Seattle Vacation Ideas

My sister has taken a job with a transportation/bike planning agency in Portland so I’m curious about biking resources right now.  The city of Portland is touted as one of the top biking cities in the nation, with lots and lots of bike paths, and it is considerably flatter than Seattle.The city suggests some nice bike touring routes to the coast if you want to take a side-trip from Portland.  These trips run 70-100 miles, so they aren’t short rides.  Riders who are in good shape and used to distance riding might find these good overnight trips.  To get out of the city, you take Portland’s regional transit system to Hillsboro, one of the western suburbs and start your trips from there.  Apparently, there is no additional fare to bring your bike on the MAX light rail, so you’re in luck there!  Think about booking a Bed & Breakfast on the coast, (or half-way out if you’re not up for the 100 mile ride).http://www.portlandonline.com/transportation/index.cfm?c=39889

If you’re looking for something to do next Sunday, it’s blueberry picking season out at Finnriver Farm. The farm is located in the rural Chimacum Valley, a traditionally agricultural region on the Olympic Peninsula about 12 miles south of Port Townsend. These blueberries are certified organic, so you couldn’t get better ones even at Whole Foods. (Besides, it’s more fun to pluck them off the bushes than off the shelf at the grocery store anyway.)

The farm is open on Sundays and Tuesdays from 10am to 4pm, and it costs $10 per car of pickers, so it pays to carpool. You can show up and pick on a first-come/first-serve basis, or you can email for reservations (info@finnriverfarm.com). Buckets are provided.

There are Sunday events from now through September, which include musicians, juggling, and storytelling, so you can have some entertainment while you’re filling your bucket with plump, juicy blueberries.

More information and directions are available on the Finnriver Farm website:

http://www.finnriverfarm.com

I’ve been pretty busy lately and the thought of slipping away quietly for the weekend is becoming more and more appealing.  Right now, I’d love to hop on a boat and head over to Port Townsend, a charming little town on the Kitsap Peninsula with a great Victorian air about it.The town is host to many turn-of-the-century mansions, many of which are now bed and breakfasts.  The town boasts about 9300 residents as of July 2006 and has many near-by daytrip worthy destinations. There is Fort Casey a WWI bunker installation meant to protect Puget Sound from naval or air invasion.  August events include Blues Festival, Jefferson County Fair, Uptown Street Fair, Classic Car Show and more. Jefferson County Court House is one of my favorite buildings, and as I recall, you can climb the bell tower for a great view.

Lots of people enjoy planned trail systems.  There are several extended trail systems in the state including the Cascade Ridge trail, and some of the urban rails-to-trails like the Burke-Gilman/Lake Sammamish River Trail. Not as many people are familiar with the Cascadia Marine trail, however, a water-craft only trail that offers camping and boating.  It starts from the north end of the sound and stretches over 140 miles to the Olympia area. This inland sea trail is a National Recreation Trail and designated one of only 16 National Millennium Trails by the White House. The boat-trail is aimed at non-motorized craft and includes over 50 camping sites.  Some are free, others require reservations and prepayments.  The site Washington Water Trails Association provides additional information about exploring this unique water trail.   http://www.wwta.org/trails/CMT/index.asp

Looking for something to do on the next sunny weekend? Why not head up to Mount Rainer National Park for a day hike?

The park offers many trails to choose from. You can find advanced hikes for the experienced outdoor athlete, or trails suitable for beginners who just want to head out to enjoy the sun and see some wildlife.

In the Longmire area, you can find the easy .7 mile Trail of the Shadows, a loop trail that runs through forest and meadow and can be walked in a half hour or less, or you can hit the 4.6 mile steep Rampart Ridge loop trail that travels through forests and breaks out to offer ridge top views (give yourself 2 and a half hours for this one). Notice I highlight the loop trails. I don’t know about you, but I love going full circle instead of coming back the same way (the way back always seems so much longer…).

Some other popular spots with hikes in the Mt. Rainer National Park include Paradise Area, Ohanapecosh (say that five times quickly without tripping your tongue…), Sunrise, and the Carbon/Mowich Area.

To look up trail conditions and get more specifics on the hikes, visit the park service’s day hikes page:

http://www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/day-hikes.htm

If you’re looking to beat the crowds and find a vacation spot within a couple hours of Seattle, Lake Crescent may be the place to visit.

Located on the Olympic Peninsula, the lake is rimmed by an impressive array of mountains and lush green trees. You can find all the usual activities (swimming, picnicking, fishing, boating, hiking, etc.) on and around the 624-foot deep 8.5-mile long lake. Freshwater Lake Crescent is especially known for its Beardslee trout, a large subspecies that runs in the 12-14 pound range and is known for putting up a fight once it’s hooked. (Apparently that’s a good thing if you’re a fisherman or woman who likes a challenge.)

If you’re looking for a place to stay, you can check out the Log Cabin Resort on the lake’s northeast end. Rates start around $50, and you can find rustic cabins, motel rooms, and waterfront A-frame chalets. There’s some history to the place, and many of the buildings have been standing since the 1920s. There are also hookups for RVs, if you prefer your 21st Century luxury motorhome to a rustic historic cabin. Or if you really want to rough it, they have tent spots too.

You can experience all the lake activities without leaving the resort. There’s a grocery store, and meals are served in the lodge if you prefer someone else do the cooking. When you’re done eating, head outdoors for rowboat, canoe, paddleboat, and kayak rentals. You’ll get quite the workout if you kayak all the way around the lake! (I’m not sure I’d try it in a paddleboat.)

The resort is located three miles from Hwy 101 on E. Beach Road and is open April-October.

http://www.logcabinresort.net/

When was the last time you toured a Forrest Sherman Class Destroyer? I bet it’s been a while (or never).

If you enjoy naval history, or you have a kid that digs ships, then it might be worth a ferry trip over to Bremerton. From the ferry, you can easily walk down the Bremerton boardwalk to the home of the USS Turner Joy.

The 418 feet long ship was the last Forrest Sherman class destroyer built. “While some of these ships were later converted to guided missile destroyers, Turner Joy remains close to her original 1959 configuration. The destroyer has been restored to reflect the appearance during her active years.

“Turner Joy’s distinctive service included a double-duty role as flagship for Destroyer Squadron 13 and Destroyer Division 131 with several tours in the Pacific. She also stood air-sea rescue duty near the Marianas Islands for President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s visit to several Asian nations. In terms of history, this vessel is most remembered for her participation in the Gulf of Tonkin incident which escalated the United States involvement in the Vietnam War.”

The ship has been on display in Bremerton since 1991 when it was made a public attraction and a naval memorial.

Admission is $8 for adults and $6 for children.

Hours, information, and history of the destroyer can be found at http://www.ussturnerjoy.org/

Whether you’re a Seattleite looking for a weekend getaway or you’re visiting the area for a few days and want to see all the sites, a cruise on the Victoria Clipper can be a fun overnight trip.

The popular two-day/one-night package takes you to Victoria, Canada, where you can “spend your time exploring a new city that is steeped in British tradition and trimmed with aboriginal culture. This picturesque hamlet is just what you need to create memories you’ll never forget.” And the trip up there is pretty nice, too, especially when the weather cooperates and gives you blue skies. (Odds of seeing this elusive Seattle weather are best in the summer.)

The overnight package runs $179 per person in July and August (peak rates), and this includes 1 night’s accommodations in Victoria, roundtrip dock/hotel transfers, a continental breakfast onboard the Clipper, and of course the cruise itself. It’s a wonderful opportunity to see the beautiful shorelines of Puget Sound.

http://www.clippervacations.com/

I adopted a dog a few weeks ago, so now I’m thinking of dog-friendly vacation spots. Seattle can be a great city for pets (lots of dog parks, trails, and hiking spots), and there are more and more hotels that allow pets these days. Even luxury hotels are catering to dog owners.

Here’s a look at a few of the pet friendly hotels in Seattle:

Sorrento Hotel
900 Madison Street
Seattle, Washington 98104

According to their website, dogs are welcome. There are no notations on size restrictions or extra costs, but you may want to call ahead and check that out. (Many hotels will only allow small dogs and almost all of them charge a deposit and/or cleaning fee.)

W Hotels Seattle
1112 Fourth Avenue
Seattle, Washington 98101

These guys charge a $100 cleaning fee and an extra $25 a night, but they have services just for pets: “toys, treats, bedding, dog-sitting, dog-walking and more.”

Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Seattle-sea-tac Airport
19621 International Blvd
Seattle, Washington 98188

This hotel is near SeaTac and allows pets with a $125 deposit ($50 is kept for a cleaning fee). Dogs may be left unattended in the room if they are crated. There is a lake across the street to take your pet for a walk.

Hotel Vintage Park
1100 5th Ave.
Seattle, Washington 98101

This looks to be a luxury hotel for pets as well as people: “The boutique Hotel Vintage Park welcomes your pooch with Hotel Vintage Park dog tags and grape-shaped dog treats from Chez Puppy for our canine guests during wine hour. We can also arrange for dog-sitting services and a personalized doggie itinerary, designed to keep pooches happy while owners are away. Fees for these services vary based on need.” It’s in the heart of downtown within walking distance of lots of sight-seeing stops.

These are just a few of the hotels that allow dogs in Seattle. If none of them fits your bill, do a Google search for “pet friendly hotel in Seattle” to get more results.

If you’re looking for a crowd-free vacation destination with a great climate, Harrison, Idaho, which is perched on beautiful Lake Coeur d’Alene, could be your spot. I actually just got back from a week spent in a rustic cabin over there. We were right on the lake with our own dock, and the nicely paved Trail of the Couer d’Alenes ran right past our yard.

A former railroad track, the 72-mile bicycle trail is popular with bicyclers, skaters, and walkers. But when I say “popular,” I mean by Idaho standards. If you’re used to the heavy use of the Burke Gilman Trail in Seattle, you’ll be pleased by the sparse population on this one. On weekday evenings when we went out to walk the dogs or roller blade, it wasn’t uncommon to see only one or two people the whole hour we were out there. It was, however, common to see deer, muskrats, chipmunks, and other wildlife heading down to drink at the lake in the evenings.

Though Harrison itself isn’t anything to write home about (one of those former logging towns that has since turned all its brothels and pubs into more tourist-oriented fudge shops, bicycle rental stores, and restaurants), the campground there is lovely. Though we were staying in a cabin, I thought it’d be nice to take an RV out there next time. The campground is right on the marina, and the trail I mentioned runs right behind it. Rent a boat, swim in the lake, go for a bicycle ride, or just kick around the one-horse town.

Harrison, Idaho is quite a drive from Seattle (about 6 hours), but it’s worth it if you can get away for a week, and you’re tired of the crowds. And if you’re a bicycler, you will love that trail.

http://www.harrisonidaho.org/