Washington State Travel Forum

I am still trying to put together a plan for a trip this time next year to the USA. I konw I have heaps of time but am trying to figure out our options so we can book as soon as possible and get some cheap airfares!!

Anyway we have about 9 nights to spend between Washington and Oregon-we will fly into Seattle. We love just driving and seeing nature, taking photos. We like short walks (less than 2 hours or so) but aren't really picky about what we do other than that. Being from Australia we have only just gathered the courage (last trip) to drive on the right side of the road but probably wouldn't be too keen on icy driving for too much of the time.

My vague idea was as follows
2 nights in Seattle (not big city people but want to see the space needle and get over our jetlag). Hire car as we are leaving.
2 nights in the Mount Hood area (Multnomah Falls??) Columbia River Gorge.
3-4 nights on the Olympic Penninsula.
Where else??

We are open to suggestions of activities like kayaking (we are both relatively fit) or if there are cruises down the Columbia River, or even if there we thinks like helicopter flights over mountains.)

We are keener to have 2-4 night stays rather than one night in each and we really would prefer small towns than more of Portland and Seattle. We loved the Glaciers in New Zealand and would like to see some of that sort of landscape but I have become confused by all the moutains (Mt Hood, Mt St Helens - it erupted the day after my brothers birth!, Mt Rainier). We would love to see if only in the distance all of these but maybe spend a few nights a little closer to one so we can see a bit more. We have never been skiing and would love to try some sort of winter activities but not necessarily an expensive one.

Please feel free to give any advice at all on any of my various ramblings. Thanks for your time.

please give a listing of places where I might enjoy live rock music in the Olympia downtown area-new to the city and looking for live music clubs...please give suggestions.
Thanks, suz

I'm taking my mom down to Seattle and will be there on Monday, October 12th. This happens to be Canadian Thanksgiving. I thought it would be nice to take her out to a restaurant that offered turkey, mashed potatoes, etc.

Might anyone know of such a restaurant?

Robert

I will be in Seattle (bothell) for a week. Should I rent a car and explore seattle in the evenings or is there enough going on in Bothell?

I will be staying in the Seattle area from Nov. 6 until the 30. Although my main purpose for the trip is to welcome my new grandchild into the world and assist my daughter, I feel sure I will have free time to explore the area. My time is flexible and interests varied. I would love some advise on how to spend some time when I need to get out of the house. I am an avid photographer, serious foodie, love gardening and checking out what the natives enjoy. I will have a car and wouldn't mind traveling south to Portland, either. I've done the touristy things in Seattle, but I do enjoy food and tasting tours. I'm looking forward to cking out what the VTers come up with!

Hello All

Could you please reccomend me a cheap hotel in downtown Seattle?

I initially had booked the green tortoise hostel, but after reading all the

awful reviews of people who have stayed there, i decided to cancel my booking.

The only other hostel in Seattle is Hostelling International at the American

Hotel does anyone know much about it?

Alternatively, what s a good cheap hotel right in downtown?

Thanks

I saw a great article on beer tasting spots in Seattle - http://52perfectdays.com/articles/seven-breweries-two-days
Does anyone know of any other great spots that might have been overlooked, or how about great wine tasting "pubs" in the northwest?
DJ Starr

Hello everyone again.. thanks for helping me out with my last question! So here's one more. Friend is flying into Seattle and lands at 445pm, maybe a little before. If she doesn't have checked luggage do you think she would be able to make the amtrak train for 530? and yes i know it's pushing it. I'm not exactly sure how far the Tukwila station is from the airport but was under the impression it was close.

I have a cheap ticket on Allegiant air that flies direct from LAX to Bellingham, Washington.

I was thinking, about taking off for a couple of days and exploring Puget sound, doing some hiking, relaxing.

Does anybody have any great ideas about what a 3 day itinerary might be like?

I'm imagining, green damp forests, fresh air, maybe a quiet lodge to relax in?

Thoughts anyone?

Thanks a lot for any advice!

Hello all! So though I live in Portland I'm not very familiar with the Seattle area.
I have a friend visiting in a couple weeks and we'll be going to Seattle for a couple nights. But before we go to Seattle we will be visiting Long Beach. I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions of where we should stay overnight before driving to Seattle? Long Beach is about 3+ hours from Seattle so I was hoping to find a smallish town closer to Seattle. (2 or less hours away) We are just looking for a somewhere that's a bit lively and hopefully with good scenery/grub.
Let me know if you have any suggestions or could direct me to another source!
Thanks!
Alison

what is the cost of doing a Parasailing excursion? I'm looking at it as a birthday gift for my husband and was wondernig if you could recommend a reasonable priced hotel in downtown Seattle. We both live in Seattle, so this isn't a new scene for us. Looking for a reasonable package deal or priced hotel.

Tnx

Brenda Kent
(206) 632-6121

Hello, I will be visiting a friend in a few weeks and would like to do some hiking near where she lives in Mukileteo which is near Everett. If possible I am hoping to find hiking trails with a mountain view within less than an hour drive from Mukilteo/Everett, Washington. Any ideas on where I can get some local info like this?

Does a shuttle transport run between SeaTac and the Sheraton in Tacoma?

how much does the boeing center cost?

I'm heading down to Seattle in a few days, mostly to watch the Blue Angels and the HydroPlane Boats. Re the latter, are there good places to watch them from other than paying $40 to sit on the grandstands?

Robert

P.S. Anyone else going to the festival?

We'll be in Seattle for a few days in Sept. and renting a condo in the Belltown area (Belltown Court) before heading off to the peninsula for 5 days of hiking. I'm looking for some good, reasonable (no $$$ or $$$$ signs, please) restaurants in town for two casual folks who won't be bringing any "dress" clothes. The current tips in the Seattle pages are mostly from several years ago and places come and go.... Outdoor patios are a plus. Seafood, Italian, Asian, or just plain decent food. Also, any good pubs for tipping a pint outside?

We are going to go to seattle in September. My friend has been told about Alki
beach from me and I promised to take her there. One problem.....We will be taking the train from Portland to Seattle therefore we need to know how we can get there transportation wise. I so not want to drive....is there any other way? Thank You. We will be staying downtown Seattle.

We will be traveling to Seattle this summer. Can anyone help me with how you would take a ferry from downtown Seattle area to Lopez Island? We will be walk on's. Thank you in advance for any assistance!

where is a good place to leave luggage after arriving from a cruise at pier 91...princess...will be arriving early am and the flight leaves later in the evening. any suggestions?

My somewhat elderly parents are visiting us in Seattle in mid September and I am looking for some new things to do with them, as they have been here several times. Ideas could include one or two overnights somewhere (but not Canada -- mom doesn't have a passport). Among the things they've already done: Pike Place, Space Needle, Ballard Locks, Fremont Market, Troll, Boeing Plant and Museum, Snoqualmie Falls, Leavenworth, Vancouver, Mt. St. Helens, floatplane ride, wineries, and casinos. Hiking is not an option and museums aren't really their thing. Any ideas, both locally and region-wide? Would a trip to Paradise on Mt. Rainier be worth it if they aren't into hiking? Was also thinking maybe Port Townsend.

Hi all

Seattle will be my first stop during my next around the world trip in December, so here I am asking for advice :)

The most important question i guess is, how can i get from the airport to downtown? Do you have a subway or a shuttle bus?

I usually stay in hostels whenever i travel around the world, would you be able to reccomend a nice CLEAN hostel downtown?

I will also be looking for some day tours and activities, What can you suggest?

Hope to hear from you all :)

We are a family of 4 (we have 2 small kids) and we are going on a vacation to Seattle for four days. We would like to visit Mount Rainier and Snoqualmie falls ; the third day we would like to visit Space Needle and Children's Museum ; does anyone have other suggestions? we don't have anything planned for the forth day...
And the most important thing: we need a hotel around Seattle and I found something in Bellevue just by highway 405... is that a good location? We are traveling with 2 small kids and spending too much time on the road can be tirening for them...
If it's not a good location, what do you suggest?

Thank you so much!

I want to do a road trip from Oklahoma to Washington state. I have moved every 3 years of my life but this is my first "alone" trip from family. I will be traveling with me and my German Shepherd just for fun. I do not have an RV, rather just a car big enough for him to sleep in the backseat and for me to sleep in the front. 90 lb dogs are not always welcome in some places. :-)

I want to cut some costs by not staying in a hotel every night, but maybe every other night to shower.

I have been looking at RV parks as I hear they are pretty safe.

I hate being the typical user to ask such silly questions but can some cool person give some feedback? What should I expect for a single road trip? Any failures I should avoid or mistakes you all have made?

Is there any good RV parks that you all recommend or any place that is safe that is along my route and allows dogs? I really want to stay a few days in WA but cut the costs to a min.

Listen, I really mean thank you so much to all that reply back.

My trip will be in the beginning of Aug for 100% sure.

Hello everyone.

Has someone driven the Pacific Coast Scenic Byway in Washington State? We are planning to do the Cascade Loop and then continue on the Pacific Coast Byway but I am struggling to find information about this 2nd Byway. Has someone done this one in Washington? Can someone recommend a driving route and itinery with most important parts to visit?

Would really appreciate it.

Thanks a lot
Janine

P.S. Travelling in August. This Byway should take 2-3 days...

Hi everyone!
We will be coming into Seattle by train on 4 August around 9 p.m. and plan to stay at the Kalaloch Lodge on the 5th (it's a splurge!) Where do you suggest we stay the night of 4 Aug? We will be renting a car downtown so can go anywhere - but would prefer that our lodging is at least on the way to the Olympic Peninsula. We would also like it to be as cheap as possible without being infested by insects or other annoyances. We are a party of 4 including 2 children.
Any help would be very much appreciated!

Can you take your dog to Pikes Place Market. He is 5lbs. and will be on a leash or in a carrier? If not is there a place to leave him while you look around? Thanks, Lora

We're going to be in Seattle for 3+ days and then hike the peninsula for 5 days the 2nd week of Sept. Will be staying just a few blocks north of Pike Place and leaving for the peninsula on a Monday morning (Sept 14). Would like to maximize our time that day exploring Port Townsend and surrounds, and are staying in Port Angeles that night so we're close to Hurricane Ridge the next morning. Do you think we should ferry out via the Seattle main terminal or Edmonds? As we're going west, is there a huge difference in wait/travel time? I'm leaning towards Edmonds as if seems to be a little less hectic...

I'd also welcome any great recommendations from you Seattle-ites on things we shouldn't miss! Besides Hurricane, will do Hoh, Lake Crescent, and as many coastal beaches as we can fit in during low tides - will be in P.A two nights, Forks for two nights, and Ocean Shores one night before driving back to SeaTac. In Seattle, will do some of the larger parks, sculpture garden, art museum, Pike's and some puttering along the waterfront. Can't wait!

Thanks for your help!!!

I'll be visiting for several days in July, staying right near Pike Place Market in a hotel where valet parking is very expensive. Will need a car as I'm visiting family in several places during my visit. Any tips for the best way to park cheap for long periods? I'm willing to park and walk to my hotel to save money.

Urgent...please give me Park and Ride sites in or near Seattle to the Fremont Solstice Parade

Just wondering if anyone has taken the ferry from Seattle over to Bremerton to view the various navy ships there?

Is this at all possible? worth the trip?

Robert