Okay, guys,...wasn't sure peeps were seeing my old message so I started a new thread... I have 2 more questions..well, maybe more than 2...lol

We decided to stay overnight at one of the lodges in OP and planned on heading North and touring the park counter-clockwise. Is the drive scenic enough that we need to go down to Olympia then head up 101, should I cut across Hwy. 3 then up 101 or skip it altogether and just go straight up 3/104/101 to Sequim? Drive looks pretty along the canal but wasn't sure we needed to take the add't time to do it.

If I dedicate 1 day to the San Juan Isands, would you suggest I take ferry from P. Townsend to Anacortes the ferry to SJuans? What are the must-sees and which islands? When heading back to cabin at end of day, would it be quicker to drive through Seattle or take the ferries back...if they're running...I know they have a winter schedule. What day would you suggest we tour the San Juans - weekend or weekday?

I read something somewhere about a 3 hour ferry ride that was the most scenic one in the area...that ring any bells? I just send of requests for some travel brochures but nothing beats local knowledge!

Many thanks again to for all your trip planning expertise!

A day trip to the San Juans? From where, the Olympic Peninsula? That's way too far for a day trip. It's not really do-able as a day trip from Seattle either. Whidbey Island is a much more feasible day trip from either location.

If you're just spending one night on the Peninsula, then I'd head out there as directly as possible. So no, I wouldn't take the time to drive along Hood Canal with so little time in ONP.

Just saw your other post (best to keep it on one thread btw). Yes, definitely way too much to do a day trip to the San Juans from Gig Harbor.

jenandkev, you can find your old post by hitting your name. Then your posts appear. Then you can top it by going to the bottom and putting in a message, like "ttt" (for "to the top"). Then your old post comes up and others can find it more easily.

Hood River Canal is OK, but with your limited time, better heard direct for ONP. Agree with others, San Juans not a day trip from OP, but Whidbey Island is. Coupleville, Langley. Greenland.

If you think people aren't seeing your old thread, you only need to add any 'reply' to it yourself & that brings it to the #1 position again. That works best because then all your questions & answers are in one place.

The San Juans islands don't work as a "day trip"... takes too long to get there & back.

it's not that scenic up 101, and it adds several hours to the drive.