Hi All:
Wevetlady and I will be heading up to the PNW in July for a week or so of vacation, bringing our kayak along…
So - Seattle, Vancouver, Puget Sound… what should we do and see?
Space Needle and the fish market (someone will have to chime in with it’s formal name).
While it may not fit your itinerary or your schedule, the best whitewater and some of the Northwest’s “last best places” are further inland…Think Idaho and Eastern Oregon. A few suggestions for serious kayaking:
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The upper Owyhee (Oregon) is fabulous. Remote high-desert canyon with plenty of white water. Generally it can only be run for a few weeks each year. Heavy snowpack this year should keep flows up well into early summer.
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Donner Und Blitzen River (Oregon) Even more remote and unpopulated than the Owyhee if that’s possible. Difficult to access, but worth the trip. Class 3 rapids and high desert scenery. Some details here
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North Fork Payette (Idaho) The ultimate whitewater chute. Near-continuous class 5+. Easily accessible, but should only be attempted by experts. FWIW, years ago the kid brother & I ran the lower portions of this (where the water is only class 3 and 4) in a 17-foot flatwater canoe…just to see if we could. We made it out alive, but I wouldn’t want to do it again.
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South Fork Payette (Idaho) Also easily accessible and somewhat more user-friendly than the North Fork, but don’t be fooled…this is the big water that killed world-class kayaker Walt Blackadar
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Salmon River (Idaho) The infamous “River of no Return”, considered by many to be the ultimate wilderness experience. Unfortunately, most of it is on a permit system, which probably precludes a visit for you this year. Worth considering though.
Whether you stay on the Northwest coast or travel inland, the Pac Northwest is a great place. Hope you enjoy your visit.
SS
My favorite trail in that area is the Ozette Loop, a flat 9-mile hike out to the “most northwestern point in the lower 48”. Just make sure to plan your hike during a low tide.
The whole area is an outdoorsman’s dream. The coastal areas of both Oregon and Washington are beautiful and easily accessable.
For a great day trip that doesn’t involve a kayak I would suggest spending an evening in Port Angeles, Wa. and taking the ferry across the Straight of Juan De Fuca into Victoria, BC.
It is about 20 miles and the crossing is wonderful. The ferry brings you right into downtown Victoria, one on the nicest towns/cities I’ve been to. An awesome natural history museum and great food and drink all within walking distance. Clean, friendly place. Stay half a day or so and ride the ferry back. No car needed. If you are flush with money, spend the night at the Empress Hotel in Victoria. Really nice old ivy covered British luxury.
Speaking of cars; unless you are looking for one of the most stressful freeway driving experiences north of Mexico City, I would avoid I-5 from Olympia thru Seattle to Everett. But then, I am not an urbanite, you might see it differently.
The Hood Canal area on your way to Port Angeles might offer some great inland waterway kayaking too.
Or if you are going to take your car to Vancouver Island the ferry from Port Angeles is a huge boat that carries a lot of cars too.
I should have mentioned it’s a sea kayak - we won’t be doing any rapids in it. 
Thanks for the suggestions, though, SeldomSeen!
So far looks like
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Space Needle (Seattle)
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Fish Market (Seattle)
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Ozette Loop (WA)
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Port Angeles (WA)
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Victoria (BC)
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Are the high points of the area… Thanks for all the suggestions, any others? I’m a bit of an aquarium geek - I hear the Vancouver Aquarium is worth a visit - is it so?
Well, It looked a bit tatty going round it years ago; can’t speak for what it’s like now.
There’s also a pierside aquarium near the fishmarket in Seattle that I enjoyed more.
Back in Vancouver, if you like museums, the MOA (Museum of Anthropology) out at the University is excellent, with a vast collection of Pacific (and beyond) artifacts.
The aquarium in Vancouver must have been recently renovated. Now it’s quite good and well worth it, as is the sizeable park it is located in. Seattle’s aquarium is smaller and maybe not as nice, but still good. Both have sea otters.
The San Juan islands are great for kayaking and general prettiness. You can often see whales. Nice victorian architecture too. If you were going for longer than a week, I’d suggest the Clayoquot Sound area too, but it’s halfway up the west side of Vancouver Island.
Food in the whole area you are visiting is great. You can find good restaurants for most any cuisine and it is difficult to have a bad meal.
Seattle area:
The Ballard locks and fish ladder are good for a half-hour’s entertainment, there’s an adjacent park as well.
The Space Needle, obviously. But go at night and only if the weather is at least kind of clear.
Port Townsend is quaint and Victorian.
Time may not permit, but Olympic National Park is incredible. Huge trees, mountains, and beaches. If you have this kind of stuff at home, maybe you won’t find it as interesting, but wow.
Mt. Rainier is well worth seeing in summer, lots of wildfowers waterfalls and otherwise beautiful views.
Victoria area:
Buchardt gardens, if you are into the whole plant
thing.
The provincial legislature is fun to visit, and the tour is not very long.
Seconding the Royal BC museum, it’s very good.
Vancouver area:
Granville Island has an OK public market, not usually as crowded as Pike Place. No fish throwing however.
Seconding the Museum of Anthropology at UBC, it has a stunningly large collection of First Nations art and artifacts.
The Sun Yat Sen garden is fun if you like classical Chinese gardens.
Capilano suspension bridge, is IMHO, a tourist trap. Lynn Canyon has a bridge also and because it’s in a (provincial?) park there is plenty of scenery to walk around in. Also, it’s free.
Similarly, Gastown is pretty tourist trappy.
Do not turn left in Vancouver unless there is a green arrow, or you are desperate. It’s nearly impossible.
Pike Place Fish is only one store at Pike Place Market. There are other fishmongers, as well as greengrocers, various food kiosks, and shops of all sorts. Uli’s Famous Sausage makes good sausages, but if you want to get one to eat on the go be prepared to wait ten minutes for it to be cooked. Or just go into Uli’s Bierstube and have a brew and eat at a table.
There’s a park at the north end of Pike Place Market. It’s pleasant, but be prepared to be asked for money by the many homeless who hang out there. Further south is the Hill Climb, a series of steps. It’s a convenient way to get from the docks to the Market proper, and is a nice bit of exercise. (Or you could just take the lift. But where’s the fun in that?) The Aquarium is down by the docks, and there’s a shop near there whose name escapes me that has a ratty-looking mummy in a case.
Lots of music venues. The Crocodile is a half-mile from the Market on 2nd & Blanchard. The Moore is on 2nd and… Stewart? The Triple Door is nearer the much-photographed entrance to Pike Place Market.