PNW Tour

[Scott T-Bird]

To all my Pacific Northwest Friends ... Sue and I are planning our trip to Oregon/Washington this spring from May 5 to May 12 (Sat. to Sat.). We will be in Portland on the 6th for my son's graduation ceremony and then planning an itinerary for a short tour. We have to be back in Portland by Friday night to catch an early flight out on Saturday.

So, high on our list is a drive up the coastline around Olympic NP and a ferry ride from Port Angeles to Victoria, BC. Then a ferry ride back to some destination in Washington on Puget Sound is undecided.

Driving is one of my favorite activities so distances don't bother me .

But, we do want to take some time to relax. What should we not miss in Olympic NP? Is a drive out to Neah Bay and beyond worthwhile? Is a day and half sufficient in Victoria/ Vancouver Island (I know the island is huge so not planning on doing much more than seeing a few sights centered around Victoria)? What should we expect weather-wise? Anything from snow to 70's sunshine? What is a must-see destination following Victoria that we can reach by ferry? Is the drive south skirting Mt. Ranier NP worthwhile?

Sue likes short hikes and scenery so I need to do my best to make her happy! (She also wants to see Forks for those of you who know what that's all about).

I appreciate all suggestions!

 

[Phil Herring]

Mt. Rainier is required. a day and a half around Victoria is enough. On the way from Seattle to the ferry in Port Angeles you can take a detour to Hurricane Ridge, a short drive out of Port Angeles. Great view but only if it's sunny. It's also worth it to continue a little bit past Port Angeles to drive by Crescent Lake.

Weather in May can be absolutely anything. 70 degrees would be a miracle. We usually get a week of good weather in May and if you hit it, good for you. Otherwise expect some drizzle and temps in the mid- to high- 50's.

 

[kloudie1]

Ferry to San Juan .. Enjoy Friday harbor.. Drive up to the winery then on to Roche Harbor.. Walk the docks.. English Camp.. Drive along the west side to the south end.. Visit the national park and Fourth of July Beach area.. Circle back to Friday and ferry back.. Beautiful place.. We stayed at the Highland Inn.. lhttp://www.highlandinn.com/
and had a fine time exploring..
EDIT: Or to Orcas and Mt. Constitution and on to the old resort at Rosario..

 

[FastOlson]

Good ideas already being posted....
I would only add that we stayed twice last year at the Quileute Resort @ LaPush.
I had been into the LaPush marina in '09, during a delivery, and really liked the friendly little village with the awesome views and great hiking.
http://www.quileutenation.org/

Resort url: http://www.quileuteoceanside.com/

Good paved hiway there, 14 miles west from the intersection @ Forks, WA.

The whole drive up hwy 101 is very pretty, and there are many attractions to pull over and see n photograph.

Hope you enjoy your visit!
L

ps: edit: add cam link -- http://www.forkswa.com/webcam/netcam.jpg

 

[steve stark]

Scott,
If you would like to maximize the "territory covered" you might consider the following route:

Leave Portland going east on I84 and take in the Columbia River Gorge, touch a bit of the high desert in Eastern Oregon and Washington by going north on Hwy 97. You will be circling around the east side of Adams, Rainier, etc. Go up throught the Yakima Valley, take I82 West into the Seattle area. This is a long drive, but certainly covers a lot of variety in terrain, climate, culture, etc.

Then you should follow all of the previous advice on the Olympic Peninsula, Van Isle, etc. Barb and I live in Portland and frequently drive to Puget Sound where the boat is and I-5 North is just not the most spectacular sequence of vistas!

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

If you are in Victoria, you can take a ferry across to Vancouver, B.C. You can see the sights of Vancouver or take to the North Shore mountains for some hiking. The mountains are only 20 min. from downtown but are still rugged. Lots of hiking trails. Should still be snow on them at the higher levels but the hiking in the lower parts is beautiful.

Just remember, Vancouver is the most beautiful place on earth, on both days it doesn't rain.

 

[Scott T-Bird]

I've been to Vancouver ...

a long time ago in 1980, I think, but I know it was the year BEFORE they opened Blackcomb. We skied Whistler, and even managed one heli-ski day despite the near-constant cloud cover. I seem to remember a 70-degree day and sunshine in Vancouver in March on our departure.

But our trip is too short to make it to Vancouver. I think Victoria fits nicely with a little circuit around Olympic NP. Our plan is to head north from Portland along the coast, which is our first priority. That side trip to La Push looks very enticing and I will discuss this with Sue, but it would shorten our capability to see much on the return to Portland.

Phil, we will see Crescent Lake on our way to Port Angeles and I like the suggestion of Hurricane Ridge ... it looks like there is a ski area up there (open in May?).

On the return, I think there is just enough time to see Mt. Rainier but not enough to swing east out to The Dalles/Hood River/ Mt. Hood. I'm glad you said Mt. Rainier is worth the trip. It looks like we could drive thru the Park and get back to I-5 relatively easily. There does not appear to be a direct route south to Hood River, which I would have liked, but it looks like a huge expanse of wilderness.

The Gorge area is an ideal playground for all the things I love, like windsurfing, skiing, mtn. biking, etc. It deserves a dedicated trip of much longer duration! My spoiled kids got their chances during summer ski camps on Mt. Hood. At some point in time, it's my turn!

 

[Tim C350 April IV]

International Ferry trip from Victoria (Sydney) to Anacortes, via Friday Harbor - beware that you may need reservations for this trip, and it only runs about once a day. Also, because you are leaving and (apparently more importantly, want to come back to our homeland) you'll need passports or possibly one of those "passport cards" for that trip to Canada.

Good Luck!
Tim Brogan
April IV C350 #68
Seattle

 

[Mark Maulden]

I second Tim. Take a day and ride the ferries from Victoria to Fri Hbr/Anacortes and even some of the other Islands. Then you'll sorta know what sailing is like around here. From Anacortes, you can be on I-5 in 1/2 hr and about an hour and 15mn north of Seattle. You need to extend your time!!!! I'll buy ya a glass of wine on the way back!!

 

[Stu Jackson]

The ferry COHO makes the run from Pt. Angeles to Victoria. They take reservations. We need them to make it back from Victoria to PA at the end of our yearly Xmas trip to our family on Vancouver Island each year. You may need reservations to head north if you go that way. Nice trip. The Columbia River Gorge is a great car trip. Don't forget to stop at Bonneville Dam, great museum, rich history.

The trip up the coast on 1 is not worth it, IMHO. The road is well inland for much of the way, and you get tired pretty quickly of the clear cut forests.

Spend your time around Puget Sound or do the Gorge, hard to do both in a week without stoping to smell the roses.

 

[Scott T-Bird]

Yes! to San Juan Islands!

We've been reading about the need for reservations, passports, etc. We were also reading about San Juan Islands and decided that we want to spend a day on either Orcas or San Juan Island. We are thinking that overnight reservations could include Port Angeles, Victoria and one of the islands and ferry trips would be PA-Vict & Sidney-San Juans-Anacortes. I like the idea of meeting up with Mark in Anacortes!

We are spending the first 2 days and nights in Portland with my son and we will need to spend our last night in Portland to catch the flight out. That leaves us with just one un-determined night/location. We want to spend a day in Olympic NP and Sue wants to see the coast. We also want to at least get a good view of Mt. Rainier on our drive back. I'm thinking that we may be trying for too much if we spend a day and night in Victoria.

Stu, I wondered about the drive along the coast ... I love driving new (to me) roads anywhere in the country (clear-cuts and all) but if it is too long and uneventful, we might have to re-think it. The thing is, we like the idea of making a circle with the trip and we want to avoid driving up and down the interstate corridor if we can.

 

[Scott T-Bird]

We're thinking that we will pack for damp and cold and not bring anything related to warm-weather wear so as to influence the weather Gods in our favor. If we have to buy sunglasses on the trip, we will be happy! - Better yet, I'm going to pack just for summer, Sue just for winter ... I'm usually the lucky one!

 

[Eddie7045]

Scott, Multnomah Falls in the heart of the Gourge is

only minutes East of Portland. If you like good brews, Portland is a micro-brew heaven. Great food and quaint shops in the various "districts" of Portland. Buchart Gardens between Victoria and Sydney is worth seeing. It was developed out of an old quarry which makes it all the more impressive. I would agree that a loop through Port Angeles and then taking the Anachortes ferry is a good plan. Where you are going it will not get hot. A good water repellant windbreaker would be most handy. Note that distances in the Western states are great and that on small highways such as Hwy 101 you will need more time than on the Interstates.

 

[fox islander]

Chi Chi beach and the Hoh River rain forest....both close to FastOlson's destinations.

 

[Stephen Trapani]

Check out the big ships when you drive through Bremerton?

 

[Stu Jackson]

Scott, I just realized that getting up to the Gorge is just a day trip outta Portland. Unless you do the loop earlier suggested way out east then north, which is nice, but not a must-see, then if you want to, just day trip up to Bonneville.