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jab
Citizen
Username: Jab
Post Number: 76
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, July 17, 2003 - 11:07 am: |     |
We're thinking about flying out to Seattle then travelling up to the Vancouver area in August. We can get away for a week to a week and a half. Any suggestions for places to go and things to do?
The other possibility is going to Scotland for the same time period, but I haven't checked airplane ticket availability yet. |
James
Citizen
Username: Mcgregorj
Post Number: 7
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, July 17, 2003 - 3:00 pm: | |
We went backpacking in the Olympics last spring.
Definitely go to Olympic National Park, if you have time.
Port Townshend (also on the peninsula) is cool as well.
Some of the islands out in the straits are fun for bicycling, etc... Taking the ferries/busses from Seattle to the Olympics is a good way to see everything if you don't have a car. |
eliz
Citizen
Username: Eliz
Post Number: 569
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, July 17, 2003 - 6:14 pm: | |
There was great info about Vancouver in last week or the week before's travel section in the nytimes. |
mayhewdrive
Citizen
Username: Mayhewdrive
Post Number: 314
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, July 17, 2003 - 6:33 pm: | |
From Seattle...be sure to head to the San Juan islands & do some biking. What a blast.
Also, Vancouver is an AWESOME city. I was amazed how cultured & diverse it was. I was expecting another "generic" city (i.e. Atlanta or L.A.) and was pleasantly surprised how cool it was. |
sac
Citizen
Username: Sac
Post Number: 25
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, July 17, 2003 - 8:10 pm: | |
We (with kids and grandparents) enjoyed the Seattle aquarium very much. |
chanteusie
Citizen
Username: Chanteusie
Post Number: 8
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Friday, July 18, 2003 - 12:17 pm: | |
I am from the San Juan Islands and still go home once or twice a year to play tourist.
You will not regret the Pacific Northwest in August. It sparkles like a gem and there are about a million things to do.
Here is my list of the top things to do if you only have a week and a half:
Rent a car with rights to drive into Canada (you have to mention this when you pick up the car)
Spend two days in Seattle (visit the Pike Place Market, the aquarium, rent a canoe at the University of Washington and meander through the park on the edge of Lake Washington, eat amazing seafood, and see the boat locks in Ballard).
Do a day trip to Paradise at Mt. Rainier (long day, but not to be missed).
Do the OP loop. Drive south to Olympia and then West to the ocean on the Olympic Penninsula. Stay two nights in Forks exploring the ocean shores and old growth forests during the day. Continue north then east and take a ferry from the Penninsula back to Seattle for the night.
Drive north to Anacortes and take the car ferry to Victoria, BC via the San Juan Islands. Don't hurry, take a local ferry so you can see all the island communities.
Spend a night in Victoria (if you've got the cash, stay at the Empress Hotel and have afternoon tea), visit the Butchart Gardens, the government houses and amazing provincial history museum filled with native art and cultural artifacts.
Take a ferry from Vancouver Island (where Victoria is) to the mainland and make your way to Vancouver for two nights. Enjoy a west coast Chinatown, Gas Town, go to the Bay, Granville Island and the Bloedel Conservatory at Queen Elizabeth Park.
Drive back down the coast to Bellingham, Washington and jump on Chuckanut Drive for a winding scenic highway, stopping for lunch at the Oyster Bar overlooking the oyster beds.
Continue your drive back to Seattle for two more nights. Spend your last day exploring some of the Seattle neighborhoods, relaxing over coffee or a microbrew and watch the funky locals.
That's a week and a half.
Flights are amazingly cheap to Seattle right now, take advantage! Have a great time. |
phyllis
Citizen
Username: Phyllis
Post Number: 161
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Friday, July 18, 2003 - 7:47 pm: | |
I've been to Vancouver a few times, but after Chanteusie's post, I can't believe how much I've missed! Must go back! |
Jackie Day
Citizen
Username: Zoesky1
Post Number: 39
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Friday, July 18, 2003 - 10:52 pm: | |
I certainly don't know as much about the San Juans as a native like Chanteusie, but I have to weigh in because I attended a wedding last summer in the SJ's, and it was incredible. We took a ferry from Anacortes to a small island with just a few roads and some very private wonderful houses. The wedding was on the beach in sight of wild islands and, I am told, a few orcas (I didn't spy any myself). The next day we went boating with the groom and the bride -- old college friends of mine -- to catch fresh king crab and see more orcas. It was amazing. I can honestly say the San Juans are among the most beautiful places I've ever been; also, they're unspoiled and wonderfully remote. I loved the tiny car ferry to our island (wish I could remember its name!), where everyone seemed to know everyone else...we definitely stood out as "the wedding people." Definitely worth a visit. |
bak
Citizen
Username: Bak
Post Number: 337
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, July 19, 2003 - 12:34 am: | |
Banff and Lake Louise are 2 of the prettiest spots on the planet! |
harpo
Citizen
Username: Harpo
Post Number: 900
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, July 19, 2003 - 1:08 pm: | |
Scotland is wonderful. I stayed in some coast guard cottages at the tip of Isle of Skye for not very much money.
http://www.duntulmcastle.co.uk/
It's possible to get to the Isle of Skye by train from Glasgow, but once there, it's a good idea to rent a car. Driving around the island is a pleasure.
All of the Scottish Highlands and Islands are marvelous, and much of it can be traveled by train and ferry. (Cheaper airfares through Icelandic Air.) Accommodations tend to be affordable and Edinburgh is a lovely city.
I can also vouch for the fun of taking the ferry from Anacortes to Victoria. I didn't stay in Victoria, though, but headed straight up the east side of the island, stopping in Ladysmith to visit an eagle nesting place, and taking the ferry a bit north of there over to Vancouver, which is a great city, with a great location and a truly cosmopolitan feel. I drove up to Whistler -- which is spectacular -- and then up to the Canadian Rockies, but I think there may be a scenic train that goes part of that route from Vancouver.
I enjoyed my day trip to Mt. Ranier from Seattle, and food in Seattle is terrific. |
chanteusie
Citizen
Username: Chanteusie
Post Number: 9
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 23, 2003 - 8:33 am: | |
I think the wedding might have been on Guemes, the island closest to Fidalgo (the island that Anacortes is on). I've never taken the tiny ferry to Guemes, but I puttered over in a boat a few times for hikes and it sounds like a match. |
Jackie Day
Citizen
Username: Zoesky1
Post Number: 48
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 23, 2003 - 11:30 am: | |
Yes - now it's coming back to me! It was Guemes. Mostly private homes and maybe one store. Really, really nice. Thanks for jogging my memory, Chanteusie! |
lamojo
Citizen
Username: Lamojo
Post Number: 30
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 23, 2003 - 11:35 am: | |
I second the vote for visiting San Juan island. I'd also recommend going to see the Mariners play at their new ball park - Safeco Field. |
jab
Citizen
Username: Jab
Post Number: 98
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 5, 2003 - 9:26 pm: | |
Thanks to everybody for the wonderful suggestions. We have now finalized our plans. We will spend a couple days in Seattle, then a couple days in Port Angeles near the Olympic Peninsula, then a couple days in each of Victoria and Vancouver before returning to Seattle for our flight home. I already feel like we won't be able to see eveything that we will want to. |
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