the hike to Marymere Falls. You will walk through a forest that gets over 115 inches of rain a year, looks like a rain forest, but isn't officially designated as such.
Return to Olympia via the same route, making a detour to visit Port Townsend if you have the time and interest to do so. If you are in Port Angeles at dinner time and like Thai food, eat at Sabai Thai, 903 West 8th Street. This plan gives you the opportunity to whet your appetite for the ONP while driving mostly scenic roads rather than driving long stretches of highway I find tiring for lack of scenic interest.
If you decide to do the loop, visit Ruby Beach, Kalaloch, and, at Lake Quinault, Maple Glade Nature Trail on the north side and the lake and the lodge on the south side.
HTTY
Drive to Port Angeles via Shelton, Hoodsport, and Quilcene. Drive to Hurricane Ridge and take a hike there.
Drive from Hurricane Ridge to the ranger station at Lake Crescent. Take the hike to Marymere Falls. You will walk through a forest that gets over 115 inches of rain a year, looks like a rain forest, but isn't officially designated as such.
Return to Olympia via the same route, making a detour to visit Port Townsend if you have the time and interest to do so. If you are in Port Angeles at dinner time and like Thai food, eat at Sabai Thai, 903 West 8th Street. This plan gives you the opportunity to whet your appetite for the ONP while driving mostly scenic roads rather than driving long stretches of highway I find tiring for lack of scenic interest.
If you decide to do the loop, visit Ruby Beach, Kalaloch, and, at Lake Quinault, Maple Glade Nature Trail on the north side and the lake and the lodge on the south side.
HTTY
Jun 24th, 2009, 07:52 AM
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You'd definitely need to get an early start to do the day trip outlined above. My conservative estimate is that it would take at least 10 hours without the visit to Port Townsend and without stopping for meals. It's doable, but it would be a very long day.
Jun 24th, 2009, 08:09 AM
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happy trails....I was excited to see your itinerary but nwwanderer is saying 10 hrs which may be a little bit to long if that's in fact, without stops.
We really want to get out of the car for some 1-2 hrs. hikes.
(Welch...we won't be summiting any mountains thanks, but I bet your sons pics are amazing!)
Maybe we'll just get as far as we get before losing the daylight.
I was interested in seeing the Hoh rainforest and Rialto beach...I can see that I need to mapquest some distances.
I wish we could spend one night out on the penn without having to drive all the way back....that makes much more sense.
We love Thai food so will visit Sabai Thai (we were in Thailand in Feb...it was fantastic) and I've added the chinese restaurant and Waterstreet to the list also. (What's your son's name? I'll ask for his table)
You are all very kind and I appreciate the help!
We really want to get out of the car for some 1-2 hrs. hikes.
(Welch...we won't be summiting any mountains thanks, but I bet your sons pics are amazing!)
Maybe we'll just get as far as we get before losing the daylight.
I was interested in seeing the Hoh rainforest and Rialto beach...I can see that I need to mapquest some distances.
I wish we could spend one night out on the penn without having to drive all the way back....that makes much more sense.
We love Thai food so will visit Sabai Thai (we were in Thailand in Feb...it was fantastic) and I've added the chinese restaurant and Waterstreet to the list also. (What's your son's name? I'll ask for his table)
You are all very kind and I appreciate the help!
Jun 24th, 2009, 08:23 AM
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I hope I made it clear that I do not recommend "doing" the ONP in one day.
Rialto Beach is my favorite, but I didn't recommend it because it is a substantial detour from the main road. The nearby village of La Push is also worth a visit.
If you take the hike to Marymere Falls you will see very much what you would see if you take the long detour to the Hoh Rain Forest.
I recommended Maple Glade Nature Trail because it is, in my opinion, the most beautiful rain forest walk in the ONP and it is a much shorter detour from 101 than the Hoh,
Rialto Beach is my favorite, but I didn't recommend it because it is a substantial detour from the main road. The nearby village of La Push is also worth a visit.
If you take the hike to Marymere Falls you will see very much what you would see if you take the long detour to the Hoh Rain Forest.
I recommended Maple Glade Nature Trail because it is, in my opinion, the most beautiful rain forest walk in the ONP and it is a much shorter detour from 101 than the Hoh,
Jun 24th, 2009, 10:58 AM
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Having let my spelling grouch out of his cage, I should soften its impact by telling the OP (and anyone else) that if they go to the Budd Bay Cafe and walk south along the boardwalk they will come to a Rich Beyers' cast aluminum sculpture titled "The Kiss." I tried to cut-and-paste a picture to no avail. His sculptures are scattered around the state, but mostly in the Puget Sound area. A Seattle icon is "Waiting for the Interurban" in Fremont.
Jun 24th, 2009, 12:33 PM
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My 10 hour estimate was with the hikes recommended by HTTY but otherwise without any stops for meals, etc. And that's a conservative best case scenario estimate IMO.
HTTY, I didn't think you were recommending it per se, I just wanted the OP to know how long of a trip it was.
Going all the way to the Hoh/Rialto from Olympia for a day trip...not recommended. Yes, you should look at a map, for sure, and keep in mind that the roads into the park are slow, not 60 mph type roads (eg the road into the Hoh Visitors Center). I hope you can change your plans to have at least one night out there, it'll make a big difference.
HTTY, I didn't think you were recommending it per se, I just wanted the OP to know how long of a trip it was.
Going all the way to the Hoh/Rialto from Olympia for a day trip...not recommended. Yes, you should look at a map, for sure, and keep in mind that the roads into the park are slow, not 60 mph type roads (eg the road into the Hoh Visitors Center). I hope you can change your plans to have at least one night out there, it'll make a big difference.
Jun 24th, 2009, 12:36 PM
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OK...I can see that if we want to see the OP we are going to have to spend the night somewhere along the way. I'm going to make that happen...good advice HTTY.
So my next question is where would be a good 1/2 way spot to spend the night and should we go clockwise or?
I do really want to see Rialto Beach, tidepools etc., do some walks/hikes in the mossy rain forest and we'd love to stay in one of the old lodges if we can find one with availability if that's even possible at this late date.
I looked on the internet and Lake Quinault has a beautiful old lodge but I'm not sure if that's going to be 1/2 way enough. I'd like to not have to do 80% of the driving on one day but break it up so it's not a forced march...which it's going to kind of be anyway with our time restrictions.
Do you think we could just wing it with reservations? It would be a huge problem to be stuck without a room but at the same time it would be nice to be a little loosey goosie.
Thoughts please....I really am listening!!!!
So my next question is where would be a good 1/2 way spot to spend the night and should we go clockwise or?
I do really want to see Rialto Beach, tidepools etc., do some walks/hikes in the mossy rain forest and we'd love to stay in one of the old lodges if we can find one with availability if that's even possible at this late date.
I looked on the internet and Lake Quinault has a beautiful old lodge but I'm not sure if that's going to be 1/2 way enough. I'd like to not have to do 80% of the driving on one day but break it up so it's not a forced march...which it's going to kind of be anyway with our time restrictions.
Do you think we could just wing it with reservations? It would be a huge problem to be stuck without a room but at the same time it would be nice to be a little loosey goosie.
Thoughts please....I really am listening!!!!
