https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 13 Apr 2026 05:27:03 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/places-to-visit-near-seattle#post-1494098 Fri, 14 Mar 2014 11:22:18 +0000 808love 1494098@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The islands, northwest trek, snoqualamie falls, point defiance, Leavenworth, clamming, cherry picking, mt. ranier, UW rock climbing structure and bike trail were all great outdoor childhood memories. If you venture into the city, walk around the space needle area and children's museum. It is huge!!!<br /> This thread is making me want to go up this summer!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/places-to-visit-near-seattle#post-1492476 Thu, 13 Mar 2014 16:44:05 +0000 meganmp 1492476@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I second (third? Fourth?) the San Juan Islands and Mt. Rainier! You can get halfway across the state in four hours, so there are many things to do. You're coming at the most beautiful time of year! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/places-to-visit-near-seattle#post-1492464 Thu, 13 Mar 2014 16:38:32 +0000 lemondrop 1492464@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bluestriped bee: For us San Juan was our favorite of the islands- it had the most versatility. We did a few days in Seattle, then went to Orcas for a day and spent the rest of the week on San Juan. Orcas was nice, quieter, had great hiking. San Juan had a great brewery, lots of places to eat, hiking, GREAT whale watching, we saw multiple bald eagles while hiking. Being history buffs, we also LOVED touring The Pig War "battle" sites. (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pig_War" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pig_War</a>) </p> [attach=1790/14/n2e9gb.449x600.Arboreutm-and-WA-414.JPG] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/places-to-visit-near-seattle#post-1492375 Thu, 13 Mar 2014 15:51:15 +0000 Mrs.Someone 1492375@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PurplePeony: Yea I forgot the limited car time thing :) Unfortunately, there isn't a whole lot around the forest though... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/places-to-visit-near-seattle#post-1492357 Thu, 13 Mar 2014 15:44:13 +0000 PurplePeony 1492357@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs.Someone: I had typed out a post that mentioned looping east to Snoqualmie Falls, wine tasting, driving back west through the Columbia River Gorge, and spending a day or two in Portland but I erased it because she said she wanted to limit car time! But yes to your reccomendations for anyone who doesn't mind a bit of driving -- the landscape on the east side of the mountains is amazing and so different from western WA! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/places-to-visit-near-seattle#post-1492348 Thu, 13 Mar 2014 15:39:17 +0000 twinmama 1492348@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh crabbing, fishing, clam digging, etc are all great in Hood Canal too! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/places-to-visit-near-seattle#post-1492347 Thu, 13 Mar 2014 15:39:11 +0000 Mrs.Someone 1492347@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bluestriped bee: I really like San Juan and Whidbey. For San Juan, you can just leave your car in Seattle and walk on the ferry, the town is completely walkable right off the dock (Bainbridge is too). For Whidbey, I like taking the ferry one way, and Deception pass the other, on a clear day its a beautiful view!</p> <p>As for other Seattle-area attractions, Snoqualmie falls is nice (if its not winter!) Also Vancouver and Victoria are fun cities to visit. Or if you're into wine tasting, driving around on the other side of the Cascades can be fun. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/places-to-visit-near-seattle#post-1492341 Thu, 13 Mar 2014 15:37:41 +0000 twinmama 1492341@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Mt Rainier and Mt St Helens. Rainier has nice hiking trails and waterfalls. St Helens has the observatory and lots of interpretive areas for the eruption.</p> <p>Long Beach and Cape Disappointment State Park are our favorite beach areas on the southern WA coast. Long Beach is more touristy but has a great boardwalk and the Discovery Trail (Lewis &amp; Clark's path). Cape Disappointment is a huge state park with 2 lighthouses, beaches, jettys, etc....and they have a wood fired pizza cart in the pkg lot :)</p> <p>We live in the south sound, so I know more down here, but have been to Deception Pass and Orcas Island around that time of year and loved both as well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/places-to-visit-near-seattle#post-1492339 Thu, 13 Mar 2014 15:36:59 +0000 Shutterbug 1492339@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Dagny: I second Hoh Rainforest and Second Beach. Also Rialto Beach &amp; Ruby Beach. I went to Olympic National Park with a few friends and it was so gorgeous. We stayed at a tiny fishing cabin on the Bogachiel River. Also, if you're a fan of the Twilight books at all (or even if you're not, it's kind of fascinating!) you should drive through Forks. The whole town is capitalizing on Twilight, even the Chamber of Commerce, haha. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/places-to-visit-near-seattle#post-1492317 Thu, 13 Mar 2014 15:26:26 +0000 BSB 1492317@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PurplePeony: Ah, cool. Thanks for the tip. Need to remember that once I go.</p> <p>@sandy: @Aria: @lemondrop: @sunny: @PurplePeony: </p> <p> Seattle folks. Of the islands, which your favorite? We will either drive the long way or take the ferry+ car, since we like having our own car. We like to take our dogs, too. They love car rides and we love traveling with them. I would like to go whale watching and maybe kayaking, but it will have to be a trip without the dogs. Oh, DH loves taking photos, so which island is best for pictures? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/places-to-visit-near-seattle#post-1492299 Thu, 13 Mar 2014 15:19:41 +0000 PurplePeony 1492299@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bluestriped bee: if you go at an off-peak time, the ferry isn't so bad. During the summer, the wait times suck, but we went over to Port Townsend for one of the fall long weekends (Columbus Day or Veteran's Day? I can't remember) and basically drive right on. We've been there and also to Lake Crescent haven't gone any further around because the drive takes so long.</p> <p>@Dagny: I second Whidbey Island or one of the San Juan Islands! Portland is a cool town and the drive isn't too bad, or you can take Amtrak if you don't want to drive. I go down for work occasionally and always take the train -- it's between 3 and 3.5 hours and both stations are pretty conveniently located. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/places-to-visit-near-seattle#post-1492244 Thu, 13 Mar 2014 14:58:17 +0000 snowjewelz 1492244@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bluestriped bee: thats like me living in NY and never even been to most of the tourist places! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/places-to-visit-near-seattle#post-1492220 Thu, 13 Mar 2014 14:51:58 +0000 BSB 1492220@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@snowjewelz: You could wall me, but even though, I've lived here for 5 year, I still don't know the area. I'm learning about new things about the area all the time. I can definitely give you my experiences. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/places-to-visit-near-seattle#post-1475794 Thu, 06 Mar 2014 19:29:49 +0000 sandy 1475794@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>These aren't on the peninsula but are close to Seattle:</p> <p>You could take the ferry to Bainbridge Island and go to Bloedel Reserve for a day. I also really like Port Townsend - super small little town but love the restaurants and just taking the ferry out there is fun. </p> <p>Northwest Trek - it's an animal reserve where you take a tram and see bison, moose, etc. they have eagles and other animals too. My LO loves to ride the tram </p> <p>This is touristy but I love going to Leavenworth - it's a German town with cute little shops and outdoor eating and a real grass putt putt course. </p> <p>Ocean Shores - not as nice as Cannon Beach but closer </p> <p>Mount Rainier National Park -lots of hiking and beautiful scenery </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/places-to-visit-near-seattle#post-1475732 Thu, 06 Mar 2014 19:20:16 +0000 snowjewelz 1475732@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bluestriped bee: I will have to remember to wall you later on bc we are planning for a Seattle and Portland trip in the summer! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/places-to-visit-near-seattle#post-1475605 Thu, 06 Mar 2014 18:45:00 +0000 BSB 1475605@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I live in Seattle and I haven't been over to Olympic national park because of the long drive. It seems so close but yet it's so far. I should take the ferry to shorten the drive but I hear the ferry itself is a long wait.</p> <p>Cannon Beach, OR is lovely town. It's where the 'Goonies' was filmed. I don't know how close it is to the Olympic National Park. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/places-to-visit-near-seattle#post-1475599 Thu, 06 Mar 2014 18:41:15 +0000 Aria 1475599@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Depending on where you are in the Olympic National Park, Sequim shouldn't be too far away. They've got the Dungeness Spit, which is a really great beach, and that should be a good time of year for it. We loved going there as kids!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/places-to-visit-near-seattle#post-1475597 Thu, 06 Mar 2014 18:39:22 +0000 lemondrop 1475597@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>San Juan Islands- San Juan, Orcas Island, etc. Some of my favorite places on earth, great hiking (not hard either!) and lots of beach combing and exploring (lots of star fish and small creatures). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/places-to-visit-near-seattle#post-1475584 Thu, 06 Mar 2014 18:33:48 +0000 Willow 1475584@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm not from the Seattle area, but I'd recommend Deception Pass. I've camped there and it's beautiful. It's about 1.5 hrs north of Seattle.</p> <p>There were beaches and easy hiking trails.</p> <p><a href="http://www.visitwhidbey.com/Whidbey-Sight-Seeing.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.visitwhidbey.com/Whidbey-Sight-Seeing.html</a></p> <p>ETA: or come to Canada :) Vancouver is about a 3 hr drive from Seattle </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/places-to-visit-near-seattle#post-1475574 Thu, 06 Mar 2014 18:28:36 +0000 sunny 1475574@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hurricane Ridge<br /> Hoh Rainforest<br /> Second/Third Beach<br /> Astoria, OR</p> <p>You could also drive down to Portland. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/places-to-visit-near-seattle#post-1475558 Thu, 06 Mar 2014 18:22:17 +0000 Dagny 1475558@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Me, DH, and LO will be taking an 11 day vacation to Washington in late August/early September. We're flying in to Seattle, but aren't really planning on staying in the city for more than one or two days. We know that we will definitely be staying in Olympic National Park for at least 4-5 days (SO excited!). LO will be about 18 months at the time and we'd like to limit time traveling in the car. Anyone have any ideas on areas to visit that are no more than a 4 hour trip from the Seattle area? Ideally near Olympic National Park. </p> <p>I should also note that we are into simple, get away from it all, kind of vacations. :happy: We're definitely interested in hiking (nothing too intense with LO), fishing, etc. - general outdoor stuff. </p>