Sorry that you don't know me, but I'm here via Allie, bc I love travel plans and reading about people going fun places!
For your trip in the Pacific Northwest, start with Portland, as you must go to Powell's books in Portland...it's half a city block of pure books, as far as the eye can see. So much fun. And their museum isn't bad either. Ooo, and def go to Mt. St. Helens on the drive up to Washington as it is smoking and ashing every day now, I think, and should continue to do so. THat will be fun for the kids.
I recommend driving up the ocean highway(101 I think), as it is gorgeous and takes you through Olympic National Park. It may be cold, but oh well. Kalaloch, right on the ocean, is a beautiful place to stay. Cabins will run you about 180 (high end) a night, or their campground nearby is great. Near the ocean and a must see is the Hoh River Valley rainforest, and very near to that is Lake Crescent, a gorgeous lake and one of the prettier things in Olympic National Park.
Obviously in Seattle, see Pike's Place. It is a good place for kids, as there is lots of food and things to see. They also have harbour tours which are quite nice (though with a ferry ride you can accomplish the same thing for much less). See Mt. Rainier, but see it from the Space Needle in Seattle, and save your mountain expeditions for the rest of the Cascades. Glacier Lake and the surrounding area have a lot of hikes and stuff that are great for kids. Drive up highway 2 to see it...it takes you through a lot of small towns and is so much nicer than the interstate. You could stop in Snohomish for good antiquing if you're into that.
And, a definite reccomendation are the San Juan islands...they are stunning and a short stop away from Vancouver on the Ferry system. I went whale watching there a few months ago, and, while the whales evaded us, the boat ride alone was gorgeous enough to justify the cost.
La, can you tell I spent pretty much every summer of my life in that area? Hope y'all have fun exploring.
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ninetydegrees
no subject
on 2006-08-23 07:11 am (UTC)For your trip in the Pacific Northwest, start with Portland, as you must go to Powell's books in Portland...it's half a city block of pure books, as far as the eye can see. So much fun. And their museum isn't bad either. Ooo, and def go to Mt. St. Helens on the drive up to Washington as it is smoking and ashing every day now, I think, and should continue to do so. THat will be fun for the kids.
I recommend driving up the ocean highway(101 I think), as it is gorgeous and takes you through Olympic National Park. It may be cold, but oh well. Kalaloch, right on the ocean, is a beautiful place to stay. Cabins will run you about 180 (high end) a night, or their campground nearby is great. Near the ocean and a must see is the Hoh River Valley rainforest, and very near to that is Lake Crescent, a gorgeous lake and one of the prettier things in Olympic National Park.
Obviously in Seattle, see Pike's Place. It is a good place for kids, as there is lots of food and things to see. They also have harbour tours which are quite nice (though with a ferry ride you can accomplish the same thing for much less). See Mt. Rainier, but see it from the Space Needle in Seattle, and save your mountain expeditions for the rest of the Cascades. Glacier Lake and the surrounding area have a lot of hikes and stuff that are great for kids. Drive up highway 2 to see it...it takes you through a lot of small towns and is so much nicer than the interstate. You could stop in Snohomish for good antiquing if you're into that.
And, a definite reccomendation are the San Juan islands...they are stunning and a short stop away from Vancouver on the Ferry system. I went whale watching there a few months ago, and, while the whales evaded us, the boat ride alone was gorgeous enough to justify the cost.
La, can you tell I spent pretty much every summer of my life in that area? Hope y'all have fun exploring.