We have 4 days in Seattle after our cruise. Going to Leavenworth, Squalamine (?) Falls and Mt. Rainier (2 days). Would it be possible to sail the San Juans in one day? Or would it be just as nice to drive down to Tacoma around to the Cascades-Olympic Park up to Port Angeles and Hurricane Ridge and back in one day? We would like to leave at least one day in Seattle to see the Pike Mkt., Pioneer Sq. and visit the Space Needle.
Not interested in Music Ex., Underground or Musems, mostly scenery. Thank you!

How do you plan on getting from Seattle to Puerto Rico??

We took a seaplane from Seattle to San Juan Island. It's the fastest way to get to the islands, and it's surprisingly affordable (check their special webfares). The company was Kenmore Air -- they have a website. Our flight left from Lake Union in the middle of Seattle (you don't have to schlep to the airport) and dropped us off at Friday Harbor on SJ Island. You can hang out in Friday Harbor for a few hours, or rent bicycles to explore the island. The planes also go to other islands, but I think SJ Island is best for a daytrip. It was lots of fun taking off from and landing on the water, and you get to see lots of great scenery en route. That's probably the best way to get to the San Juans if you only have a day. If you take a ferry, first you have to drive up to Anacortes, and then you might have to wait to get on the ferry.

Marti,

My opinion, I don't consider the San Juans or Hurricane Ridge as a day trip from Seattle. You'd have to drive to Anacortes for the San Juans and catch a ferry (waiting, waiting for your turn).
If you were dying to do Hurricane Ridge, best bet is to take the ferry from Seattle to Bainbridge Island, and drive from there, avoiding horrendous traffic and interstate driving.

You could easily give Seattle more time. Or, you could check out the ferry schedule and do a more relaxed day trip. Victoria would be possible. Also, Langley, on Whidbey Island, is a nice town. We liked Poulsbo, too, a Scandanavian town on Puget Sound. Even got to go watch a visiting Scandanavian dance performance while we were there.

Have a great trip.

Hi Marti
You can combine a day trip to and through the San Juan's on the Victoria Clipper. This fast ship leaves from Downtown Seattle and I belive heads straight for Friday Harbor. I am not sure how long it stays in town before departing for Victoria BC. You may wish to check this out, it may be a long day but you might get lucky and see some Orca pods. The clipper goes through some lovely scenery and would be the best way to see the San Juans from the 'see level'. Otherwise, the other poster had the right idea about the seaplanes. Great fun, I've done them several times. Snoqualamie Falls is nice but not that specactacular, Leavenworth is cute though.

Have fun!

Thanks for your help. We were going to take the Victoria Clipper from Seattle and you get to stay at Fri Harbor for about 4 hrs. before returning. The agent said that Victoria is further than the San Juans? Thus it costs twice as much to get to? No flying!