Thanks for all of the tips. My better half took over the search for lodging but I’ll bet the inn mentioned in post #9 would have suited me just fine. She found a B&B in the University district that was very nice so no complaints.
We had great, clear weather …I could have stayed on the space needle for hours enjoying the view! Ravenna Park and Green Lake provided nice walks. The Chihuly exhibit was great, the Underground tour was so-so. I also visited the NPS Klondike Unit which I’d recommend if you are into that kind of thing. Loved the city but I almost wish it had rained a little to get the real picture.
We ended up leaving late on day #2 to get a head start on driving back along the coast. It was a bit underwhelming until we got to Astoria and Ft Stevens Park.
Speaking of volcanos… I wanted to return via Mt Ranier but that got nixed. In a few days I’ll be returning home by way of Rollins MT where some friends live. It looks like I can take a scenic route thru St Helens and Ranier National Parks that would add about 3 hours not counting any stops. Does anyone have any experience on those roads this time of year?
I would skip Mt. St. Helens. Everything is pretty much hidden by vegetation that has grown since the eruption. Take the Highway 12 exit off I-5 and head towards Morton. You will get some peeks of St. Helens without dealing with narrow curvy roads that lead to the observatory. Take a left onto Highway 7 to Elbe then a right on 706 to Mt. Rainier. Drive through the park through the Stevens Canyon pass to Highway 123. Head south and rejoin Highway 12, that will get you to Yakima and I-82. The road are wide open and clear this time of year and the scenery is spectacular. The only issues will be road maintenance and the associated slowdowns, they seem to do it all in the middle of summer.
If you take racer72’s suggestion and have the time, try stopping at Iron Dan Klennert’s Recycled Spirits of Iron Sculpture Park outside of Elbe. He’s done some amazing sculptures out of metals and driftwood and is definitely worth checking out if you like that kind of art.
The drive from Randle down through to Carson is kind of fun as well. Not a whole lot to see on the way, but it is way back of nowhere and you can get some good views of the back side of the Grey Lady, and Adams if you go through Trout Lake to White Salmon (and then you get half a nice Gorge drive). Only good if you like roads where you see four cars in eighty miles, though.
Thought I’d add another link to Iron Dan’s place that has a video of him talking about his work and some better pictures of some of his art too.
Adding to eschereal’s comments, a few years ago, Pops and I did the Carson-to-Randle trip. While there were a couple of overlooks where I got some great pictures of St. Helens, 99% of the time you’re driving through trees so thick you can’t see anything else. The road is extremely twisty and ten miles as the crow flies seems two or three times longer by car in any given stretch. That said, I loved it but realize a lot of other people might not.
I’d like to know if any Dopers have gotten off I-5 at Woodland and have gone to Randle via that route? You pass by three large lakes before hooking up with the Carson-to-Randle road, so there might be opportunity for more scenic views. Are there any good places to look at Mt. St. Helens along that route? Have you been to the Ape Cave, which is a little off the route? I’d love to check that out some time.
I think I’ll do exactly that…thanks. Actualy my daughter and I went to MSH on Saturday and found it very interesting though.
Until I saw you recommendation I had planned on taking 12 all the way to Packwood and then 123 thru the park north to 410. Your way takes me thru much more of the park and looks to be more interesting than the part of 123 that I won’t see. Thanks again!
Hotels: If you’re on a budget, lots of cheap hotels right by the airport and you can take light rail into the city. I like to stay at the Paramount downtown by Westlake (6th and Pine, IIRC) and the rooms can cost from $150-250 a night, but it puts all of downtown in walking distance.
I think the most primal Seattle experience is the Pike Place Market. I just love that place. And right down Post Alley from there is Kell’s Irish Pub, the awesomest Irish bar in the country (The family also owns the Kell’s in San Francisco and bagged those two prime spots of real estate when they were on their last breaths of affordability).
If you’re in Queen Anne, check out Archie McPhee’s, a vast market full of novelty items.
I wouldn’t expect a visitor to necessarily know where Ballard[sup]1[/sup] or Wallingford are, but you can point and say “see that big mound[sup]2[/sup] on the other side of the Space Needle? It’s that way.”
Ballard? I remember them in Fremont.
If anyone gets the reference to Queen Anne Mound, they are old-school Seattle.
I have made a big loop that included the I-5 @ Woodland and hooked through Randle that route. It was many moons ago. ISTR that it is a good road! I loved it on the motorcycle! It would be good in a sports car. I do miss the trees in the PNW.
I have been to Ape Caves. It was decades ago and I had a blast. It is not for someone who is relatively inactive. You have to crawl through in some places. I am a big boy and it was a tight squeeze. It is NOT wheelchair accessible. Children love it, they get to explore and run around underground. Much like Battery Russel at Fort Stevens, just more so. Bigger and better.
I agree this is the time of year to make the trip that you are planning. If you can, take your time & have fun!!
