Seattle and vicinity in July
 

I'm planning a trip to Seattle in July with my 19 yr old daughter. I hope we will have about 10 days. I've read several posts about what to do in Seattle, but I also have a couple of things I definitely want to do as side trips. I'll be staying with friends outside Seattle for most of the trip, but I would also like to see Butchart Gardens on Vancouver Island and maybe visit Forks, WA (supposed site of the movie Twilight although it was filmed in Portland, OR). I plan to rent a car for part of the trip if needed, so please advise on attractions in the general area that are really worth the visit, in addition to must sees in Seatlle.

Definitely a ferry trip out to the San Juan Islands. I think they go out from Anacortes. If you go to Friday Harbor you can rent scooters to travel around the island. A trip out Mt. Rainier is a good trip, and the Olympic Peninsula is wonderful if you like hiking.

Before you rent a car to take to Vancouver Island, read the rental policy carefully. Some companies will not allow you to take the car into Canada. You might be well served to take the passenger only ferry from Seattle to Victoria, BC. Make sure to have passports for both of you or you will become Canadian citizens because the US won't let you back home without.

The drive from Seattle to Forks is quite pretty. Plan to drive up to Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park, make a stop at one of the Pacific beaches like Rialto, and a drive up to the Hoh Rainforest. An overnight at Sol Duc Hot Springs can be pretty relaxing with a soak in the hot pool.

If your schedule is flexible, choose a clear day and drive around Mt Rainier.

I'd suggest going round-trip on the Victoria Clipper (walk-on in Seattle) to Victoria, and then go Buchart Gardens from there.

A car rental for the Forks trip would be good. You can do a big loop on the Peninsula. Very scenic.

Please ask if you need more about Seattle. I'm really better with city information myself :-)
suze

I would also suggest a walk-on ferry to Victoria, but if you are heading out to Forks with a car you can leave the car in Port Angeles, and take either the MV Coho or Victoria Express from there to Victoria. You don't need a car in Victoria; even to get to Butchart Gardens...there are plenty of tour buses and even public transportation to get out there.

Forks is a sleepy little town busily cashing in on "Twilight"-mania. I live on the Olympic Peninsula, and the freebie magazine that comes with our weekly paper lists several guided tours based on the books, as well as a store devoted solely to Twilight souvenirs called "Dazzled by Twilight". You can get info about the tours and the store here: http://www.dazzledbytwilight.com/.

Thanks for all the info. Got home late tonight and have not been able to digest it all. San Juan Islands did sound like something I should put on the agenda. Is the trip to Butchart Gardens a day trip or do I need to spend the night?

OK...booked my flight tonight. Now need to plan the itinerary. Is Mt. St. Helens something I should put on the agenda? How long is the drive from Seattle to the ferry to Victoria? Will I have to pay to park at the ferry dock? Are the gardens an easy day trip?

Mt St Helens--it depends on what else you're doing and where you're going.

Are you planning to go Victoria from Seattle or from Port Angeles (the latter would be on the way to/from Forks)? Either can be a day trip but I would not recommend starting from Seattle and trying to go to Victoria via Port Angeles if you're just doing a day trip--take the Victoria Clipper from downtown Seattle instead.

Well I think Mt St Helens will be on the agenda. I'm in the early stages of planning, but I think we will go to Victoria via Port Angeles sometime during our venture to Forks. I would drive from Bellevue to Port Angeles, so should I plan to spend a night in Victoria and leave the car in Port Angeles, the venture on to Forks after the return. Can you drive thru ONP from Forks to Seattle?

Yes, you should plan to spend the night in Victoria and leaving the car in Port Angeles in that scenario. Then catch the 10:30 back to Port Angeles and drive out and back to Forks on Rt. 101 before heading back to Seattle. You'll go through part of the park (around Lk Crescent) but mostly you'll be driving the periphery on 101 and will have to use one of the access roads to get into the park (e.g. the Hurricane Ridge road near Port Angeles, which you should try to make time for).

Has anyone stayed in Forks, WA? Thinking about staying one night in July and it looks like some of the B&B's are already sold out.

Forks is a little, down-at-the heels town with a few basic motels, a pretty good grocery store, and restaurants that survive by catering to locals during the long non-tourist season.

The Forks Motel is as good as any, and the nearby Chinese of Mexican restaurants dish up the standard fare.

I suggest you rent a car to see Forks and the Olympic National Park and that you take the passenger ferry to Victoria from Port Angeles: http://www.victoriaexpress.com/welcome.html

In case you decide not to stay in Forks, the Olympic Lodge in Port Angeles has all the amenities: http://www.olympiclodge.com

There is also a Thai restaurant in Port Angeles which is so good I wish it were here in Seattle: http://www.sabaithaipa.com

Highlights of the Olympic Peninsula include the town of Port Townsend, Hurricane Ridge, Ruby Beach, the beaches near La Push, Lake Crescent, and the walk to Marymere Falls from the Lake Crescent Ranger Station.

You might want to visit Mt. Rainier, as well. It is awesome. The snow clears through July but I'd go at the end.

Here's an idea: Day 1 Bellevue with friends?
Day 2 Lake Crescent Lodge on OP
Day 3 Visit Ruby Beach etc. Stay at L. Crescent Lodge
Day 4 Hurricane Ridge Port Angeles for night
Day 5 Victoria and back to Port Angeles
Day 6 Mt. Rainier
Day 7 Mt. Rainier
Day 8 Mt Rainier
Day 9 St Helens on the away back to Seattle.

What do people think of this itinerary. I left off the San Juan Islands. Can't do it all. They are hard to get to if you are on the Olympic Peninsula. Actually, if you want to catch the islands, here's an alt.

Day 1 Seattle (must sees Pike Place Mkt, Alki Beach (if you bike, rent bikes at Alki)
Day 2 Lake Crescent Lodge on OP via Hurricane Ridge
Day 3 Visit Ruby Beach etc. Stay at L. Crescent Lodge
Day 4 Victoria by car ferry with car
Day 5 Buchardt Gdns, ferry to Saltspring Is or go to other Gulf Island. (All in BC)
Day 6 Saltspring Is (or island of choice)
Day 7 Ferry to Tsawwassen BC
Day 8 Vancouver BC (again, rent bikes if you bike)
Day 9 Vancouver BC
Day 10 Seattle

Or something...don't know if you've been to Vancouver or if you want to see it, but it's a fun city

Sorry but I reread your post and see you are mostly looking for day trips, so you can scotch the itinerary I provided. It does include some cool spots, though. Don't miss Mt. Rainier, if you can help it.

I am so glad I finally got some responses. I've been chained to my desk at work and have not had much time to plan our trip. I figured my thread was either really boring or no one had ever been to Forks. Give me a chance to review this and as Arnold says...I'll be back!

OK...some of the definites on my itinerary are Mt St Helens, Pike's Market, locks in Seattle, Butchart Gardens, Farmer's Market in Bellevue, Experience Music Project for DD. She is a Twilight fan so I need to figure out if a night in Forks would make her a really happy camper.

I consider a "must see" when in Seattle, the Seattle Underground Tours. I've done them twice myself. The tour actually takes you Underground, and is filled with true and hilarious history of the city, and is presented in a very entertaining manner as well. Enjoy!

"Before you rent a car to take to Vancouver Island, read the rental policy carefully. Some companies will not allow you to take the car into Canada."

Interesting comment, but having been doing a ton of pricing with half a dozen major car rental agencies, I can't imagine what you're talking about. None of them seem to have any issue at all about taking a car into Candada. I even made specific calls because of other misinformred posts like yours. Do you have any specific rules to quote or experience to confirm? Although if you are a Canadian and renting a car in the US to take into Canada that's quite another issue.

Well my buddies are willing to accompany us as our tour guides with their car! I can't wait to be retired. will have to check this out tomorrow. It's past my bedtime!

coryandcarissa,
I have read about the Underground tour and it did sound quite fun. I need to look into that too.

I'm still trying to decide if a night in Forks is in order. Anyone have an opinion on that?