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More questions about Seattle and the state of Oregon
I am in a real planning mood and it isn't even snowing yet.
Hubby is now thinking of going to Seattle and wants to tour Oregon as well. We went to the State of Oregon and Spokan but never to the city of Seattle for our honeymoon. We drove there and went through the covered bridges. It was soo romantic (without kids) in April. Now he wants to go back (along with going to a million other places).
Can anyone give me ideas what to do with our kids if we went down to the State of Washington and Oregon? I want to go to Puget Sound (is that the correct spelling?). But what would there be there to do for the kids???? My kids will be 6 and 11 if we go. I mean it was exciting for us without kids but can we do it with kids? We would fly and then rent a car while down there.
Thanks again for all your info
Last edited by Starbright; 07-20-2011 at 01:47 PM..
I don't know how far into Oregon you plan to go. But the aquarium in Newport (I think that's right -- it's been a while) was really nice.
Our favorite stop was the "End of the Oregon Trail Museum" in Oregon City. Very hands on and great for kids. DD wasn't yet 2 and we had to drag her out.
Also, be sure to drive the Columbia River gorge -- out to Multnomah Falls, Mt. Hood. Beautiful!
How much of Oregon do you want to see? The eastern part of the state is mostly desert and there isn't much to see over there (sorry to those that live there, but there really isn't! That said . . . my whole family lives in western Oregon. )
Depending on how far south you want to go, and if you haven't ever been there before, you really should see Crater Lake. In the south/mid Willamette (will-AA-met ) Valley, which runs from a bit south of Eugene (where my parents live!) up to Portland, you'll find a majority of the covered bridges (most of which were built by my great grandfather and his brother! ) Portland is a great city . . . there is a zoo and rose garden there that are nice. (and there was an article in the PPer newsletter not too long ago about Portland)
If you head over to the coast from Portland . . . Astoria is a lovely town. The Fort Clatsop National Memorial is there (which is the Lewis and Clark Expedition's winter encampment once they arrived in Oregon) You may be able to see sea lions on boat docks in Astoria also (every time I have visited my sister who lives there, we have seen them on docks near the Comfort Inn and Safeway grocery store!) Also in Astoria is the Columbia River Maritime Museum, the Astoria Tower (which offers awesome views of the area) and the house from the movie The Goonies!
Further down the coast . . . Seaside is a nice little touristy town. Cannon Beach is gorgeous (don't miss seeing Haystack Rock and its tide pools!). Tillamook has a GREAT aviation museum, not to mention the Tillamook Cheese Factory (where you get samples! ) There's an outlet mall and a cool glass blowing art studio in Lincoln City. The Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport is very nice as well. The Heceta Head Lighthouse is in Yachats and though it is also a B&B, they do tours during the summer.
As for Washington . . . Seattle has a TON to do. You mentioned that you wanted to see the Puget Sound and by visiting Seattle, you'll definitely see it. (the Sound is really large . . . stretches from Olympia up through where I live on Whidbey Island. ) Seattle must-do's are definitely the Space Needle and Pike Place Market . . . the Pacific Science Center is also there (right next to the Space Needle) There is also the Seattle Aquarium. The Ballard Locks (aka Chittenden Locks, for googling purposes ) have fish ladders where you can see the fish going between the Sound and Lake Washington. There are ferries you could ride (one goes just across the sound to Bremerton, where there is a US Navy base) and there are also boat tours of Seattle.
If you drive about an hour and a half up I-5, take exit 230, head west out Hwy. 20 and follow the signs, you could come out to Whidbey Island and see the Deception Pass Bridge, which is one of the most visited place and THE most photographed "attraction" in the state of WA! You can stop along the road and take photos of the bridge as well as walk over the bridge (the views are awesome but I can't do the walk due to my extreme fear of heights ). There are also jet boat tours through the Pass . . . sometimes you can see seals, dolphins, bald eagles, peregrine falcons and whales (we have orcas and greys up here)! We haven't done any of them yet but it is on our list to do before the end of the season and we will more than likely do a tour at the end of August.
Can you tell me more about Puget Sound? I have read about it in Debbie Malcombers books and I am curious about it. There are islands there correct? Are there any that tourists should see??? Are they smaller islands like the ones near Vancouver Island BC?
Where are the "big" trees? Is that in one of these states or is hubby getting it mixed up for California.
How insane is highway 101 during the summer???? Are we crazy to do this mid July to late Aug? (don't know when we would actually go yet)
My kids want to go to Seattle because ICarly is supposedly based out of that city LOL.
A million thanks everyone!!! I think this is more plausable than going to the South.
How long are you planning to be gone?
We were in Portland for almost a week for a family reunion, and left so much undone. I wouldn't think of doing Seattle and Oregon in a single trip unless it was at least 2 weeks.
We would be down in that area for about 3 wks. Thinking of Seattle for a wk, then Oregon for 10 days.
What is the woodland zoo like?
Been looking at the Homewood Suites in Seattle. Is that a good one or is there another one that would be better? We really liked HOme in Orlando and with the light supper and breakfast, it saves alot. In Oregon we might look at a beach house for a few days.
Been looking at the Homewood Suites in Seattle. Is that a good one or is there another one that would be better? We really liked HOme in Orlando and with the light supper and breakfast, it saves alot. In Oregon we might look at a beach house for a few days.
We'll be able to give you a first hand review of the Homewood Suites Convention Center in Seattle by the end of September, as we're going to be spending two nights there, while we're in the city. Yes, I know it's not long, but it's all the time we've got there...
Since our summer is not the warmest or clearest this year, I would go to the Seattle Center but not go up in the Space Needle. You'll get much better views at Kerry Park on Lower Queen Anne and its a much better place to have your pic taken with the Space Needle in the background. More iCarlyish! I'd also do Pike Place and a Duck Tour. We have one of the best Duck Tours around.
Someone mentioned Deception Pass and I'd also think about taking a ferry over to to Port Angeles or driving up to Hurricane Ridge in the Olympic National Forest. The hike up to the top to look at Mt. St. Helens is pretty spectacular too.
The Boeing plant in Everett has a Future of Flight Aviation Center and Tour which takes you to overlook the floor while they're making planes, and the Museum of Flight also is a great place to visit.
For Oregon, I too would recommend Multnomah Falls and Astoria is also one of our favorite spots. Don't forget a stop in VooDoo Donuts while your there. The line is usually out the door, but well worth it. The Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum in McMinville just got done adding new waterslides where you slide through fuselages. The Spruce Goose is also housed there.
Powells Books is the largest independent bookstore in the world and a great place to visit in Portland and the drive up to Mt. Hood is gorgeous.
Both cities have an underground tour, but I've only been on the Seattle one and Wow! what you learn. As far as the zoo, Tacoma's Point Defiance Zoo and the Oregon Zoo are wonderful. Oregon has a train at its zoo that takes you on a beautiful trip to the Rose Garden.
Can you tell me more about Puget Sound? I have read about it in Debbie Malcombers books and I am curious about it. There are islands there correct? Are there any that tourists should see??? Are they smaller islands like the ones near Vancouver Island BC?
Whidbey Island (where I live) is the northernmost and biggest island in the sound and most "touristy" with Deception Pass.
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Where are the "big" trees? Is that in one of these states or is hubby getting it mixed up for California.
The big Sequoia and Redwood trees (like the one you can drive though) are in California . . . but there are some big spruces, cedars and firs in Olympic National Park, across the sound west of Seattle.
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Are we crazy to do this mid July to late Aug? (don't know when we would actually go yet)
I can't speak on the Hwy. 101 situation as we haven't driven 101 in WA . . . and haven't driven 101 in Oregon in ages. I can report back on 101 in OR in a few weeks though as we will be driving 101 from Astoria to Newport in a couple of weeks.
Weather wise . . . I am just hoping for your sake that if you come next July/August that the weather is better than it has been this year. We're well below normal summer temps up here and it's been overcast and rainy a lot too. As an example . . . the high in Seattle today is only supposed to be cloudy and 64F and the high here on Whidbey Island is clear but only 60-62F. I am hoping summer comes like it is supposed to next year since we've gotten cheated out of it this year.
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Thankyou everyone!!!!
I don't know how to do the "quotey" things from one post to another, so bear with me as I try to ask questions from your post.
Hubby does want to go to California to see the trees. So will have to try to add that in too. I am hoping for 3 wks down on the coast. Gotta find out how many miles that is from the area we are in. We like driving so that isn't a big thing, but just the time taken away. The kids will like the trees. Wasn't that where Frosty the Racoon to Remember was written from????
Chris: what is the underground tours like? What do they show you That book store..I gotta go. I LOVE books!!!! I want to see the airplanes being made so that will be huge on our list.
Sarah: do you take a car or go by foot to your island? Is it similiar in size to Vancouver Island? Please let me know what that one highway is like once you go on it. The fish area or the Pier....what is that called again? It is suppose to have good placess to eat from the romance books I have read.
When we went down to Oregon/Washington in April 1997, I was looking for "spring". We still had snow on the ground (up to my knees-unreal!)for our wedding and snow fluries afterwards. Well, the coast was cold and rainy too and I found some Azaleas but didn't find much sunshine. So, anything better than that, and I will be happy.
We are really looking forward to this trip. I still want to go down south but I think this trip will be abit easier to handle for the kids. Maybe the next yr we will do Florida and the Southern parts.
Hubby does want to go to California to see the trees. So will have to try to add that in too. I am hoping for 3 wks down on the coast. Gotta find out how many miles that is from the area we are in. We like driving so that isn't a big thing, but just the time taken away. The kids will like the trees. Wasn't that where Frosty the Racoon to Remember was written from????
The biggest amount of Redwoods is in Yosemite National Park (which is 4 hours or so east of San Francisco) However, Redwood National Park is off 101 near Crescent City, which isn't too far south of the Oregon border. The biggest Sequoias are in Sequoia National Park, which is 3 hours south of Yosemite.
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Sarah: do you take a car or go by foot to your island? Is it similiar in size to Vancouver Island?
Whidbey Island is much smaller than Vancouver Island . . . about 40 miles long, and about 12 miles wide. The biggest town on the island is Oak Harbor, which is on the north end nearest to Deception Pass. We've got a Navy base here and a lot of nice little parks . . . and a Flintstone car.
You come by car. You can either take the ferry from Mukilteo (north of Seattle) to Clinton, which is at the far end of the island, and drive the length of the island north . . . or you can drive north on I-5 from Seattle to exit 230 and head west, following the signs to Whidbey Island. Once you pass over the Deception Pass Bridge, you are on the island. Also, if you are on the Olympic Peninsula, you can take a ferry from there (Port Townsend) to Coupeville, which is just south of Oak Harbor on the west side of Whidbey Island.
Like I mentioned before, you can park along the road (or in the small lot on one end of the bridge) and walk across the bridge (the views are gorgeous). There are also jet boat tours of the Pass as well as the state park that you can picnic at or walk on the beach. My in-laws are coming to visit at the end of August so I am fairly sure we will be trying one of the jet boat tours out and I will have to report back on that.
Here's a map of the Puget Sound and its areas. The water from clear down by Olympia all the way up to Mount Vernon is the Sound.
Up towards the top, you'll see Oak Harbor . . . that is the top part of Whidbey Island. You might also see a tiny black line at the top of the island, and that is where the Deception Pass Bridge would be (I drew it in there. ).
At the bottom of the island, I drew in a little blue line to show where the Clinton/Mukilteo ferry goes across.
I'm not sure how the "quotey" thing works yet either.
For the Underground Tour, you learn how Seattle got its start. You go under the city to what used to be the city and walk along the old sidewalks and see the old store fronts and such. They explain, why the roads had to be raised and eventually the city too. They usually do it with quite a bit of humor.
Don't forget to ask for a map when you get to the bookstore in Portland. Its so huge they have a great map. Be prepared though, the time goes fast while you're there and you'll never want to leave.
Since you are heading down to California, there is a nice animal farm in Bandon, OR. Its the West Coast Game Park and its got a lot of animals you can touch. Great for kids!
For the Underground Tour, you learn how Seattle got its start. You go under the city to what used to be the city and walk along the old sidewalks and see the old store fronts and such. They explain, why the roads had to be raised and eventually the city too. They usually do it with quite a bit of humor.
Wow, that does sound really interesting. I'm off to find out more now.
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In the south/mid Willamette (will-AA-met 
) Portland is a great city . . . there is a zoo and rose garden there that are nice. (and there was an article in the PPer newsletter not too long ago about Portland)
). There are also jet boat tours through the Pass . . . sometimes you can see seals, dolphins, bald eagles, peregrine falcons and whales (we have orcas and greys up here)! We haven't done any of them yet but it is on our list to do before the end of the season and we will more than likely do a tour at the end of August. 
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So will have to try to add that in too. I am hoping for 3 wks down on the coast. Gotta find out how many miles that is from the area we are in. We like driving so that isn't a big thing, but just the time taken away. The kids will like the trees. Wasn't that where Frosty the Racoon to Remember was written from???? 
That book store..I gotta go. I LOVE books!!!! I want to see the airplanes being made so that will be huge on our list. 
Christine
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