mary54

I would appreciate some ideas of a nice place (not extremely expensive) to stay for a week with my 21 yr. old daughter while she recuperates from knee surgery. She is a UW student (Seattle) and lives in a sorrority. I am coming out from Chicago and want to send the week with her the week after surgery. I was thinking of doing a Priceline room somewhere, any ideas? She will be able to walk, but is to "take it easy". We also have a car and can travel out of the Seattle area. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you in advance. Mary

cmcfong

How about Whidbey Island or the San Juans? Beautiful, restful islands readily accessible from Seattle.

tcapp

The San Juans or Port Townsend would be very nice.

sgirlie

Go to a waterside cabin in the San Juans. There's Nothing more recuperative!

jimshep

And she'll need to recuperate after the wait for a ferry.

bizeb

We stayed at Otter's Pond B&B on Orcas Island. It was an absolutley lovey, relaxing place. I think the San Juans are known for walking and hiking which doesn't sound like the kind of place you want. That said, every place is for walking. You could "veg" out a, bring a book and relax. It certainly is beautiful.
Harbor Air leaves from several places on Orcas Island and Friday Harbor. We took the seaplane directly to Union Lake in Seattle.
Good luck with her surgery.

sgorces

Yellow Point Lodge near Naniamo on Vancouver Island would be just the place. Serene, peaceful and all meals inclusive. This is a great spot to sit in a Adirondak chair and soak up the surroundings. See www.yellowpointlodge.com. I have no affiliation (just a happy visitor). The location is accessed via Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal just north of Vancouver, B.C.

It takes about three hours to get there, but it's a beautiful trip and a splendid place.

If you like the idea of San Juan better (takes about the same amount of time because of a longish ferry ride), but I love the rustic cabins at Lonesome Cove resort. Cooking your own meals there though!

Gardyloo

You don't say when this is or if she will be able to handle stairs. If it's any time between now and the first of November, then the San Juans are likely to be pretty pricey; of course it depends on the place. While the ferries have elevators, there are still lots of stairs to navigate usually.

I would spend a couple of nights in Seattle - light walks, maybe go to a movie, stuff like that, then go to Portland for three or four nights. Many good hotels often with good PL deals, restaurants, shopping. Portland is much more easily walkable than Seattle, and you can do day trips to the Columbia Gorge or the Yamhill Co. wine country, or to Mts. Hood or St. Helens, lots of fun but not strenuous things.

mary54

Thank you for all your help. I plan on getting a wheelchair for her that first week (any ideas where to rent one?). I had thought about the first several days in Seattle (to be near the Dr., just in case) then possibly spending a couple of days in Vancouver (visited there once before), but appreciate the suggestion on Portland. Mary

Mollie

Is there a chance she may be using a continuous passive motion machine immediately after surgery, or perhaps start physical therapy a week after? You should check before any reservations are made.

Look up 'medical equipment' in the yellow pages for names of wheelchair rental places.

http://www.arthroscopy.com/sp06001.htm

mary54

The Dr. said there would be no physical therapy needed. She should be able to walk out of the hospital, but just take it easy. No bending knees down, etc. She should be 80% to 90% recovered within the month. I just want to go out and be with her for a while, get her out of the sorrority during rush, no three flights of stairs and little sleep. She knows I will "baby" her, and when she feels well enough, take her to nice dinners and maybe some shopping. She knows how to "work" her mama. mary

seattlewriter

Hi Mary,

I'll add a few more ideas. You mentioned Vancouver and I'd certainly agree that could be a nice destination -- plenty of great shopping and restaurants, and just about a 2.5-3 hour drive from Seattle, depending on the border crossing time. And no ferry waits! I love the islands, but all that waiting can take up a good part of the day.

You can probably find a good deal on a nice Vancouver hotel via Priceline or an extended stay at a private rental from vrbo.com (click on my screen name and you'll see a couple of posts of mine on recommended suite rentals in Vancouver). Take the gondola ride up Grouse Mountain in early evening and see the city lights down below -- very cool!

If you want something a little closer to Seattle and a little more back-to-nature, you might try Alta Crystal Resort near Mt. Rainier and Crystal Mountain. It is a little more "remote" in the sense there are not many restaurants around, but the suites in the cabins have full kitchens, so you can cook up your own meals there.

At night they have bonfires for the guests, and the owners come too and the beer, wine, pop, hot chocolate, and marshmallows (to roast!) are complimentary. It is pretty easy to get to, no high roads or anything, though if you want, you can drive to the summit of Mt. Rainier -- beautiful up there! I went last September and it was a perfect time to be there -- lots of wildflowers, gorgeous sunsets.

Here's their website: http://altacrystalresort.com/home.html Ask for midweek and fall rates if you're coming after 9/7.

And one more; this is near Port Ludlow and Port Townsend (so there is one ferry to take). Quite beautiful setting in nature and very quiet (except for the wildlife!) and private: http://www.beaverspondretreat.com

I hope you both enjoy your daughter's recuperative week.

Shelley in Seattle