bkm10fl

We are starting to plan a trip for early August 2010 to Seattle. Though we need to be in Seattle to visit family, we want to make a vacation out of the trip. We will have about a week. We want to go north or south. We will have a couple of 17 year olds in tow.

We've done the Olympic Penninsula and loved it. Especially liked Hurricane Ridge and Shi Shi Beach. We like to hike and enjoy lots of outdoor activities (kayaking, horseback riding, boating, fishing, adventure stuff). We love beautiful scenery and wildlife and take lots of pictures.

We have not been to Oregon or British Columbia.

Should we:
Fly in to Portland, do Columbia River Gorge, Mt. Hood, Mt. Ranier, Mt. St. Helens (too many mountains?) and fly out of Seattle. Perhaps visit the Boeing factory? Also wondering if we should get out to the Oregon beaches. How do they compare to Shi Shi? Suggestions for where to stop for the night and mid-range accomodations? Columbia Gorge Riverside Lodge looks nice? Other suggestions for rooms with a view?

OR

Fly round trip to Seattle. Visit Mt. Ranier, do the Northern Cascades, maybe to Vancouver Island. Is Pacific Rim National Park a long haul? Looks so beautiful, but maybe too remote? Are there similar areas that might not be so far? I'm really not that familiar with the logistics and the terrain of BC. Where to stay? Especially enjoy a room with a view or a unique location.

We don't enjoy long stretches of driving. The boys can get cranky! ;-) But wouldn't mind staying at two or three locations if need be.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

happytrailstoyou

I would opt for the plan that starts: Fly in to Portland, do Columbia River Gorge, Mt. Hood, Mt. Rainier... To this I would add the Oregon Coast. I've never been to Shi Shi Beach, but I've seen a lot of coast line all over the world, and the Oregon Coast is hard to beat.

HTTY

suze

I like your Oregon plan.

I also LOVE the North Cascades highway drive. I particularly like the areas around Methow river, Mazama, Wintrop area. There's camping or various lodges to stay at. It's about 4 hours east of Seattle. Extremely beautiful countryside.

Gardyloo

Couple of things...

You might be in Seattle during Seafair - Blue Angels, hydroplane races, parades etc. - Check http://www.seafair.com/ to see dates and events.

The Boeing factory tour can easily be done as a day visit from Seattle; if you want to combine it with a half day visit to Whidbey Island that can also be accomplished easily. Also don't forget the Museum of Flight - www.museumofflight.org - right in Seattle - fascinating for everybody, and if you're there during the air show, that's where the Blue Angels park when they're not performing.

With two teens, I'd do the following itinerary:

Head north from Seattle and cross the North Cascades on SR 20. However I'd time it so that you get to Diablo Dam (upper Skagit River) in time for the Seattle City Light dam cruise/tour, culminating with a great (early) chicken dinner in the camp mess hall - http://www.cityofseattle.net/light/t...t/sk5_ross.htm - then continue over the mountains and spend the night in someplace like Winthrop or Omak.

The next day I'd do a loop out to Grand Coulee Dam, well worth a quick visit, then end up in Chelan.

Next day (the third) I'd spend the day taking the Lady of the Lake up to Stehekin for some hiking or exploring - Lake Chelan is a marvelous fjord-like lake penetrating the North Cascades. http://www.ladyofthelake.com/

Next day (4) I'd head south on US 97 all the way to The Columbia River (through the Yakama Reservation and over Satus Pass) then follow the Washington side of the river to Hood River. When you hit the Columbia near Goldendale, don't forget to stop at Stonehenge - http://www.maryhillmuseum.org/do.html#stonehenge - and/or the very fun Maryhill Museum. http://www.maryhillmuseum.org/

I'd then spend the next two days at Hood River. It sounds ideal for your family - wind surfing capital of the world (self-proclaimed but entirely believable), day trip up to Timberline Lodge at Mt. Hood, white water rafting on the White Salmon River, hike into the waterfalls along the "old" Columbia Gorge Highway, visit the giant sturgeon at the Bonneville hatchery... tons and tons of attractions, plus Hood River is a fairly cute town with some interesting shops.

Last day, either spend a leisurely day in Portland then fly out of PDX, or if you want to avoid expensive rental car drop charges, head back to Seattle (4 hrs from Hood River) to leave the car and blast off.

The weather east of the Cascades and in the eastern part of the Columbia Gorge will be hot but not humid; on the lakes and rivers of course it will be very pleasant. You'll see quite a good selection of some of the real highlights of the region, and I don't think your kids will complain one iota.

Gardyloo

Oops, meant to add... again, if the time coincides, you might think about hitting the Omak Stampede - one of the biggest rodeos in the country, on the second weekend of August. http://www.omakstampede.org/

zozozo

Another route would be drive to Edmonds take ferry to Kingston on the way to Port Townsend(36 miles) road goes through Port Gamble stop for hour or two. Town was built starting 1853 for mill workers. The tea room also has homemade chocolate truffles. (If there is a chocoholic in your group.)

www.portgamble.com

To Port Townsend from Kingston you take 104 and 19 you won't over same route to olympia nat park st hwy 101.
At Port Townsend you can rent homes at Fort Worden in Port Townsend. Also can rent Kayaks,bikes,hiking and bike trails,lighthouse, museums,beach at old fort.
Also not to far away is fort flagler.
here is link:

www.parks.wa.gov/vacationhouses/ftworden.asp
www.parks.wa.gov/fortworden/parkmaps.aspx
/www.parks.wa.gov/fortworden/activities.aspx

You can then take ferry to Whidbey from Port Townsend and go to fort Casey and lighthouse also beachfront. More to see at Fort Worden if you want to see just one. Coupeville and Penn Cove is famous for mussels.
Deception Pass park more hiking great views of water.
parks.wa can access all other state parks- Casey,deception,flager, and Anacortes you can take ferry to San Juan islands, or Victoria or go to I5 go to Vancouver or back to Seattle.

This gives the choice to continue vacation or visit family or see some of Seattle

karrma

With active 17 year olds, the Columbia River Gorge would be great. Multiple waterfall hikes, both sides of the river, if the weather is hot and no wind. Take a windsurf or kitesurf lesson if the winds are blowing, watch some of the worlds best windsurfers. Kayaking or river rafting. Fishing for sturgeon or fly fishing in the lakes or rivers. Check out the local rodeo competitions, there is usually one somewhere every weekend. Take a tour through Bonneville Dam or the Dalles Dam. Stop by St. Helen's volcano and Mount Rainier on your way up to Seattle. Or check out Maryhill Museum, drive up through Goldendale, see the stars at the Goldendale Observatory at night, and take the back way in to Mt. Rainier through Chinook Pass and up to Seattle.

bkm10fl

Thanks so much for your suggestions! You guys are the best.

glaciermeadows

Personally I would do a change of pace and fly into Portland, although all of the suggestions are excellant. The Gorge is amazing and Mt. Hood is beautifull. Although my favorite places are in and around mountains the Oregon Coast is really beautiful. Mt. Rainier and its wildflowers are also very special in Summer although Mt. Hood should have plenty of the same. Tough call but out here in the summer there are so many options when it is so ungodly hot everywhere else.

PeaceOut

What about visiting Vancouver?

christy1

You really can't go wrong either way. I think if you do the North Cascades route it would be less touristy, less crowded, with less development--so great if your focus is hiking, not as great if you want more towns, shopping, etc. North Cascades National Park has very little road access--it's a hikers' park, with tons of great trails. Sun Mountain Lodge is a great place to stay(on top of a mountain with great views and lots of outdoor activities like horseback riding, mt biking, hiking) though there are a number of nice places in the Methow Valley area. I like Gardyloo's itinerary (though I'd probably skip the 2 different dam tours). The idea of going up to Stehekin is good; I'd stay the night. It's such a unique place and provides another way to access the national park.

I would still find a way to visit Mt Rainier, though. There's nothing like it. One thing I would drop is Mt Hood--it'll be anticlimactic compared to Mt Rainier.

Shi Shi vs. Oregon: It really doesn't get much prettier than Shi Shi, though there are spots on the Oregon Coast that are as pretty. But the Oregon Coast isn't wilderness like Shi Shi--it's very accessible, with towns, a highway running down it, etc. So it depends on if that's okay with you or not.

bkm10fl

Sun Mountain Lodge looks perfect for us. And, Christy1, thanks for the Shi Shi comparison. Although it took three miles of a muddy hike thru Cougar-filled woods, I think it was the most beautiful beach I've ever seen.

glaciermeadows

Sun Mountain is very nice and you should enjoy the dramatic change in the landscape as you cross the Cascades. Lots of great hikes in the North Cascades. I have been backpacking the Olympics for over 30 years and have never been lucky enough to see a cougar, although I am sure a few have probably seen me. Try the Oregon Coast and the Gorge on another trip. Shi Shi is a very very special place to Native Americans.