jstephens288

Hi,

I actually live in the Seattle area (Bellevue) - but I over the past 10 years, I have been bad about venturing 'out'. Sure I have driven back and forth across the state and around the sound but ...

I am getting more interested and involved in taking pics - what are some great places to see or take pictures of in the area, any recommendations??

Within about 50 miles of Seattle would be optimal, but I am open! I want to find some of the best and interesting places - parks, mountains, streams, awe inspiring landscapes, city views, etc.

Always looking for a new great place - oh, and if you have any questions for me, being a local, let me know!

J-

rm_mn

Chittenden Locks, the boats on Lake Union, the floating bridges. Mt Ranier and other lesser peaks in the park that no one remembers. Hood Canal, The ferries between Kingston and Edmonds or Seattle and Bremerton. The trees in the Hoh rainforest, Mount Olympus. Dungeness Spit, the ferry from Port Angeles to Victoria.

Need more?

jstephens288

Awesome, great ideas - sure, more if you have them!

As I said, it's good to get someone else's perspective. All the areas & places that I don't necessarily think about or come to mind.

I apprecaite the suggestions!!

Fodorite018

A bit beyond the 50 miles, but not too far...Deception Pass, Wallace Falls, and Chuckanut Drive.

In Seattle go to Gasworks Park...take pics of that as well as the city skyline.

rm_mn

Skagit valley tulip festival, go for the daffodils too. Snoqualimie falls. Drive up to Darrington and take pictures of the snowclad peaks. Maybe a little farther up US 20 toward Concrete, Rockport and Marblemount. There is a nice impoundment there that is quite pretty. Get pictures of the Sauk River winding through the valley. Take a hike up Blue Lake trail and try to get pictures of Cutthroat trout and the mountain goats. How about a stop in Redmond and take pictures of the Microsoft campus. The space needle with Mount Ranier in the background. Pitures of salmon making their spawning run and going up the fish ladder at the Chittneden Locks. More yet?

rm_mn

Seatac might make an interesting background or foreground for a scenery picture. Nobody mentioned Boeing yet either. How about the port. Show us the "slow boat from China'. How do they unload those container ships and get the containers on the train for their long journey to America's heartland?

rm_mn

When you start to get famous from publishing the photos, I want my name in small print on each photo. ;^)

artlover

I live here too and think it is an endless visual delight. There are SO MANY places for get pics, but to mention just a few of my favorites--Twin Falls (off I 90) is really fabulous, as is the rest stop right off the road outside of Index with the falls right to the side. Any of the San Juan Islands. In and around the town of Index. The UW campus, especially when the cherry blossoms come out and the fountain is on and Mt. Rainer with Mt. Rainer in the background. Well, I'm sure others will add to this list.

Have fun.

happytrailstoyou

The mountains and water provide photo opportunities as do wild flowers and other vegetation. People and buildings are good subject matter, too.

rm_mn

A little farther afield, there must be hundreds of photo opportunities on the was up Stevens Pass. Then you have to keep going to Leavenworth (lots of photo opps there) and Wenatchee where you need to get pictures of the orchards, both in blossom and hanging with ripe fruit. Try to get some shots with some fog (does it ever get foggy in Seattle?) to soften the outlines. Look for some hot air balloons. Take pictures of people eating in Ivar's Salmon House. Pikes market! The monorail, the totem poles.

hester

Nothing better than the view sitting in Husky stadium on a clear fall day looking out on Lake Washington.

A little father away, coming from Yakima down into the Ellensburg Valley the vista is wonderful.

Anywhere in the Wenatchee Valley. Believe it or not the view from the Home Depot parking lot is awesome.

I-5 Between Longview and Vancouver. The Columbia River is just picturesque.

jstephens288

thanks for the great ideas - i am taking notes!

jstephens288

Hi All,

Just thought I would throw this topic back out again!

I have been getting out on the weekend - mostly hiking trails such as Rattlesnake Ledge, West Tiger Summit, Snoqualmie Falls, and others.

Looking to take more great scenic pics of the area - from the mountains to the city.

Any recommendations much appreciated! Just trying to see and photograph more of this great area.

Thanks!

rm_mn

How about a trip down to Mt. Ranier National Park and chronicle the destruction of this past winter's heavy rains?

How about posting some of the pictures already taken so we can see what you have seen?

BKP

If you're interested in flowers there are some great gardens that are in bloom right now. The Bellevue Botanical gardens (Bellevue, obviously) Kuboto Gardens, the Seattle Arboretum (both Seattle) are all great opportunities. My photography usually deals with more up close shots - even some macro - so I don't have any landscape options. I'm so happy that you're getting a chance to really stop and recognize (and record) how beautiful our area is! Aren't we lucky!?!