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I arrived in Seattle a few hours ago and I am waiting for my friends and cousins to arrive at a later point today from the San Francisco Bay Area, Chicago, and Portland.
I'm excited to see the United States again, this time from a visitors point of view. Anyhow, the Pacific Northwest is my favorite region of North America, by so far and away. I have a genuine love for all 4 of the major cities in the Cascadian Corridor; Vancouver, Victoria, Seattle, and Portland.
Anyhow, give recommendations on things you've either seen, done, or experienced in the cities of the Pacific Northwest that you would recommend for others to try. I was in the Pacific Northwest just last winter and had a great time but didn't get to try out every type of food, or hike on some of the better trails, or go camping outdoors, and the like last year due to limited time. This time I'd like to try more new things and experience more of what the Pacific Northwest has to offer.
We have our own plans already but figured that there is nothing wrong in asking and getting some recommendations that we may have overlooked otherwise. Give me some of your recommendations for food, sites to see, areas to go hiking, hookah bars to go to, other fun things to do in the areas.
One thing, we will likely not be going to Portland this time around since we are low on time but we are definitely staying in Vancouver and Seattle, also spending a fair amount of time in Victoria.
One place I absolutely love is 8 oz in Capitol Hill... the burgers there are awesome.
If you've never taken a ferry to Bainbridge Island, I recommend that.
Cool, yet underrated neighborhoods are Fremont and Ballard.
If you guys want some spectacular views of the city, check out Kerry Park in Queen Anne or Alki Beach in West Seattle.
The San Juan islands (specifically Oracs island) is the most beautiful place I have ever been. If it wasn't for the temperature you wouldn't even know that it was winter. So many madrones!!
Stay in the SEA area. There is so much more to offer, but you have to get out and grab it, not let it grab you. I guess this would be called part of the NW experience. Enjoy and remember that nobody is going to offer you free tours this time of year. In fact, this time of year is the worst time of year to visit Seattle, but as I have told many visitors, this is the best time to visit, as you will see Seattle at its worst, and enjoy the lowest hotel rates, right up till about December 21st.
I was also going to suggest taking the ferry, but you'll probably do that if you're going to Victoria. If you can take a longer ferry ride though the San Juan Islands from the US, instead of from Vancouver, it's a wonderful trip and you will pass by some islands that are nature preserves with wildlife.
In Vancouver, Stanley Park is fun. I used to roller skate around it in my younger days.
Vancouver is a great place to buy beautiful boots and sweaters. They were definitely more unique and higher quality than anything I could find in the US when I lived in that area, so if that interests you at all, do some shopping in Vancouver, too.
The Grouse Mountain skyride is amazing and a little scary :-)
Location: northern Vermont - previously NM, WA, & MA
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While in Victoria, if you end up indoors for a while definitely check out the Royal BC Museum. It exceeded my expectations and I killed about 3-4 hours there looking at the exhibits.
The weather in Seattle so far has been the EXACT same as what it was for me in London the last two weeks. That's okay though, I've enjoyed my trip a lot so far.
Looking forward to more tomorrow.
Last edited by Trafalgar Law; 11-25-2015 at 07:14 PM..
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