My husband and I are planning a trip to WA in July. We want to do some whale watching (I'm a biology teacher & nature nut) and a couple of days camping and hiking in the rainforest on the pennisula. Does anyone have any suggestions as to the best whale watching companies that are easy to get too and campgrounds, etc. Any suggestions for inexpensive, clean motels? Any help would be great since we've never been there before. We will be driving.

Just to get you started: for whale watching, check out Puget Sound Express in Port Townsend. For inexpensive motels, do a TripAdvisor search in Port Angeles and Forks, WA. Go to the Olympic National Park web site for information on campgrounds. I'm sure others will have more specific suggestions!

Don't know about July, but there are gray whales cruising around the northern reaches of Puget Sound this week. Unfortunately, two have died for unknown reasons and are being necropsied.

If going from Seattle to Neah Bay you will find public campgrounds right along the coast. We camped at the East Lyre River campground, Very basic: table, firepit, outhouses; but it is free.

Neah Bay has an interesting museum well worth a visit. There is some good smoked salmon to be had there too. And then there's the walk through the forest to western-most tip of the U.S. I don't know about whales, but you probably will see bald eagles.

We've done a couple whale watching trips out of the San Juan Islands. The companies all pretty much network together - if one sights whales, they let the rest know. I'd choose your company on the basis of what type of boat you want to be on. Some are small & limited to 5-6 people. Some are catamarans & you need to suit up in their suits to stay dry. Others are bigger boats that can hold anywhere from 15-30 or more people. Here is a list of companies, there is one out of Port Townsend:
http://www.gonorthwest.com/Washingto...e_watching.htm

We went on a cruise with Maya's Whale watching charters & loved it! Captain Jim took us all around the San Juan's & we saw tons of wildlife. Wouldn't hesitate to use them again.

Serendipity42

The inexpensive motels near the Olympic National Park are in the town of Forks, but I think you'd be much better off at Mora Campground (near Rialto Beach) or at a campground on Lake Crescent.

HTTY

It all sounds great. I'll start looking. Thanks

Where is a good place to get fresh seafood?

You might like to start preparing for your trip now, by tracking whale sighting on the Orca Network.

The interactive map of sightings is very interesting:

http://orcas.mapmate.com/maps/497

As is the narrative report:

http://www.orcanetwork.org/sightings/map.html#recent

Cool site Enzian. I'll add when we asked a local San Juan Island man about the best outfit for whale watching, he told us the system. Each day they have to refind the whales, so he said to ask "Have you seen whales TODAY?". The companies do share with each other when they find them.

It all sounds great. We are wanting to camp and hike in the Hoh rainforest. Any tips or suggestions?

Ok, one more question. Is there anything we should prepare for concerning the camping that mid-westerners may not be aware of?
What is the weather like in July?

If you get by Ocean Shores, Washington, there are beautiful campgrounds along the ocean and very nice beaches.

Also, Olympia Oysters are served in restaurants in Olympia Washington. http://www.olympiaoyster.com/home.htm

We also liked camping along Agate Beach west of Port Angeles.

Take raincoats with hoods. Sometimes it can be raining and blowing hard along the ocean.

If you are a mid-westerner you may not want to go home again.

Missouri has its charms but no ocean and only small mountains.

My family camps at a campground outside of Port Angeles and love it.

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http://www.experiencewa.com/attraction.aspx?id=234

They will all be there this July too. If you see a large group with wild kids, steer clear!!