Need advice on trip to Northwest U.S.

Plan to spend a day or two in Seattle. Not just the downtown either. Get out and about and see the neighborhoods, etc. I've done a sailboat ride out into the sound and it's pretty amazing with the city view and two or three mountain ranges.
There is a fast ferry boat of some kind that runs up to Canada if that interest you.

Saw your response. Probably a good idea to keep it all in one thread.

Portland is an excellent starting point. Head east to the Columbia River Gorge. Head west to the winery's and then to the Pacific Coast. Drive along the coast and head south to Redwood, stop in the area of North Bend/Coos Bay. And, you hit it, head north to Seattle and further north to Port Angeles where An officer and a Gentleman was filmed. Make sure to spend a day in Victoria, Canada.

Jerry:

Alaska Airlines has a single NS flight to/from MSY erryday.

You could flt into SEA then immediately head South from SEA-TAC and work your way back up to Seattle for your last day or two.

I'd spend more time out and about in Oregon and Washington State than in Seattle (city).

You can see Seattle in a couple of days by itself if you want that to be your last thing before leaving.

Or play it by ear as to the weather when you get there. Seattle is able to be visited almost weather-proof.

Cool city.

quote:

---

further north to Port Angeles where An officer and a Gentleman was filmed.

---

That's Port Townsend, not Port Angeles. However, Port Angeles is a great spot to take a ferry over to Victoria, BC, which is a fantastic destination...

ETA: Port Townsend is a fantastic place to spend a day. Beautiful views, great restaurants and shops, etc...

Poulsbo is another cool town on the Puget Sound.

I looked at your thread on the other board. If you are going to Port Orchard, then Pouslbo and Port Townsend make good sense. You don't even have to have anything specific in mind. Just go, find the waterfront, walk around, and enjoy.

Poulsbo:



Port Townsend:


Travel west from Port Townsend to Port Angeles, and you can take a ferry to Victoria, BC. I would rather go to Victoria, than Vancouver. More character and much more walkable. Just my opinion, though.

Victoria:


If in Victoria, Buchart Gardens is a must:


Hurricane Ridge is also near Port Angeles, and the view of the Olympic Mountains (from the Olympic Mountains) is absolutely gorgeous on a sunny day. Bring your camera.


Whale watching in the San Juan Islands is spectacular:

Good luck getting a good picture of those bastards, though. You never know when they are going to come out of the water...


ETA: Ask me if you have any questions about Portland. I might be able to help you there, too.

You are correct, thanks for the correction

The ferry carries cars and people. Walking on is more cost-effective. Victoria is a very walkable. You may have to take a cab or bus to Buchart Gardens, but the Princess Hotel and all of the government buildings are all around the harbor and very walkable.

An itinerary that is doable is to spend a day or two in Seattle, and then go from Port Orchard to Poulsbo, to Port Townsend. Eat dinner and spend the night in Port Townsend, or drive the 45 minutes to Port Angeles and spend the night there. You can hit up Hurricane Ridge in the morning (if it's a clear day), and then walk onto the ferry to Victoria. Spend the rest of the day and night in Victoria, and then ferry back over to Port Angeles the next afternoon to pick up your car and head on back to Seattle (about 2 1/2 hours), or to Portland (about 4 hours).

I don't know. I didn't take any of them. Internet pictures...

I can assure you that the PNW is going to look spectacular at the time of year you are going to be there. Buchart Gardens always looks good. It probably won't be raining at that time of year, so you shouldn't need the umbrella...

Many people have visited the PNW in the summer and decided to move here. Then, winter comes and it starts raining...