"Mimi" wrote in message
news:3-2dnd5zeI6mctDanZ2dnUVZ_uCinZ2d@comcast.com...
>
> "Calif Bill" wrote in message
> news:13krj2ucslf7d3c@corp.supernews.com...
>>
>> "Mimi" wrote in message
>> news:FoWdnUdyY-HG49HanZ2dnUVZ_rGrnZ2d@comcast.com...
>>>
>>> "Calif Bill" wrote in message
>>> news:13kne0pq6jqga65@corp.supernews.com...
>>>>
>>>> "teamgig" wrote in message
>>>> news:df3f87cc-e9c8-4887-9f89-9b1f74648d08@e25g2000prg.googlegroups.com...
>>>>> Greetings,
>>>>>
>>>>> I'm going to have about six days with my family (including two late-
>>>>> teen kids) next summer. We're planning to fly in and out of Seattle.
>>>>> We'd like to hit the highlights of both Seattle and Portland, plus
>>>>> visit some of the surrounding nature areas. Having never been in the
>>>>> area, I'd appreciate your comments and suggestions.
>>>>>
>>>>> I'm thinking of this rough itinerary for a loop tour. I don't have
>>>>> any accommodations booked yet.
>>>>>
>>>>> Monday - Fly into Seattle early in the morning, spend day sightseeing
>>>>> in Seattle - stay in Seattle
>>>>> Tuesday & Wednesday - Olympic National Park - stay in the park?
>>>>> Thursday - Drive to Portland, sightseeing - stay in Portland
>>>>> Friday - Mt St Helens, Mt Ranier National Park - stay?
>>>>> Saturday - More sightseeing in Seattle
>>>>> Sunday - Fly out
>>>>>
>>>>> This gives us three days in the cities and three in the parks. Does
>>>>> this seem about right?
>>>>>
>>>>> Do you have any suggestions for alternate routes or stops?
>>>>>
>>>>> I'm most uncertain about the National Parks. Do I have the right
>>>>> ones? Is it feasible to see both Mt St Helens and Mt Ranier in a day,
>>>>> or is that just too much? Perhaps I should just pick one ...?
>>>>>
>>>>> Thanks in advance for the help.
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Do some research about jetboat rides in the Seattle / Portland area. I
>>>> know they run them out of Grants Pass and Gold Beach, OR. The kids and
>>>> you will love a white water river adventure.
>>> I can't think of any jet boat rides in the vicinity of either Seattle or
>>> Portland. (Thank goodness! Nasty noisy unevironmental things.) You can
>>> take a passenger boat from downtown Seattle to Victoria, Canada. This
>>> might be a nice alternative to Portland -- assuming you have the proper
>>> documentration for re-entering the US. Victoria, the capital of British
>>> Columbia, is a cute small city with olde English charm. Esay to walk
>>> around, lots of flowers, great museum that kids like, afternoon tea at
>>> the Empress Hotel.
>>>
>>> Another poster mentioned the boat trip from downtown Seattle to Blake
>>> Island for a salmon feast and Northwest Indian show. This is expensive
>>> but good. And there are whale-watching trips also. I think getting out
>>> on the water is an essential part of experiencing this part of the
>>> country.
>>>
>>> Bobb, September weather this year was atypical. As for fog in the
>>> mountains, maybe low-hanging clouds? To the OP, summer in the Pacific
>>> Northwest usually has very good weather from midJuly into September. And
>>> very little rain. But rain is possible.
>>>
>>> Seeing both Mt Rainier and Mt St. Helens on the same day seems a bit
>>> much to me. Mt. St. Helens lends itself to a quick (half day)
>>> in-and-out, but Mt Rainier deserves at least a full day.
>>>
>>> And driving around the Olympic peninsula (the loop) and Olympic National
>>> Park in 2 days seems an awful lot of driving. Have you timed this trip
>>> on one of the mapping programs, like www.mapquest.com? The best stops
>>> are Hurricane Ridge (ear to ear snowy mountain peaks), Lakes Crescent
>>> and Quinault and the Pacific coast shore. (Another way to get to
>>> Victoria is by boat from Port Angeles, which is at about 12 o'clock on
>>> the circular drive around the peninsula and near the entrance to the
>>> park at Hurricane Ridge.)
>>>
>>> As usual, the more you find out about a destination, the more you want
>>> to do. Gotta prioritize.
>>>
>>> Marianne
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>> Different choices for different people. And you raft the rivers? Using
>> facilities paid for by the power boaters?
>
> Kayak, not raft. What facilities?
>
>>Teen kids would like a boat ride more than a trip to a museum.
>
> Depends on the kid. And the museum. Somebody else recommended the
> Experience Music Project rock museum in Seattle. And did you give your
> kids everything you thought they'd like?
>
> Marianne
>
>
Yes, a Kayak and you most likely launch at boat ramps.
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