4/5 Day Washington State Trip(Seattle/Olympic National Park) (Tacoma, Vancouver: hotels, home)
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Hey everyone, going to be making my first trip ever to Washington State in July. I have always loved the West Coast and have wanted to visit the Pacific Northwest for years now.
Unfortunately I do not have a lot of time and want to try to get as much in as I possibly can. I am going to be staying at least 4 whole days, possibly 5 whole days, so I have a very loose itinerary at this point. Here is my itinerary:
Friday, July 9th - Flight to Seattle/Tacoma, travel to Ocean Shores (night in Ocean Shores)
Saturday, July 10th - Ocean Shores (night in Ocean Shores)
Sunday, July 11th - Travel 101 around Olympic National Park (night in Port Angeles)
Monday, July 12th - Travel 101/16 around Olympic National Park (night in Bremerton)
Tuesday, July 13th - Travel to Seattle, spend evening in Seattle (night in Seattle)
Wednesday, July 14th - Flight out of Seattle/Tacoma
So I obviously realize I won't be able to see everything at any location. I just want to be in Seattle long enough to see some of the tourist stuff (Space Needle, Pike Place Market), but I really want to travel around the Olympic National Park. If I do have a 5th Day, I will probably use it to spend an extra day in Seattle.
So I guess my big question is, with that itinerary what kind of activities or site seeing areas around Olympic National Park would you recommend? Am I kidding myself with that itinerary? I mention Ocean Shores and Bremerton because I have heard good things about both cities from someone who is originally from Washington . I truly know nothing about Washington State so I do not know how long some of the distances are. Obviously I won't be going very fast I know on 101 around Olympic and really don't want to, but am I being realistic? I live in Florida so my chances to visit the Pacific Northwest are limited and I want to get in as much as I can.
I'm a little confused by all the time in Ocean Shores. Not much there except the Pacific. A small casino, but that is about it. Even the ocean beach is not particularly attractive. The Oregon Coast is much more scenic.
The Olympic National Park can be a nice trip. Depends on your interests...the rain forest is unique, and Hurricane Ridge is scenic.
If you have never been to the Pacific Northwest, I question your itinerary. Seattle, Puget Sound, and perhaps Mt. Rainier would be much more interesting. One night in Seattle doesn't do it justice. Sorry, just being honest here.
No thank you, I want honest answers to help me plan my time there. I love the Pacific Ocean so I wanted to at least spend one night by the ocean and I don't have time to go down to Oregon. The only reason I had Ocean Shores as 2 nights was because I imagine I won't get in until probably 8 or 9 p.m. on that first night. That would give me one day by the Pacific Ocean. Is there an area to stay at by the ocean that you would recommend?
Yeah I have heard a lot of things about Hurricane Ridge so I think I want to see that on day 3 of the trip. I wish I had the time to do some hiking but I just will not have the time.
Regarding the Puget Sound, I thought Bremerton was pretty much right on Puget Sound? Is there another city that would be better? Should I simply make the trip into Seattle that night?
In terms of Mt. Rainier, I really would like to go but from the map it looks like it is a little bit out of the way. Obviously I want to drive around and see the sights but I do not want to be spending the entire trip in the car. Is it closer than it looks on the map?
The wonderful thing is I am still in the planning stages and that was simply my first itinerary. I have nothing booked as of yet so anything is up for changes. Let me ask you all this, if you had 4 days in the area and wanted to see a lot of the natural beauty of the area, what would you see and visit? Like I said, I might end up having 5 days but until I know for sure I have to plan based on 4 days. Plan an itinerary that you think would be good for a first time visitor.
Well, everyone has different interests, and I would hesitate to offer a detailed itinerary for you, since I don't know what you really want to see. But, in general, someone who has not been to the PNW before, I would recommend the first two nights in Seattle. There are some bargain hotels, but most everything is expensive in-season.
Must-do's in Seattle include Pike Place Market, Seattle Center and the Space Needle, the waterfront, perhaps a walk-on ferry ride to Bainbridge and back, and various museums, including the Art Museum downtown and the EMP at the Center. West Seattle offers in-town beaches and great views. Mariner baseball games are great, whether a fan or not, just a fun experience.
Beyond Seattle, you could check out Snoqualmie Falls, local wineries, and for cityscapes, downtown Bellevue is a nice side trip.
But, again, it depends on what you are in to. I would hope others familiar with Seattle offer some ideas as well. I hope you have a good trip.
There's not much in Bremerton as it is a small town-- so that sounds weird to me. However, you can take the ferry in Bremerton that will take you to Seattle DT.
From Seattle to Mt. Rainier national park, we are talking about at least a 2 1/2 hr drive.
For a 1st time visitor, its just strange to me that someone would want to go visit Ocean Shores (unless they know someone from there), there's really nothing going on there. Ocean Shores does have like a.... Kite festival-- so I guess that would be fun. Ocean Shores does have its own little airport, maybe check into that?
Going on 101 to Port Angeles is definitely scenic, but again P.A. is small town with not that much going on. However, the night sky is very beautiful there (its very clean).
I do agree that the Pacific ocean is much more scenic in Oregon. Look into Pacific City, OR pictures and you'll see what we mean.
I'm a little confused by all the time in Ocean Shores. Not much there except the Pacific. A small casino, but that is about it. Even the ocean beach is not particularly attractive. The Oregon Coast is much more scenic.
The Olympic National Park can be a nice trip. Depends on your interests...the rain forest is unique, and Hurricane Ridge is scenic.
If you have never been to the Pacific Northwest, I question your itinerary. Seattle, Puget Sound, and perhaps Mt. Rainier would be much more interesting. One night in Seattle doesn't do it justice. Sorry, just being honest here.
To some extent I agree with allocating that much time at Ocean Shores, but we don't know the rest of the story either, but I would certainly question the suggestion that the Olympic National Park is a two stop shop. It really depends what what you're trying to do here. The northern part of the WA Coast can be quite beautiful.
Here's a great guide from the Park itself suggesting stops depending upon the number of days or hours you'll be there.
And on your way back to Bremerton, I'd highly recommend a side trip to Port Townsend. It's a small waterfront city that oozes artistic charm. Great music scene in the bars there too.,
Port Townsend.
Instead of going to Bremerton, another alternative would be to take the Pt. Townsend/ Ferry to Keystone (You must have reservations, ESPECIALLY in July) Then drive to one of my favorite places on earth. Deception Pass.
Photos can't do just tice to the majesty of this place.
From there, you can easily skip over to Chuckanut Drive and enjoy spectacular views along the coast overlooking the San Juan Islands.
Chuckanut drops you into the village of Fairhaven (Part of Bellingham) Lots of shops and places to eat. While you're there take a walk Boulevard Park. An amazing boardwalk literally out over the water. From there it's a 90 minute drive back to Seattle.
If sticking more or less with your proposed schedule, my suggestion would be to begin your journey north from Ocean Shores a bit earlier, and spend the night of the 10th at Lake Quinault Lodge: Lake Quinault Lodge, Olympic National Forest, WA
For several reasons. Unless some compelling reason to be there, you may find several hours contemplating Ocean Shores is sufficient. As for the ocean, your route will take you right next to it further north, in arguably a more scenic local. The better of part of the west coast of the Olympic peninsula is contained within Olympic National Park. Before leaving the vicinity of Ocean Shores, you might wish a brief excursion through Aberdeen/Hoquiam. Not because it is any kind of tourist mecca, hardly, but still perhaps of some interest if looking at the state.
Lake Quinault Lodge is a beautiful place in a lovely location. I can't imagine anything in Ocean Shores would even come close. It also provides good access for hiking into Olympic National Park. Strategically, it would also place you further north, with more time to explore elsewhere.
On the 11th you should almost certainly take the time for a detour into the Hoh Rain Forest within Olympic National Park. That area is actually probably the reason most people venture so far out in the middle of nowhere.
Not too far from the trailhead at Hoh Rain Forest is a special place established by Gordon Hempton. It is called 'One Square Inch' and a place denoted by no more than a small simple stone. The idea being that at least in this one spot absolute natural silence can reign: One square inch: Preserving silence from within the Olympic National Park
Whether on the 11th or 12th, you should definitely take the time to visit Hurricane Ridge within Olympic National Park. It is a relatively short, easy and beautiful drive from Port Angeles, affording a superb view of the Olympic mountains. There is a simple lodge offering some services at the top (but no lodging). From there one might also take a brief hike to the north, with just over the ridge another great view, this north across the Strait of Juan de Fuca. You surely will not regret the visit, and it may prove the highlight of your trip.
While visiting Bremerton on the night of the 12th could be okay, it may prove far more interesting to continue south on US 101 along the east coast of the Olympic peninsula. It is ever so beautiful, arguably more so than many aspects of the west coast. You could easily end up in Olympia, or elsewhere, and surely with better options in high-end lodging.
You may wish to spend the better part of the 13th in exploring the greater environs of Seattle. There is a lot to see, and possibly more importantly to get a sense of. So this should probably include a visit to both sides of Lake Washington. Maybe beyond.
Given your interests, one's itinerary could be quite a bit different. The Olympic peninsula is magnificent, absolutely, but it is best explored by someone with an innate love of wilderness. Those of more of an urban persuasion might think you crazy not to spend more time in Seattle. If not spending all your time driving is understandable, those wishing to see more of Washington certainly could in that length of time. If perhaps wishing to bypass the better part of eastern Washington, if for no more than distance and time constraints, one might still visit Bellingham to the north, perhaps even Vancouver B.C., or to the southeast of Seattle, Mount Rainier National Park. It would also be interesting to cross Snoqualmie Pass on I-90, just for the lovely drive. But then also possible to visit such towns as Leavenworth, and in a large loop find one's way back into Seattle via another pass. There are also so many small and interesting towns surrounding Seattle, in all directions. This might extend to such places as Whidbey island, which would reveal another interesting aspect of Washington state, of island life, even if you never get as far as the San Juan islands. At least as a tourist, one enchanting aspect of Washington are the ferries of Puget Sound. If visiting Whidbey island you might take one from Mukilteo. You needn't return that way, but could indeed drive from the island at its far northern end, and in so doing marvel at Deception Pass. It is a beautiful place that is somehow ever so captivating.
And if never venturing far beyond the Olympic peninsula, then well found as well, its mountains the home of the Gods.
I am not in agreement with those that are saying that the Oregon Coast is more scenic than the Washington Coast...I think that the coastal part of the Olympic National Park has the most scenic beaches in the world.
My favorite area is the hiking trails that run alongside the Skokomish River, outside of Shelton. Enjoy your trip!
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.