Washington State

“I'm flying into Seattle in mid-April for a week and the Wifey and I are gonna be sightseeing, only a day or two here and there, centered around business and meeting with relatives.

Our "preliminary" plans include Seattle to Bellingham, trip to San Juan Islands, day trip to Vancouver, day trip over to the North Cascades (maybe see Mt. Baker), back to Seattle, day or two in Olympic Nat'l Park, day trip down to Rainier.

Does anyone have any suggestions of must-see places or best destinations for day-trips? I know it's killing me, but no hardcore hiking here folks, I'm with the wife (Unless I, uhm... manage to get lost around the base of Rainier!).”

“Watch out for the BIGfoots out there!

Anywhere in Olympic is nice.”

“I heard they have a Starbucks there.”

“And an REI !”

“ehw.. Starbucks? In Seattle???

NO WAY!!!”

“bellingham is a really neat little town. You cant go wrong with your plans. All those places are beautiful. If your going to Olympic NP you might want to drive an extra hour out to the coast. Those wilderness are terrific.”

“Ruby Beach is part of Olympic Natl Park.....very nice.

To get out there you would drive by Lake Crecent....also nice.”

“Definately want to see the coast. Tom T - you ARE the Sasquatch!!!

8~p”

“In Vancouver, there is a ton of great places to visit if the weather is fair.

For easy walking there's Stanley Park or the Capilano Suspension Bridge. Granville Island, on False Creek, is nice for shops and walking the pier. Also, there's the gondola to Grouse Mtn, above the city

http://www.discovervancouver.com/

Shoot me an email if I can help out at all”

“Assuming you're talking about Vancouver BC that is and not Washington”

“The photo opportunities at Ruby Beach are awesome..........dude!”

“Sounds like you'll have plenty on your plate as it is. If you're lucky, on your trip to Bellingham, maybe the Skagit Valley tulips will be in bloom. If you're real lucky, the sight of Mt. Baker as a backdrop will make you weep.

If you are SUPER lucky, you'll see me on my bike with my skwerl.
”

“Ambitious list for one week's time. Perhaps some thoughts on travel logistics will help you make some final decisions regarding what you see while you're here.

Seattle to Vancouver BC is a 3 hour drive each way. Add in enough time to see some things in town and you have a big day.

Bellingham is between Seattle and Vancouver. If you planned an overnight stay in Canada, you could tour B-ham either on the way up or on the way back down.....

North Cascades is more or less East of Bellingham, a few hours' drivetime from I-5. Very pretty, but you would get exposure to Cascade Mt. range goodies if you did either of the volcanoes you mentioned.

If you target the big'un, perhaps the best plan would be to do Hiways 410 and 7 (or 7 and 410) and circumnavigate the hill. I'd expect 7 or more hours of wheels turning time from Seattle area back to Seattle again. Add in the time for a long stop at Paradise (on the South side of Rainier) and shorter Ooooh-Ahhh viewpoints here and there and you have another real full day.

Drive time to Mt. Baker from Seattle is probably about the same as drivetime to Rainier, but you might be able to combine Baker with time in Bellingham.

If I only had a week and decided I had to see a hill up close, I'd do one volcano rather than two.

San Juan Islands involve 1.5 hour drive from Seattle to Anacortes, then long ferry rides after that. To do this destination right, it would almost have to be an overnighter on one of the islands.

Olympic Peninsula.... probably 10 hours to drive hiway 101 clear around the peninsula from Seattle back to Seattle, and that's if you just drive, no stops. You indicated maybe 2 days to do this? Good plan. If I were you and I decided to do the peninsula, I'd go around the South side of the mountains, through Aberdeen, to get out to the ocean. Maybe stay at Kalaloch Lodge (www.visitkalaloch.com) and get my beach time that afternoon and evening. Use the next day to do the North side of the peninsula. Be sure to visit Hurricane Ridge (South of Pt. Angeles), one of the few places that provides road access up into the alpine regions of the park. Back to Seattle via ferry late that night. This plan would pretty much take two complete days.

Hope this gives you some help with your planning.”

“Thanks for all your suggestions, that's exactly the kind of info I was looking for. Yeah, I'm talking about Vancouver BC, and we'll be meeting with relatives in Bellingham, so Bellingham sounds like an excellent base area to see Vancouver, San Juan, Baker, or the Cascades. I'm hoping that my wife's cousin in Bellingham will have a good idea of logistics as well. Seattle figures in at the beginning and end of the week for business reasons. I know we probably won't do everything I've mentioned so I'll definately take your suggestions into consideration.

I can't wait to see the Northwest coast as well as the volcanoes and mountains. Definately want to see the Olympic Peninsula as well. I'm hoping to someday move out West and Washington just might be the place (don't weep East-coasters!).

Pee-Wee, err.., kleetn, you crack me up!!!

Thanks again!”

“One other thought occurs... weather may well affect your choices. If it happens to be wet and rainy while you're here, the mountains would be weathered in. The views would be spectacular if you're fascinated by the insides of clouds.

Wet weather down here also translates into snow in the mts, making travel to / over the passes an interesting (read: slow) process.

If the rains come that might mean you would have more time to discover the towns and whatnots therein 'em.... and no real opportunity to do the hills very effectively.

I hope the weather gods are kind to you.”

“Pike Place Brew Pub.........”

“Go to the Big Time Brewery and Alehouse, 4133 University Way NE, Seattle, and try the "Bagwan's Best" India Pale Ale, brewed on premises. Then thank me. lol.
Great wood-fired pizza, too!)

I give my highest recommendation to the idea of staying at Kalaloch. Wonderful rustic cabins overlooking the beach, mid-week specials, proximity to places like Ruby Beach and the loop trails at the Hoh rainforest visitor's center. Do these loops! One is called the Hall of Mosses trail, the other is the Spruce Tree Nature trail. You will get a real feel for the rainforest section of Olympic NP with just two flat-ish miles of walking total. The road up is paved the whole way, no axle-busting dirt roads. Sure, it will cost you $10 to get in if you don't have a NP pass, but it is worth it. The trails are wide and brush-free, so you can use an umbrella if it rains, as it probably will. This will add to the ambiance, not detract from it. You will love it out here, and won't want to leave. I came to visit in 1991, and never left.”

“Mid-April...

no hiking yet in the mountains.

You could drive up to the Mt. Baker ski area on a clear day for a great view of Mt Shuksan.

The North Cascades Highway normally opens in April or May, if it is open consider driving it.

Vancouver... rent bikes and ride around Stanley Park and the city. The are bike shops near Stanley park.

Hurricane Ridge is still snowbound in April, but the road is open and makes a great view.

Best bets would be the Olympic coast, and the San Juans. Dungeness Spit is a nice walk, too.”

“Am I nutz to try a circumnavigate ONP in a day and a half?

Here's what I'm thinking;
*** Monday evening - From Seattle, drive West of Aberdeen to the coast and get a cheap hotel.
*** Tuesday - drive up through the South side of ONP, checking out the coast, Kalaloch, and then drive to the Hoh rain Forest. Do some dayhiking at Hoh and then continue North, stopping East of Sappho (West of Port Angeles) to catch some sleep (Bear Creek Motel or Lake Crescent Lodge).
*** Wednesday morning, get up early and drive East to Seattle to be back at the Airport by 10 AM!

This sounds rather excessive, can it be done? Driving doesn't bother me, nor getting up early, but should I be thinking about just attacking ONP from one side?
And where am I going to get the best views of Mt. Olympus? (don't say the Space-needle, you weisenheimers!)

Thankyouverymuch.”

“Dood, that's one ambitious plan. Why not take the ferry from Seattle to Bainbridge Island (where you'll get a fine view of Olympus), drive across the Hood Canal Bridge, scoot up to Hurricane Ridge for some dayhiking. Spend the night in Port Angeles or continue on to Lake Crescent.

Do the Hoh (no smarmy comments, jerky) and spend the night somewhere on the west side of the park.

Next morning, you've got a shorter drive to SeaTac, but still, I'd leave no later than 5 if your flight is at 10.

Just a suggestion.”

“Two years ago we drove to Aberdeen after 11 days on the Wonderland Trail looking for a motel and shower.

I ate about 15 kilos of Chinese food.....man I was hungry!

From there we drove north to Ruby Beach, which is part of the ONP.

That is south of the Hoh.

You gotta drive past Lake Crescent!
Its like an inland sea.”

“Aberdeen is not a pretty place, by the way, but they have plenty of motels.”

“MarkO - Interestingly, I can see you eating those 15 kilos of Chinese food AND a box of fortune cookies!

kleetn dood - Thanks. Yeah, I'm thinkin that circumnavigation to be excessive. me... excessive?
Perhaps the ole' in and out is in order. If you had your choice, would you do the Hoh or the Hurricaine Ridge???

Bobo offers gifts to the weather Gods of Mt. Olympus....”

“Aye aye, Cap'n. Depends on what you want to see, and more than likely what the weather is doing.

Rainy, cloudy, drizzly (usually from September 1 to August 29)? Skip Hurricane Ridge and hit da Hoh.

Beautiful blue skies? HA! Do H.R.”

“Capn,

With that time line, you basically have one day. Mon eve and Wed AM are gonna be consumed by commuting. Don't even try for the loop.

Do the North side. Monday evening you have time for little except geting out there. By the time yuou fight commuter traffic and ferries outbound from Seattle, then do the drive over the top of the peninsula, Monday night is toasted. Here's what I would do if I were you....

Drive all the way out to the coast, somewhere in the Forks area, Monday nite. Stop along the way for dinner. I'd suggest either the 3 Crabs Restaraunt in Sequim (go into town and ask, anyone can point you to it) for kickass seafood. Have the crab louie.....

Check out www.forksweb.com for lodging options, there's lots of hotelery ID'd on the lodging link. I'd suggest going West 15 miles from Forks, to the village of LaPush which is right on the ocean. Get one of the little cabins at the LaPush Ocean Park Resort and wake up right on the beach come Tuesday. If a walk from your cabin wasn't enough beachtime, check the local maps for other beach walk options. Either Rialto beach North to Hole In The Wall, or the Second Beach trail just to the South of where you'd be staying, would be most excellent two+ hour excursions on foot. You've only got one day, so plan on an early beach walk (at sunrise or thereabouts).

After some beach time, it's about a hour+ drive, back to Forks and then South to the Hoh river and into the rain forest. Take one of the nature trails at road's end and you'll get a good dose of the green. After the forest, it's the mountains.

Back to hiway 101, backtrack thru Forks and on over the top again, back to Pt. Angeles. You'll pass Lake Crescent in the daylight along the way. In Pt Angeles, stop at Oly NP Headquarters and check out the visitor center. Then, drive the 45 minute road up to Hurricane Ridge. That's where you get the cool views of the Olympic high country, and a look at Olympus (assuming no clouds). Snow drifts guaruntee'd.

Hopefully you get that view, I mean..... Right now, the Hurricane Ridge road is closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Perhaps by April it will be open 7 days a week. It all depends on snow - if the road doesn't need plowing, they'll open it seven-a-week. Assuming the road is open by then.... Watch the sunset from the ridge.

Head back down after sunset and start the journey back towards Seattle. I would go all the way, and get a room near SEATAC late Tuesday night. If you stay on the peninsula Tues night, and you have a 10AM flite, that means getting to the airport around 8AM.

THAT means going to the airport right in the thick of morning rush hour traffic, which would be a huge hassle.

From PA to the airport on Tues night will be about a 2.5 hour drive if you go through Tacoma, a bit longer if you do a ferry into Seattle.

The same drive Wed morning could be 4 or 5 hours. More, if there's any significant traffic problems.

Anyway, that's what I would do. There's other ways to play the scenario of course. Whatever you choose, it should be lots of fun.”

“Why not take the ferry from Seattle to Bainbridge Island (where you'll get a fine view of Olympus), - kleetn


You can't see Mt. Olympus from Seattle or the ferry. On a severe clear day Mt. Olympus can be seen from highway 101 in a couple places between Humptulips and Queets, but distant views. Better to see it from Hurricane Ridge.

Before making any plans on staying at Lake Crescent Lodge, better make sure it's open. Years ago it did not open until May. Website states...
Lodging & Rates
A variety of guest rooms are available at Lake Crescent Lodge, including the historic lakeside Roosevelt Cottages, to make your Olympic adventure exciting but restful. Explore the wonders of Olympic National Park while enjoying the comforts and traditional hospitality of this historic Lodge.

RATE SCHEDULE
Open last Saturday in April through the last Sunday in October.”

“USA is right. I was thinking of this view.

In fact, I wouldn't even come here.”

“Kleetn is correct, nothing to see here. You'll spend all day in traffic.”

“Our "preliminary" plans include Seattle to Bellingham, trip to San Juan Islands, -Capn Bobo



This is the view of the San Juan islands from a trail in Larrabee State Park just south of Bellingham along Chuckanut Drive. It's not a long hike, about half a mile if I recall.”

“From there we drove north to Ruby Beach, which is part of the ONP.

That is south of the Hoh.

-MarkO

Here's a pic of Ruby Beach, it is a must stop and see along the highway.

”

“Nice!!! : )

Thanks alot you guys for all the great suggestions, and USA's pics were cool too, Ruby Beach definately looks like a must-see for this East coast flatlander. I've always wanted to see the rugged Northwest Pacific with the rocks jutting out past the coast. (The only chance I've had to see the Pacific Ocean was getting a quick daytrip in to La Jolla).

With all your excellent advice, I'm leaning towards hitting ONP from the South so we can check out the coast and the Rain Forests, if I can get a peak at Olympus that will be an added bonus! Of course, that's not to say that I may still wind up on the North side of the Peninsula! But I do think trying to get around the whole ONP in my limited amount of time is just plain wacky... plus, that's just two days out of the entire trip.

Can't wait to go!!!

we're not in Kansas anymore Toto!

What's for dinner, kleetn?!?”

“Two days to circumnavigate the Olympic #&%!$ula is not wacky. In those two days you could easily have time to see Ruby Beach, Hoh Rainforest, Rialto Beach, Crescent Lake, and Hurricane Ridge.”

“


Ruby Beach (with person airbrushed out)”

“Dang USA, I have a framed 8 X 12 of Ruby Beach in my living room from the same vantage point as the first one you posted!

It was a parting shot I took from up in the trees after we scrambled around the rocks down at water's edge.”

“


Mt. Rainier (with person airbrushed out)”

“Air-brushed out??

Is that someone you are not supposed to be seen with?”

“maybe a naked person?!?”

“Butt cakes in the wild?”

“It's Sasquatch. He and USA are buds.”

“Hey strider - special thanks for your itinerary above. I just went and re-read it and it's definately a well thought-out plan (and the Crab Louie, oo-yah!).

We shall see... Weather, Time, it's all relative. Right now it looks like we won't be leaving Seattle until 9-10 PM Monday so I don't know if I can make it to LaPush, whaddya make that, about 6-7 hours drive? This is why I was thinking about at least getting out to Aberdeen and points west for Monday evening.

Soo Many Mountains... Soo Little Time...”

“Don't miss the Kurt Cobain shrine in Aberdeen whatever you do!
”

“CAPN,

Boy, every time you talk about your itinerary you are cutting the 'ole schedule closer and closer. Depart Seattle for the peninsula Mon at 10PM, flight out from SEATAC Wed 10AM. Verrrry ambitious.

OK. You need to Squeeeeze as much as you can into an increasingly tight schedule, and you want to see rainforest, beach, and mountians. Lessee.....

You will definitely want to go around the North side, not the South side. The mountain range is snuggled up against the North side and you'll be much closer to pretty things. If you drive the southern route thru Aberdeen, you will spend a few extra hours driving thru (relatively) un-scenic turf.

If you are in or near the North of Seattle you should take the Edmonds-Kingston rather than the Seattel Bainbridge ferry on Monday night. The E-K run drops you closer to the peninsula and that ferry dock is lots easier to get to that the one in downtown Seattle, especially if you're coming in from the North side of downtown. To get a picture of ferry logistics, see the ferry map at:

http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/info_desk/route-maps/

You can also navigate that website and get ferry schedules. Once you get to the ferry dock, the timeframes below apply.

Either ferry ride is about 30 minutes afloat time. Drivetime from Bainbridge to Hood Canal Bridge is 40 minutes, Kingston to bridge is about 20 minutes. Drive time between the Hood Canal Bridge and Pt. Angeles is about 1 hour. Pt Angeles to Forks drive time is about 1 1/2 hour. So, from ferry docks (on the Seattle side of Puget Sound) to PA is less than 2 hours, and all the way thru to Forks is about 4 hours.

Of course, that puts you in Forks at 2PM or later if you drive alla way thru. Hardly seems worth the effort to get a room to sleep about 4 hours. After all, you only have Tuesday to sight see and you can't waste daylight..... lessee ....

OK, reverse the order that I recommended in the earler post. Instead of starting at the beach and working your way East, start at the East end with the mountains, work West and finish at the beach for sunset. Do the long drive to SEATAC at the end of the day.

Take the ferry and get a room in Sequim Monday night.

http://www.sequimlodging.net/

You should be able to put your head on a Sequim pillow around midnite-thirty or so, if you catch a 10PM ferry from Seattle or Edmonds. Sleep until 6-ish, shower, then B'fast in Sequim at the 101 Diner (right on the main drag).

After chow, go to Pt Angeles. Stop at the Park HQ in Pt A, right when it opens at 8AM, just follow the signs from 101. If the weather is clear on top (the Rangers can tell you if that's the case) run up to the ridge to see the snows and the views. If the ridge is clouded in, bypass this element (bummer!) and you have more time for the rest of the day.

By the time you're done with the ridge (assuming no clouds) and are back in PA, it will be 1030. Go West on 101 and have a Grannyburger (of course) at Granny's restraunt. Granny's is rite on 101 about 20 minute drive West of Pt A. After Granny's....

Continue West, go rite thru Forks and continue South to the Hoh river. Take the Hoh River road left, East into the park. You will get to the end of the Hoh road about 2PM. Walk the Hall of Mosses trail to stretch your legs and see the rain forest. About 4PM, head back down the river to hiway 101 and backtrack to Forks. Grab a sub sammie at the Texaco on the North end of town. Roll out the LaPush road to Mora, which is on the North side of the mouth of te Quilayute river. Walk the beach, split the sammie, watch the sunset.

See arial pix at this website.

http://apps.ecy.wa.gov/shorephotos/scripts/photosearch.asp?id=CLA0616

Navigate by using the zoom in/out feature to find your way around the website. This view

http://apps.ecy.wa.gov/shorephotos/maps/nw.htm

gives you a good overview of the NE of the peninsula, from Forks to Pt A.

You'll get to Mora about 530. After dark, head back East and take 101 back thru Pt A. If you can get to Sequim before 8 or so, the 3 Crabs stays open until 9 as I recall. You could call & ask to make sure....

Three Crabs Restaurant
11 3 Crabs Rd
Sequim, WA 98382-8827
Phone: (360) 683-4264

.... and since we're playing shoreline arialpix games, here's a photo of the restraunt, it's right at the end of the road, on the beach:

http://apps.ecy.wa.gov/shorephotos/scripts/bigphoto.asp?id=CLA0108

After dinner, struggle back to the airport and get a few zzzz's before the flite. From the restraunt to the airport, via Tacoma and the bridge, is probably a 2.5 hour drive.

Usual disclaimers apply, e.g. "actual mileage may vary", "weather may impact travel planning", and "objects in mirror may appear closer than they are".

Donno if any of this helps, or if it's just increasing the confusion factor. You're trying to squeeze the touring of a large and diverse area into a short amount of time, in an area that has not all that many driving route options. This plan gives you a shot at experiencing a couple of hours each at mountain, rain forest, and beach. The cost is about 14 hours of drive time, and a couple days of short sleep.

Too bad you don't have two full days, as your original post indicated. Oh well....

If you try this plan, I hope it works out for you. If you try it and it doesn't work out, sorry about that. I tried.

strider”

“strider,
You're definately not increasing the confusion factor, in fact you've been very kind and once again I thank you!

Just so you don't think I'm completely logistically incompetent, I'm looking at leaving Seattle at 10 pm as worse case scenario, It all depends when the wifey finishes her business in town. Also, our departure flight home doesn't leave until 12 - I was already allowing the 2 hours slack time for getting strip-searched in the airport.

Why do they always pick on me?!?”

“... if I did so, I didn't mean to imply you weren't an able logistics planner. If you get away early enough to make it all the way to the beach Monday night, the first plan (beach in AM, work your way back) would be easier than the second.

Probably the largest potential hitch in the plans would be the potential for weather to take away the views on Hurricane Ridge, assuming the roads are open on Tuesdays by the time you are here.

However you do it, the sights out there are pretty spectacular. Once you get a taste, you'll be back.”

“yeah but watch out for those creepy air brush people....”

“Just don't miss Ruby Beach, ya bum!”

“Capn, once the itinerary is settling down, I'd be pleased to procure for you a libation of your preference at some local roen-dez-vus. Awiating your pleasure.....”

“Excellent Smithers! Excellent!”

“'jes' waitning on your final plan. Drop me a line whenver, at strider@silverlink.net”

“What an awesome visit to the Pacific Northwest!

We started our journey on Friday by flying into Seattle, imbibing in copious amounts of coffee while taking a short walk around town and then driving North to meet with relatives in Bellingham, taking in the views of the numerous Bays along Chuckanut Drive and the countless drive-up espresso booths that seemed to be everywhere. Saturday, we spent the day exploring Bellingham, including a walk along Neptune Bay and a short hike through the Sehome forest (and drank coffee). On Sunday, we drove down to Whidby Island (after stopping for some double-shot espresso Mochas) and took the Port Townsend Ferry across to the Olympic Peninsula, where we drove to Port Angeles and up Hurricaine Range for some really great views. We continued West, past Lake Crescent and found a really nice place to stay in Forks (with a coffee machine in our room). Before the sunset, we drank coffee and drove out to La Push to get our first glimpse of the Pacific and walked along the rugged coast. Monday, we went back to La Push in the morning to explore the intertidal pools at low tide with all it's sea creatures and then drove South on 101 along the coast and saw alot of great ocean views (Ruby Beach, Kalaloch, Ocean City). We went to the Hoh Rain Forest for a hike (in the rain!) along the two main trails (we saw some Elk along the Hall of Mosses! - I think they were carring coffee cups!) and then drove down to Aberdeen to find a hotel for the night. Tuesday, we drove out East to Rainier Nat'l Park (drinking coffee throughout the day), but unfortunately Rainier was obscured by clouds all day. We got back to Seattle that evening and went to the top of the Space Needle for some Starbucks and breathtaking views. We were lucky to go up to the top of the needle at dusk, so we took in the views as the sun went down and then I got some really great shots of downtown Seattle as all the lights came on. We went to a Sushi restaurant in town for dinner and the next morning got in a quick walk around town, including Latte and pastries and the Pike Place Market, and then headed off to the airport.

The only bummer was that we didn't get to meet strider, but we had a cool phone conversation. strider called us as we were pulling off the road to take some pictures of the elusive Rainier, as abit of the mountain was emerging from the clouds.

I'll post pics in the next few days. I think I took about 350 pictures and a couple fun movie clips. We had an absolute blast, but I sure had to pee alot!!!!”