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Help plan our family vacation in Washington state!

post #1 of 12
6/4/10 at 11:42pm
Thread Starter 
We are planning a vacation to Washington this August. I've never been before and would love any ideas or suggestions.

My boys will be 9 & 10. Their interests fall to science (and Pokemon) more than sports. My daughter is 5 and mostly girly. We enjoy some outdoors activities, but are not up to super long hikes.

We are flying to Seattle and staying there for two days. I am thinking of visiting the Space Needle, Pike Place Market, the Pacific Science Center, and maybe either the zoo or aquarium.

We are then renting an RV and traveling to see:
Mt. Ranier (have reservations at Cougar Rock campground)
Mt. Saint Helens
Kalaloch Beach (have reservations at Kalaloch Beach campground)
Olympic National Park (looking for a campsite near the Port Angeles side)

We are also thinking about taking the ferry to Vancouver, mostly so the kids can visit Canada for the first time. I thought we'd go to the Vancouver Lookout and visit the Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese garden. Any other ideas? Is there enough to do near where the ferry docks that we can walk to what we want to visit (Chinatown looks close on the map, but I know that can be deceptive)?

I'd love your thoughts on what we should do and see during our trip.

I am also trying to figure out the best way to get around Seattle - can we rely on public transportation to get us to the major attractions? If we choose a hotel near Pike Place could we ride the monorail to the Needle and Science Center?

Any suggestions on good places to eat?

Thanks for your help!

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post #2 of 12
6/5/10 at 6:00am
Parking in downtown Seattle is expensive. Catch the monorail in Westlake Center and it'll take you straight to the Space Needle/Science Center. You can reach the zoo by taking bus #5, although the parking isn't as bad in Phinney Ridge/Greenwood and the zoo parking is cheap. I've heard they have a free parking lot tucked away somewhere as well, but I don't drive so I haven't really looked for it. I'd go with the aquarium over the zoo, though. The zoo definitely caters to the under 8 crowd.

One thing I'd suggest is visiting Wallingford (district within Seattle, 45th and Wallingford Ave). It's cute, kind of old fashioned, and you can get wedding quality cupcakes, handmade ice cream and this amazing gelato all on the same street. =] Dick's Burgers, a local favorite, is also in Wallingford. We often picnic at the Meridian Playground with burgers and a dessert.

Golden Gardens in Ballard is a wonderful spot as well, and Lunchbox Laboratories is pretty close by there and very popular. Speaking of which, if you do end up at the zoo don't settle for the food there- head up the street to Red Mill Burger, it's a great spot.

Other things we love in this area would be the water taxi that runs between downtown seattle and west seattle, and the SAM. Their gift store is my favorite spot in the world. =]

If you need help figuring out any sort of public transportation issue feel free to PM me. Our family has been car-free for 2 years now and we are pretty good at it now. =]
post #3 of 12
6/12/10 at 6:48pm
Thread Starter 
Thank you so much for your suggestions! I cut-n-pasted into my vacation planning document and have been looking up your suggestions on yelp as well.

If we wanted to go to the zoo or Wallingford area, would we be able to get public transportation from the Pike's Place area using the #5 bus? Or would we need to transfer from one to another? Or would we need to rely on taxis?

I may be PMing you closer in time to the trip for advice!

****

Anyone in Vancouver got any suggestions for me?

Thanks!
post #4 of 12
6/12/10 at 10:54pm
I love going to the Olympic National Park! Hurricane Ridge is beautiful, and if you can find a campground near Lake Crescent then that is also a beautiful area. We stayed in a cabin on Lake Crescent several years ago and I would love to do it again. The Hoh Rain Forest in Olympic National Park is neat also.
post #5 of 12
6/13/10 at 10:14pm
Thread Starter 
Ay ya ya. I'm an idiot. We're thinking about taking a ferry to Victoria (on Vancouver Island), NOT Vancouver the city. So maybe the Royal BC Museum, Miniature World or Butchart Gardens.

Just googled Hurricane Ridge - it sounds LOVELY - but I will need to research further to see if the "17 mile winding road" is something one can do in an RV.

I had read about a rafting trip on the Hoh river that sounded great, until I read the FAQs on the rafting website and read about how to dress for the cold water. I'm not sure out Southern blood is up to that!

It looks like weather means highs in the 70s and lows in the 50s. I'm going to have to unpack the kids' winter clothes. We live in shorts or swimsuits from May to October. I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around packing for 50 something degree weather in August.
post #6 of 12
6/13/10 at 10:46pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Teensy View Post
I had read about a rafting trip on the Hoh river that sounded great, until I read the FAQs on the rafting website and read about how to dress for the cold water. I'm not sure out Southern blood is up to that!
I hear ya! I lived in Charleston for 5 years and then southeast GA (just north of Jacksonville FL) for 2 years before we moved here, and I'm still not sure my blood has thickened up!
post #7 of 12
6/14/10 at 12:46am
Usually in August it's more in the upper 60s, 70s, or even warmer. It will get in the 50s sometimes, but usually just overnight.
post #8 of 12
6/15/10 at 5:04pm
We really like the Hampton Inn and Suites near Seattle center. There is a 24 hour grocery across the street(QFC) a terrific spot for a bite to eat right behind(Citizen), a McMennamins brewpub less than a 10 minute walk away,and you are only 2 blocks from Seattle Center where you can be a tourist and then catch the monorail to Westlake Center,not far from Pike Place. Have a great time!
post #9 of 12
6/20/10 at 5:23pm
The Museum of History and Industry is cool, too (kitchy but fun), and I think you can get there by bus but I'm not sure. Oh, and the Burke Museum on the UW campus has a lot of local geological, anthropological stuff.
post #10 of 12
6/26/10 at 3:05am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Teensy View Post
If we wanted to go to the zoo or Wallingford area, would we be able to get public transportation from the Pike's Place area using the #5 bus? Or would we need to transfer from one to another? Or would we need to rely on taxis
You can walk a few blocks up from Pikes Place to the Macy's at Westlake to catch the #5 bus; it generally runs every 15 mins or every half hour, depending on the day and time.

Feel free to drop me a line if you have any public transportation questions in particular! I'd be glad to help if I can. =]
post #11 of 12
6/26/10 at 5:34pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pookietooth View Post
The Museum of History and Industry is cool, too (kitchy but fun), and I think you can get there by bus but I'm not sure. Oh, and the Burke Museum on the UW campus has a lot of local geological, anthropological stuff.

The 30 will take you to MOHAI, and many buses take you to the Burke.
post #12 of 12
7/5/10 at 1:20am
If you come to the Olympic National Park, don't miss Sol Duc hot springs -- lots of fun with kids. Campground nearby!
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