I welcome advice from Gardyloo and others. In July, we are meeting up with East Coast friends in Portland and bringing them up to visit us in Port Townsend. If we wanted to take a couple of days and tour the Washington coast, are there any places you would recommend for scenery and other interesting things to do? Is Forks a good place to stop?

Thanks.

The Olympic National Park is definatetly worth your time: rainforests, hot springs, ocean, rivers....

I'd highly recommend a stop in Kalaloch. It's a bit south of Forks. The lodge and cabins sit on a bluff overlooking the ocean. There is a very nice beach there. There are a series of beaches along the same short strectch of road. These are fun to explore: seastacks, tide pools, etc. The Hoh rainforest is probably a 40 minute drive away. The Hoh rainforest has a couple of short "loop" trails , or if you are inclined, you can hike deeper into the woods.

For a different feel, you could also stop at Lake Quinault lodge.

Here are a couple of links:
http://www.nationalparkreservations....ic/olympic.htm

http://www.visitkalaloch.com/activities_tours.shtml

Have fun!

We just spent two nights last week at Kalaloch Lodge and visited Lake Quinalt Lodge. Because of the heavy snow that week, we didn't make it very far north, but even in winter we enjoyed that stretch of ONP. However, it definitely is not touristy--more like a few working class towns, with about 25-30 miles between restaurants and gas stations. I would suggest you bring a picnic lunch and enjoy the beaches, especially Beach 6.

I like beaches like Ocean Shores and Graylands.

The coast of Olympic National Park is by far the most beautiful part, but it's wilderness, meaning you can't drive to it (Kalaloch is on the edge and you can drive there). If your goal is spectacular scenery, go to this part of the coast. As long as you don't have physical disabilities, you will be able to manage the short (3 mile), mostly flat hike from Lake Ozette to Cape Alava, and I'd highly recommend it. It's pretty special to see such gorgeous beach without parking lots, lots of tourists, etc. Forks is a very blah ex-logging town, but lots of people do overnight there since it's conveniently located.

The beaches of the southern Wa. coast are large, flat (not very scenic IMO) and have lots of tourist facilities. I do like Fort Canby State Park, which is very dramatic since it's where the Columbia River meets the ocean.

If you're planning this "tour" on the drive from Portland to Port Townsend, I suggest a stop at Cape Disappointment State Park. There are some nice exhibits at the Interpretive Center there, not to mention a couple lighthouses and the best views from anywhere of the mouth of the Columbia River.

Neah Bay is an Indian community with an interesting archeological museum. From there it is a short hike through an old growth forest to the western most point in the Continental U.S.

I would suggest leave Portland via Oregon side of Columbia drive toward Astoria. Astoria has a nice riverfront with a great Maritime Mueseum (all about the Coast Guard, fisherman, salmon canneries etc. great exhibits and bookstore.)
Lunch in Astoria or grab some overnight groceries at teh Safeway in Astoria and travel over the 4 mile long historic Astora bridge, turn Left and stay at Waahington State Park Fort Columbia, at the head of Columbia river on the Washington state side of the Columbia.

You must make reservations in advance for the 2 bedroom (upstairs no elevator) at www.parks.wa.gov Stewards House with full kitchen, bathtub only....but with a great view and a fireplace. (You must bring your groceries with you as there is no grocery store at the Fort..bring wine and sit in front of the fireplace or out on teh porch and see deer, raccoons, eagles etc. Very peaceful.

You can travel up teh Coast to LongBeach Washington and drive your 4 wheel car on the sand or go to the cranberry farm for a tour or fly a kite..

Thank you all for your guidance -- sounds like we'll have a lot to choose from.

Not really. You would have much more to choose from on the Oregon Coast.

We enjoy the Southern WA Coast. My son was at Cape Disappointment yesterday and enjoyed his time there. Astoria is a great suggestion, we have had a home there for many years before it became a popular tourist destination. The Astor Column, the Maritime Museum (we have an exhibit there called The Art of the Decoy that runs through next year) Flavel House and the Heritage Museum are all very educational. In July there will also be the Riverfront Trolley running along the Columbia River. Fort Clatsop is now re-built also.

There is the quaint town of Seaview where we like to spend time, 42nd Street Cafe is a nice little place to grab a bite to eat. There is also the Depot that we will be trying for the first time this summer when we spend a couple of months on the North Coast in Seaside/Astoria.

Have a great trip and Merry Christmas! ***kim***