Hello,

We are planning to spend weekend (tomorrow) in ONP, specially rain forest. Since it is quick trip of one night stay, I don't think, we can explore much this time.

From some reading, I got to know, we can visit either Quinault Rain Forest or Hoh rain forest or may be both. Rain Forest Resort Village can be reasonable stay place. Can somebody suggest a rough idea/itinerary, what can be seen on both days during our stay and travel.
Nothing is booked yet, so we are good to go with any suggestions or any route.

Thanks

I'm not aware of what may be open or closed, but the current weather forecast for Quinault ( http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick...&lon=-123.8455 ) is Saturday: chance of snow showers, high temp = 35; Saturday night snow, low = 25; Sunday snow and rain, high = 38. That's all fortomorrow (Dec 17 - 18)

Hoh is forecast a tad bit warmer, but still some snow and rain http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick...&lon=-124.4066

With how cold it has been here in Seattle, I wouldn't be planning a road trip. There is little snow removal equipment in western Washington, so whatever snow comes, stays on the road until it melts or turns to ice. So even if you are accustomed to driving in snow and ice, most of the other people on the road won't be.

Can you easily postpone this trip?

Hi Kathie and elbegewa,
Yes, I can postpone "this" trip. We are in this area for couple of months, so would like use all my weekends.
Keeping that in mind, we planned for ONP. Can you suggest any other route/place/itinerary, which can allow us to see places for 2 full days ? We are in Seattle and we can go on any side.

I would think about going somewhere you don't have to drive. So consider taking the train to Portland, for instance. Or what about taking the Victoria Clipper to Victoria? The daily schedule is designed to maximize your time in Victoria.

Agreed with Kathy ... or the train to Vancouver for you have passports.

Or bundle up and enjoy the rare-at-this-time-of-year sun (on Saturday, rain may return on Sunday) in Seattle. If you haven't taken a ferry yet do so, to either Bainbridge or, if you'd like a more rural setting, to Vashon.

Or just explore and walk along both the beach and the bluffs above it at Lincoln Park in West Seattle, or similarly the more expansive Discovery Park in Magnolia (on the way to or from, the drive along Magnolia Blvd. West has some of the best views in the city).

Or explore the upper reached of Queen Anne, including the various stairways and especially the famous view from Kinnear Park.

Or go to Green Lake and take the 3 mile stroll around Green Lake.

Or go to South Lake Union and explore the Museum of Science and Industry and its adjacent Wooden Boats Center. And walk along Lake Union's east shore to see the colonies of houseboats where people live on the water, or along Lake Union's west shore past all the yachts and kayaks and sea planes

If you want to get out of town, I'd recommend heading north to Mukilteo and take the ferry over to Whidbey. Stop in Langley for a coffee or a snack, then drive up to Deception Pass at the north end of the island. Visit West Beach and the amphitheater for what ought to be good views of the snow-covered Olympics and the bridges, http://gardyloo.us/096b.JPG and http://gardyloo.us/083b.JPG .

Continue over the bridges onto Fidalgo Island, then follow SR 20 back to the mainland and turn south to visit La Conner, maybe for an afternoon snack or early dinner. Look around the Skagit Valley between La Conner and I-5 for the snow geese, which can be a spectacular sight this time of year, e.g. http://gardyloo.us/20100319_56as.JPG , then back to Seattle.

You could also do a fun day trip to picturesque Port Gamble via the Edmonds ferry, stop at Chief Seattle's grave in Suquamish, then have a meal in Winslow on Bainbridge and take a sunset ferry back into Seattle, https://goo.gl/maps/yWKGjmikFNt .

Orcas Island is fun to visit.

Agreeing with and adding to... Victoria Clipper, Salish Lodge at Snoqualmie Falls, Captain Whidbey Inn on Whidbey Island.

Especially THIS weekend is no time for a road trip imo. It's freezing cold, patches of ice on the road, just not the safest idea to be heading out to ONP (but since I am writing on Sunday, this is probably already figured out -lol!)