Where to Overnight North of Seattle?
 

Can you recommend someplace close to I-5--maybe an hour or 90 minutes north of Seattle for an overnight? I'll be driving about 5 hours after a rafting retreat near Boston Bar, and thought it would be nice to break up the drive. I'll head to the Seattle airport the next morning, so don't want to be too far. A nice, scenic spot (with inexpensive lodging) where I could go for an early morning walk would be a bonus. I don't need anything fancy. Thanks!

Edmonds is a cute little town right on the water. Or the Inn at Port Gardner in Everett. It is right on the water at the marina, next to the Naval base. Both area decent areas for morning walks, but of the two I give the nod to Edmonds.

I am an Edmonds fan too! Very cute little town -nice walking path along the waterfront and you can add a few hills for a good work out!

Thanks so much. Edmonds it'll be!

You don't say what time in the morning you will be driving from Edmonds to the airport. If it early in the day, will find yourself in our rush-hour traffic--something to be avoided. It is probably better to drive a little father and stay closer to the airport.

HTtY

Edmonds is closer to 19 minutes north of Seattle than 90. Depending on what time you leave Boston Bar, and where you plan to cross the border, and on what day, Edmonds might be a bit far. Presumably you'd cross at Abbotsford, then connect to I-5 at Bellingham. That border crossing can be busy or not, which could impact your timing as you head south.

I'm also not too sure how many accommodations are actually in "downtown" Edmonds - the cute part - compared to the City of Edmonds, which includes a lot of very blah strip mall territory along SR 99.

Assuming you don't want to venture too far off the I-5 corridor, I'd probably look around Burlington/Mt. Vernon, Arlington or Smokey Point for something for an overnight, or if your flight is early in the day on a weekday (say before 11 or so) just tough it out and stay in the Seattle area instead of facing morning commuter traffic.

There are several decent motels along the side of the highway in those towns, or you could go as far as Marysville and stay at the Tulalip Casino's hotel (or the more affordable Best Western Tulalip Inn a little farther south.) None of these towns are going to win beauty contests (although downtown Arlington is quite attractive) but you can't win 'em all. There are nice drives up the Stillaguamish River near Arlington, or if you stay in Burlington or Mt. Vernon you could run down to La Conner (very cute artsy waterfront town) first thing in the morning, then down to the airport (around 90 min.) after an early breakfast.

Edmonds is 30 miles from SeaTac. Ninety minutes to go 30 miles is pretty slow going. However, if you are determined to spend a night in Edmonds, there is a well-regarded Best Western hotel within walking distance of the reasonably "cute" part of the town.

Seattle has the seventh worst traffic in the country, and I-5 goes right thorough downtown Seattle on the drive between Edmonds and SeaTac: http://www.weather.com/safety/autosa...20815?pageno=5

HTtY

Why not try for a place in Bellevue? That way you can use I-405 and avoid the tunnels in downtown Seattle.
I can't remember the place we stayed the night before an event at Lake Sammamish.

I stay in Edmonds fairly frequently as I have a friend who lives there.
I have never had a problem driving south through the city- my experience has been worse driving north through Seattle - but of course anything can happen.

Last time I was there I breezed through- but it is a crapshoot- so to speak!

sunbum--Me too. I am up there a lot as we now split our timing living in that area and here. DH and DD both work up there and so commute in the traffic and somehow survive;)

True, traffic is usually even heavier going north, and you will survive--somehow.

HTtY

I don't know anything about Seattle commute traffic, but we loved LaConner.
http://www.lovelaconner.com/

And of you need any travel supplies or are heading to Europe, Rick Steves has a travel store in Edmonds.