So watching the Olympics really motivated the wife and I to visit this area this summer. I don't even know where to start at this point. Anyone have any tips on good places to stay? We've been doing the vacation rentals thing for our past few trips and have enjoyed it, but I guess I'm open to anything. It would be nice if we could keep the housing costs to around 2K for a 2 week trip. Any ideas?

I would try VRBO. I would recommend staying in West Vancouver. You are not going to find anything big or cheap enough in downtown. West Van is 5 minutes away from the downtown Vancouver spots (Stanley Park, English Bay, Chinatown, Granville Island. Plus it is not far from Whistler. I assume you will be splitting your vacation sites between Vancouver Island, Vancouver, and Whistler. West Van will be a cheap place right in the middle of those 3 spots.

Big fan of vrbo. We used it to find a nice cabin on Soda Butte Creek for our Yellowstone trip last year.

I've been checking the Seattle area and can almost feel myself in vacation mode already. Thanks for the tip on West Van. I'll definitely check it out!

In Seattle stay at Inn at the Market. The only place to stay in Seattle. We took Amtrack from Seattle to Vancouver. It was cheap, beautiful, and fairly quick.

I was not a big fan of Vancouver. It is very pretty, though.

1. Think about spending some time in Victoria
2. Wine/Beer day
a. Head over to Woodinville (just across the lake)
b. Start at Chateau St. Michelle, great tour and amazing wines
c. Next head across the street to Columbia Winery, not much of a tour, but good wines. Pay a little more and get the Reserve Tasting.
d. Next Door is Redhook Brewery - Great tour, lots of fun. They often have concerts out on the lawn.

We are going in June/early July, with time split between Portland and Seattle/extended Washington. We figure 3 days in Portland (coast 1 day, then 2 days in Portland), train to Seattle, and open from there. Want some time in the San Juan Islands, some in Seattle, open beyond that. Any suggestions? We are not outdoorsy people, so no camping, hiking, etc. Travel party is my wife, my 12 year old daughter, and myself.

Vancouver is in a beautiful setting but I didn't think it was that exciting of a city.

I would have liked to see Victoria but it was kind of dreary weather when I was there so we didn't take the ferry over. If you are an outdoors person I would think your time would be better spent getting out of the city and exploring the mountains

+1 for Victoria. Me and some Aggie Army Buddies took the ferry across to Victoria from Port Angeles quite a few years ago.

I'm going to Vancouver this summer. Should be interesting. I've been to Seattle numerous times unfortunately, I can't really tell you anything exciting to do because all my trips were for work and I didn't get out that much. I still haven't forgiven myself for not going to the Mariners game the night where Lou Piniella picked up First Base and threw it into Right Field. That was classic. I stayed in the Hotel and watched it on TV instead.

Definitely include Vancouver Island! You can take the ferry from either Seattle or Vancouver. Victoria is a pretty little city and be SURE to see Butchart Gardens. One of the most beautiful sights ever. The Fairmont Empress Hotel is an historic hotel there. We splurged for one night and it was great.

I was up there for the Olympics. I would love to go back and explore outside the city for a couple of days.

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In Seattle stay at Inn at the Market. The only place to stay in Seattle.

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THIS X 1000000000!

My wife and I stayed here the first two nights of our honeymoon. Absolutely loved it. e got up, wnet for a run, walked back through Pike's and grabbed some fresh berries(the raspberries were awesome), and took them on the rooftop overlooking the sound.

Also recommend Victoria. We were only there for a day -- wish we had spent a few there.

Spent 3 days in Vancouver...I think it was one too many.

We also spent two days in Whistler. Absolutely beautiful.

I'll try and remember to get some photos up tonight.



[This message has been edited by army01 (edited 3/30/2010 3:05p).]

Most of our time in Vancouver was surrounded on the Olympics and going to block parties and concerts, etc between the games. We stayed in White Rock, which was a very cozy town just adjacent to South Surrey. The Canadians are so friendly!

Our itinerary for Seattle was much more open, but also required a lot of walking. The highlights:

Lunch at Portage Bay was excellent. There are a few locations.

Seattle Center is ok just to see the "touristy" sights. Experience Music Project was alright. The Sci-Fi museum (included with EMP ticket) sucked IMO.

Olympic Sculpture park on the shoreline was a real chill place to kick back. A lot of people there.

Paseo Restaurant was talked up. It's a Caribbean place. I wasn't that impressed. Maybe I just don't like Caribbean food.

We took a ferry to Bainbridge island. Pretty cheap and it was cool seeing the city from out there. All we did at Bainbridge was eat breakfast at Streamline Diner. It was a great breakfast!

We saw the Waterfall Garden, Pioneer Square, walked around Qwest and Safeco (didn't do tours). Once again, just to kind of see the sites. Nothing really special about these places. Skipped the underground tour. Nothing special down here unless you REALLY want to see one of these sights.

The International District was lame. Houston's Chinatown has much more to it.

You can go to Bank of America Tower (Columbia tower) to view the city from the highest building if you are there during normal business hours.

We toured UW. There is a self-guided tour that you can print out from their website. Nothing really special about the campus. A lot of interesting characters out there though.

Not a lot of MUST DOs on this list.

There are a ton of breweries in the area and they pride themselves on this. There are many food or beer tours you can go on.

I wasn't impressed with the Courtyard at Lake Union where we stayed...

Personally, I think there's a lot more for you north of the border. I'd focus my trip up there.

[This message has been edited by CDub06 (edited 3/30/2010 4:04p).]

My wife's family is all over Tsawwassen and Vancouver and we will go there every summer for the foreseeable future. You may also consider renting a house/condo/apartment for a few days-week around Point Roberts. Very laid back seaside community and great for kicking back. There've been times there that a dozen Bald Eagles were within 100 yards of me. Really amazing to be within such proximity.
Sitting on a nice comfy rock by the water enjoying a tasty beverage with a couple of Bald Eagles 20 ft away eating fish is pretty damn cool.

We've already booked our flight for this year, and we're looking forward to it.

We love Vancouver and will spend time there, but be sure to budget plenty of time OUT of the city either the island, mountains, coast. It's some of the most beautiful country there is.

p.s., if you do get to the back country be advised that BC probably has the highest number of mountain lion encounters anywhere.

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BC probably has the highest number of mountain lion encounters anywhere.

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Don't let this deter you. I lived in Vancouver for 2 years and did tons of outdoor hikes and bike rides. I never saw a mountain lion and rarely heard of sightings/attacks. Bears are another story but mostly brown and blacks and not grizzlies.

I went to Seattle a couple of years ago to visit some family, had a really great time. One of the things we did that I really enjoyed was a food tour of Pikes Place Market. Lots of cool history about the market and you get to sample a bunch too!
http://www.savorseattletours.com/pages/25-Pike_Place_Market_Food_Cultural_Tour

We also spent a day kayaking the San Juan Islands. It was a great trip and isn't too strenuous. My cousin was our tour guide for this company.
http://www.anacorteskayaktours.com/

We didn't make it up to Canada, I hope to get up there soon and now have some ideas on what to do. Thanks guys!

I've not been to Vancouver but have been to Victoria. Its a nice place to visit. I have always thought it might be considered the San Diego of BC.....not the largest city but, perhaps, the nicest.

for those that have taken a train and also driven, which is more scenic?

i really enjoy the drive, but would consider the train if it is really nice.

If you have the whole day to travel between Seattle and Vancouver, I would stop by Mt. Erie (near Anacortes) for a good panoramic view of the sound islands, Olympics, and Cascades.

I did some high-angle climbing rescue practice last weekend at the climbing area out there and the view was awesome.

Wow, this thread is making me rethink our napa honeymoon plans. We want to go for at least a week and the idea of being able to enjoy Washington wineries and then take a train to Vancouver is really appealing since we have been wanting to go to this area for a while.

If you have to pick, where would you choose to spend a week? CA wine country or Seattle area/Vancouver? We are going in late September...

Me?

Seattle/Vancouver - one of my favorite parts of the country

Bumping the thread in case anyone had updates. Going to Seattle/Issaquah for a wedding this weekend, and will have a little time on either side to play tourist.

Any changes to any of the lists above, especially since it's winter?

Here's some of the suggestions I've found on other TexAgs threads

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As I suggest to all Seattle Travelers.

one of the days, head to Woodinville (Just across the lake)

Go to Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery first, great tour and very good wines

Across the street is Columbia Winery, pay the extra and do the tasting of the reserve wines. They do not have a tour worth anything.

Next door is the Redhook Brewery. They have a fun tour and great beer.

Visiting these is best in Summer time, but it realy does not matter on time of year.

Other Things to Do.
1. Pikes Place Market (Morning/Lunch best times) Watch them throw a fish and get some fresh flowers for the Hotel Room.

2. Experience Music Project - If you like music this is a must. It is a history of the Seattle Music Scene and much more. MUST DO.

3. Ferry - Many options for the Ferry. You can take a day and go to Canada - Victoria would be one of the better choices - or just head across the sound to get a new perspective on Seattle.

4. Mt. Rainier - This time of year it is going to be covered in snow, but it is still a beautiful mountain no matter the time of year.

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I wanted to provide some suggestions if you are going to be up in Seattle for the game.

Places to Eat--Cheap (under $10)
1. Baguette Box
2. Dicks Drive In (not a drive in, old fast food burgers)
3. Red Mill Burgers
4. Piecora's or Pagliacci's Pizza


Places to Eat--Nice ($10-$30)
1. Quinn's
2. Via Tribunali (Naples style pizza)
3. Hana Sushi
4. Coastal Kitchen (also for brunch, long wait)
5. Palace Kitchen
6. Oddfellows
7. Wasabi Bistro (higher end sushi)


Places to Eat--High End
1. Zoe's
2. Lola
3. Tilth
4. Shiro's Sushi
5. Earth and Ocean (in the W)

Bars
1. Lindas, Smith, Rob Roy (younger crowd, all owned by Linda)
2. Triple Door (nicer)
3. Chapel (nicer)
4. W Hotel (nicer)
5. Liberty (neighborhood cocktail bar with cheap sushi)
6. Nitelife, Mecca, Canterbury (good dive bars)

Hip Live Music
1. The Crocodile
2. Neumos
3. Tractor Tavern (more country-ish, rockabilly)

Places to go and see
1. Pike Place Market
2. Snoqualmie Falls (if you have a car)
3. Bainbridge Island (ferry)
4. Space Needle
5. Skiing/snowboarding (Snoqualmie, Crystal)
6. Seattle Art Museum

Unique Shopping for Girls
1. Main area of Fremont Neighborhood (several stores)
2. Fancy (local jewelry)
3. Capitol Hill Neighborhood-Broadway (vintage)

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Lots of good eating can be had on University Way (The Ave) which is on the other side of the campus from the Pavilion.

I would recommend Aladdin's Gyro-cery and Pho Than Brothers for the cheapest good eats on the Ave. If you want in in the 10+ range I'd suggest Ruby. There are also tons of cheap Teriyaki places that give you a huge load of food for little price. Teriyaki seems to be bigger in Seattle than other places.

I hate being recommended Mexican places after moving from San Antonio to Seattle, but if the weather is nice, it's worth going to Aqua Verde for some food and Margaritas.

If you are want good Indian food, I really like Taste of India.

As far as the market is concerned, eat a little bit of everything, but be sure to get to Pike Place Chowder in post alley. Absolutely delicious.


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whatever you do, make sure you go to Pike Place Market and eat at Piroshky Piroshky.

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Local / cheap in Seattle:

Red Mill burgers in Phinney Ridge. Featured on Man v. Food, and named one of GQ's best burgers in the US.

Salumi - Mario Batali's dad's salumaria downtown, open for lunch. Expect big line.

Other places, more upscale and great:

Flying Fish in Belltown
Steelhead Diner near Pike's Place Market
Dahlia Lounge downtown

*****

Seattle Fine Dining:

-Canlis (prob. #1 fine dining in Seattle)

-Pallisades (on the water in Magnolia)

-The Six-Seven at the Edgewater Hotel (Seattle Waterfront)

Nice Restaurants:

-Ray's Boathouse (on the water in Ballard, large patio w/ good views). Love Ray's for Happy Hour...

-Daniel's Broiler (go to the one in Leschi for views across lake Washington toward the Cascades). The Leschi Market across the street had some good deli items.

-Sky City at the Space Needle. I wouldn't call it the most amazing food, but the view................

-Etta's (near Pike Place Market). Owned by the same guy (Tom Douglas) who runs Dahlia (mentioned earlier) and Lola - all good choices...

-Il Bistro (Pike Place Market) Best Italian I've had.

-The Icon Grill (Downtown) American comfort food like you've never had it...

-Bastille (Ballard) Excellent food. Large patio for a nice day. I go here with my girlfriend a lot.

Local Flavor:

-King's Hardwear (Ballard). Frequented by the guys in Soundgarden.

-Circa (West Seattle). If you will be near Alki, make the trip into West Seattle to Circa. Unassuming place with AMAZING food!

-Red Mill...gawd, I'm getting hungry...

-North Lake Tavern (Lake Union, near UW) Good pizza.



There are also lots of farmer's markets with fresh food made with ingredients from the Northwest.

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In that case, I wouldn't miss Paradise, Mount Rainier. If you have more time for a trip out to the peninsula, I wouldn't miss Shi Shi Beach (pronounced Shy Shy) or Hurricane Ridge, Olympic National Park (a World Heritage Site). Also, Neah Bay is the most northwesterly point in the Lower 48. Have lots of time? Then, tour the San Juan Islands.

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would stop by Mt. St. Helens then and if you have time, hike the rim. At least go to Johnson Observatory.

On I-84 along the Columbia Gorge is Multnomah Falls and if you have time take the Waterfall Highway and you can high to numerous waterfalls along the way.

My favorite is Punch Bowl, Eagle Creek.

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Take a locks cruise.


http://www.argosycruises.com/publiccruises/locks.cfm

Eat lunch or have drinks on the deck at Ray's Boathouse.
Go to the top of the Space Needle.
Shop for local produce and international gourmet items at Pike Place Market, then have a picnic somewhere on the shore near Olympic Sculpture Park.
Take the Underground Tour

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From Port Orchard, there are two ways: drive around the Sound (1.5 hr) or take the ferry from Bremerton (35 - 50min). I like taking the ferry. Actually, I'd even take the ferry from Bainbridge Island before driving...

Other Attractions:

Walk Alki Beach in West Seattle and stop somewhere for lunch.

Tour the Burke Museum

Tour the Seattle Museum of History and Industry

Tour the Museum of Flight

Tour the Woodland Park Zoo

Go to a Farmer's Market (Ballard, Fremont, etc.); they are held all over the city and sometimes have a few interesting things. Some are more for art and others for produce, so it depends on what you're interested in.

Build a fire on the beach at Golden Gardens and watch the sunset. (note: keep walking down the beach to get away from the crowds.)

There's Point Defiance Park, the Tacoma Museum of Glass, and the Washington State History Museum if you find yourself down in Tacoma.

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Pacific Rim Park on Vancouver Island (BC) is supposed to have the best temperate rainforest in the northwest.

If you like easy walks, the Carbon River corner of Mt. Rainier National Park is temperate rainforest and the "trail" is a 2-lane dirt road that was used until 2006. There are picnic tables a couple of miles in near the river. The road is still in good shape until the washed out portion.

The best way to Vancouver is by Amtrak train. It's on my list - haven't done it yet. The train follows the shoreline all the way to Vancouver, but I think you have to get on a bus to cross the border... It's sonething like $90 round trip.

Speaking of the peninsula, I was out in Port Townsend and Fort Flagler State Park yesterday

(Whidbey/Deception – Anacortes) Take the ferry to Whidbey Island. Drive north to Hwy 20. Take 20 north, stopping at Ebby's Landing for a walk on the beach and stopping at Deception Pass to take photos. The sandy beach and turquiose waters at Deception Pass State Park are popular. If you are here on a weekday, I'd skip Ebbey's Landing and stop at the park. Continue on Hwy 20, through Anacortes, to I-5 and drive back to Seattle.

(North Cascades – Methow Valley – Leavenworth) Or, if you have 2+ days: continue on Hwy 20 east of I-5 through North Cascades National Park (DEFINITELY worth it - allow lots of time). You can stop and tour the Diablo Dam... From the park, continue on Hwy 20 to Mazama and take the dirt road up to Harts Pass (6,800'). The view from the pass is AMAZING. There are signs at the lookout that label all of the North Cascades peaks. After Harts Pass, continue on Hwy 20 to Winthrop (can camp at Pearrygin Lake - good swimmin' hole). Winthrop is a neat, Old West style town (kinda touristy). Keep going east through Winthrop toward Hwy 97 and follow the Columbia River back to Hwy 2, then west toward Seattle.

(Snoqualmie Pass – Leavenworth – Stevens Pass) I-90 to Cle Elum, 97 north to Hwy 2, stop in Leavenworth. Hwy 2 west over Stevens Pass, back to Seattle. There's a shortcut in Monroe that get's you back to town faster, but I don't have my map in front of me.

Mt. St. Helens Take a road trip to Mt. St. Helens Johnston Ridge Observatory – impressive view!

Mt. Rainier Take Hwy 410/123 to the Stevens Canyon entrance of Mount Rainier National Park and drive the park road (stopping at Paradise) to Longmire, then back to Seattle.

Olympic N.P. – Hurricane Ridge/Obstruction Drive to Hurricane Ridge, Olympic National Park and take the dirt road to Obstruction Point – amazing views!

Neah Bay Drive out to Neah Bay – the most northwesterly point in the Lower 48. Take a side trip to Shi Shi Beach – you’ll thank me later. (see below)

Mt. Baker You can take 542 out to Mt. Baker, but there’s not much sightseeing along the way until you get to the lookout at the end of the road, but what a view! You could do this as a side trip on the way to/from Canada, though…

Some of my other favorite stretches of highway are heading west through Chinook Pass and heading west toward Mt. Rainier from White Pass. You could make a loop of these two passes and take a drive through Tieton country…

Enter the park at Longmire and drive through to Stevens Canyon. Then take Hwy 123 north to Hwy 410 and then up to Chinook Pass. Drive Hwy 410 back to Seattle via 410, 167, 405, and 5.

I drove over Chinook Pass this weekend, headed out and back from rock climbing at Royal Columns. I forgot how AMAZING the view was from Chinook Pass: Rainier, the Goat Rocks, etc. There's a lookout and trails on Chinook Pass that were constructed by the CCC, so plenty of history and a neat spot to take photos!

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