Pacific NW trip (Portland, Seattle, Vancouver\Whistler) - recs & suggestions

If you can make it to the Mount Saint Helens Volcanic National Monument that's pretty incredible - or at least it was to me. I'm sure some assholes showed up and said "meh, buncha dead trees"

Rent a car and drive the Olympic Peninsula. Set aside a few hours or a night to hang out on Lake Crescent, the most beautiful body of water I've ever seen. Pictures don't even it do it justice.

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Go take some hikes and check out beaches on the Pacific like Ruby Beach and Beach 4






My wife and I started in Seattle and took a road trip through the Olympic Peninsula, spent a couple of nights on Lake Quinault and then continued north up and visited the lavender fields and wineries.




While you're in Seattle, do a brewery tour. Road Dog brewery tour was very fun, they drove us to 3 different breweries and it was all you could drink beer.

As far as outdoor Washington stuff to check out... Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Rainier, Mt. Baker (Artist Point if it's open), San Juan Islands (Friday Harbor), Olympic National Park. Maybe check out Leavenworth.

Take a ferry out to Victoria, BC.

Grouse Mountain overlooking Vancouver is pretty cool. They have an incredible zipline up there.



Those are some of the major places that jump out to me off the top of my head.

Just did this trip, minus Portland. Flew into Seattle and spent a couple of days there, then spent a couple of days in Vancouver and Whistler. If I were doing it again, I honestly probably would have skipped Seattle and spent that time in Vancouver and Whistler.

I will second the rec for the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park....it is pretty cool. We also did a bike tour in Vancouver, which I highly recommend.....it allows you to see a ton of the city in about a half a day. We also went up to Grouse Mountain one night and ate dinner at The Observatory...it's a little pricey, but if you make a reservation then you don't have to pay for the gondola ride to the top of the mountain and you have a view of the whole city during your meal (request a window seat), so in my opinion it is worth it.

Also, allow yourself plenty of time for the drive from Vancover to Whistler.....the Sea to Sky Highway is beautiful, and you will want to stop and take a lot of pictures.

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Portland is not that great, but Oregon is awesome.

Indian beach is a nice park on the Oregon Coast. Visit some wineries in the Willamette Valley.

Seattle is a great city. Fremont brewery is worth a visit.

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If a tourist is going to be checking out good beers, you'd best be served to do your research in Oregon.

I loved the quirky little towns in Washington. My wife and I spent an afternoon walking around Poulsbo "Little Norway." It was so cool and beautiful.

damn

My two bits:

Space Needle, ride the Tram, Downtown Seattle with the Market

San Juan Islands (go out to Friday Harbor and stay for for one night), reserve your spot on the Ferry right now as the spots go fast for Summer.

Whistler is too long a drive for me from Vancouver to jump up there for one day in the Summer. Especially if you've been there before. There is some serious talent in Whistler in the Summer.

Have fun.

If you're into hiking, just close your eyes, point in a direction, and start driving. You'll come across some amazing hikes everywhere.