|
|
|
#1
|
|||
|
|||
NW vacation advice
We are going to be vacationing in the Seattle-Vancouver area the last two weeks in Sept. What are the "must see" places? Hiking in Mt rainier NP is on my list. Is Chinatown worth seeing? We love railroad rides. Is Mt St helen worth the trip? How about Mt hood? We're not looking for night life.
Thanks in advance. Jay
__________________
Thank you, Jay 83MB 300D 241K "The silver coffin" 10 Prius lll 1K 95 MB E300D 120K Mable 02 Saab 9-5 Areo 131K Cannondale SR500 www.thecornerstonefamily.org/ |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Might want to check out Olympic NP and see the Rainforest.
__________________
Terry Allison N. Calif. & Boca Chica, Panama 09' E320 Bluetec 77k (USA) 09' Hyundai Santa Fe Diesel 48k (S.A.) |
#3
|
||||
|
||||
There's a nice hot spring resort in the Olympics -- Sol Duc Hot Springs. Part of the Nat. Park system I think. A bit out of the way - a few hours from Seattle.
Pike Place Market in Seattle is worth a visit. The University of Wash in Seattle is pretty grand. One professor I had there said it was the only west coast university that reminded him of the storied east coast ivy league colleges. Leavenworth, on the east side of the Cascades, Steven's Pass Hiway, is sort of a tourist trap -- German villag theme, but it's well done and the mountains and creeks nearby are first rate. Icycle Creek has some nice camping and hiking available. The Enchantment Lakes loop hike is sorta famous -- bunch of little lakes at 7 to 9 thousand feet altitude. In a similar spot on the North Cascades Hiway is Winthrop, another tourist trap, this time with an old western town theme. Kinda cute and the mountains are way cool.
__________________
1986 300SDL, 362K 1984 300D, 138K |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Of course you will want to
first know where the best Steeler bar in Seattle is located and second arrange your travels around the games in that period. Hint: Sideline in Factoria -in Bellevue.
The suggestion concerning Winthrop is interesting. The town itself is not that big a deal but the drive on the North Cascades Highway is a very big deal. I guarantee that you will not see the like in PA or anywhere back East. You can take a ferry to Bainbridge Island and continue up to the Hood Canal Bridge and up the Olympic Peninsula to Port Townsend. Way beyond there is Port Angeles and the turn off to the hot springs but Sol Duc hot springs reminds me of a tenement in the forest. Better to go to the Dungeness Spit and walk out as far as you like. It is magnificent. Closer to Seattle, the Pike Place Market is great-especially on Saturdays. PM me if you need more detailed suggestions.
__________________
87 300D 265Kmi Factory rebuilt crate 603.96x engine at 200K |
#5
|
||||
|
||||
Seattle has some interesting areas. The underground tour might be worthwhile if you're into that kind of thing. Mt. St. Helen's has some spectacular scenery. Mt. Hood only looks good from a distance this time of the year. Vancouver, WA would be a waste of time as there really isn't much to see except for the fort. Portland which is just across the Columbia river has much more to see than Vancouver, but not as much as Seattle has to offer.
__________________
DJ 84 300D Turbodiesel 190K with 4 speed manual sold in 03/2012 |
#6
|
||||
|
||||
The signature "Smokey Met" martini at the Metropolitan Grill, downtown Seattle
Ray's Boathouse, near the salmon locks in Ballard Dixie's BBQ in Bellvue, and don't forget to meet "The Man." Le Panier Bakery near Pike's Mkt. Grab some smoked salmon bellies from Seattle Flying Fish and get a baguette from Le Panier. Pike Street Fish Fry around Capitol Hill. New place that serves late night cravings for fish that's fried and between bread. |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
X2 on the underground tour. My favorite was the Olympia brewery- a must drink!
|
#8
|
||||
|
||||
Seattle
If you have kids take them to the aquarium especially if the salmon are running. They have acrylic tubes and ladders that run though the place. On the ferry up to Fort Townsend (I think) they hae an old corvette class vessel for inspection and a good little pub/sandwiches straight up the hill.
__________________
Happy Benzing Darryl, Hill 2005 SL55 AMG Kleemanized 1984 500 SEC 1967 W113 California Coupe [SIGPIC] https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/myphotos |
#9
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
I went there last summer and met a sweet young lady from Quebec City. It draws quite an international crowd. http://www.peachparts.com//shopforum/showthread.php?t=230404 I really dig both the Stevens Pass and North Cascades highways. I've driven via SP to Tonasket at least 20 or 30 times. The drive north from Wenatchee along the Columbia is pretty cool.
__________________
1986 300SDL, 362K 1984 300D, 138K Last edited by cmac2012; 08-29-2009 at 03:01 AM. |
#10
|
||||
|
||||
If you make it to the Eastern Washington, The Dams are interesting places to Visit. Rocky Reach Dam has a nice little visitor center, and Grand Coulee Dam has a nice visitor center as well, and is worth the drive, and lots of Basalt cliffs on the drive. There are also some nice wineries in the Wenatchee-Leavenworth-Lake Chelan Areas.
__________________
1999 Toyota Corolla VE (Mine) 2006 Honda Odyssey (Wife's) 1979 300CD (sold) |
#11
|
||||
|
||||
If you like the wilderness and want a unique tourist experience, there is a ski resort about 70 miles south and east of Seattle. It’s called Crystal Mountain. It’s the next mountain over from Mt Rainier. This time of year the ski resort offers a package deal where you ride 2 high speed chair lifts up to about 7,000 feet of elevation, to the summit of one of the mountains. There is a restaurant at the top with a drop dead stunning view of Mt Rainier. The ski resort has no snow this time of year (Rainier does) and there are miles of wildflowers. The package was for the chair lift rides (up and down) and a meal. I think the cost was about $60 or so per person. I did it a few years back. It was a great day trip.
In Seattle there are a number of attractions in a fairly small area. You can make a day of going downtown. Start at the Pioneer Square area. Then go a few blocks north and west to the waterfront, which is where the aquarium, many ferry boat rides and other cool stuff are found, and then continue north a little further to the Pike Place market. After that it is about 2 miles or so to the Seattle Center. You can walk a few blocks from the market and catch the monorail and ride that to the Seattle Center. Going to these destinations will take most or all day, but you’ll have taken in many of the touristy spots. Also a truly great restaurant that is open 24 hours is called the 13 Coins. |
#12
|
||||
|
||||
Jeez, I REALLY ought to move back to Seattle.
Inerita.
__________________
1986 300SDL, 362K 1984 300D, 138K |
#13
|
|||
|
|||
Thanks, everyone. I didn't know that there is a Vancouver Wa.(sorry) We are looking to spend a few day in the Vancouver BC area.(150 radis) The first week we will be staying in a resort in Blaine Wa. on the BC border. and the second week we will be moteling it as we return south toward the Seattle area.
A few people mentioned the N. Cascade highway. Is that route 20? Also, I see that there is a ferry on Rt 20 to Port Townsend. Can anyone tell me who runs the ferry or do you have a link to there website? Thanks again, Jay
__________________
Thank you, Jay 83MB 300D 241K "The silver coffin" 10 Prius lll 1K 95 MB E300D 120K Mable 02 Saab 9-5 Areo 131K Cannondale SR500 www.thecornerstonefamily.org/ |
#14
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
Note on this ferry - make sure you get a reservation, if you plan on taking it. There's very little room on it for cars compared to other WA ferrires, and it's particularly tough to get on right now - height of tourist season. Reservation/tickets can be made/purchased at the link above. |
#15
|
|||
|
|||
Book a night at Paradise Inn if you can.
http://www.mtrainierguestservices.com/accommodations/paradise-inn
__________________
1998 C230 330,000 miles (currently dead of second failed EIS, yours will fail too, turning you into the dealer's personal human cash machine) 1988 F150 144,000 miles (leaks all the colors of the rainbow) Previous stars: 1981 Brava 210,000 miles, 1978 128 150,000 miles, 1977 B200 Van 175,000 miles, 1972 Vega (great, if rusty, car), 1972 Celica, 1986.5 Supra |
Bookmarks |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|