# Seattle Vacation question **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 3, 2012, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seattle-vacation-question/642908 "2012-12-03T22:15:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2012, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seattle-vacation-question/642908/1 "2012-12-03T22:15:40Z")
A friend from Iowa just sent me an email saying she & her husband are going to be vacationing in Seattle and they’re wondering what sort of awesome hiking trail-outdoorsy activies there are for a pair of reasonably fit 20-somethings? I did a quick Google search for her and came up with Mt. Rainier and Olympic something, and it looks like they’re both within reasonable day-trip driving distance. Is there something else that’s not on my radar? Cool hiking trails in or near town? Oh, and any great brewpubs or the like (they are from the Midwest, after all…)? ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2012, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seattle-vacation-question/642908/2 "2012-12-03T23:25:05Z")
Maybe some of the islands around? I know my brother & SiL have done some hiking around Whidbey Island - [Whidbey Island - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whidbey_Island) - I don’t expect it’s super challenging, since last time they took 3 year olds with them (albeit carried on their backs) ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seattle-vacation-question/642908/3 "2012-12-04T00:05:18Z")
Tell them to try [wta.org](http://wta.org) and to look at this site. [https://sites.google.com/site/miscellaneousdebrisproject/hiking-and-biking/seattle-hiking/seattle-area-hikes/cougar-mountain-trails](https://sites.google.com/site/miscellaneousdebrisproject/hiking-and-biking/seattle-hiking/seattle-area-hikes/cougar-mountain-trails) ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seattle-vacation-question/642908/4 "2012-12-04T00:31:05Z")
When are they going to be there? Mount Si is popular and close. It’s a serious hike, though (3,000’ elevation gain), and will have snow in the winter. Rainier will as well, and only the lower parts of the park are open in the winter. Olympic National Park is a bit of a drive for just a day trip. ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seattle-vacation-question/642908/5 "2012-12-04T01:15:15Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > When are they going to be there? Mount Si is popular and close. It’s a serious hike, though (3,000’ elevation gain), and will have snow in the winter. The top had snow yesterday. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seattle-vacation-question/642908/6 "2012-12-04T02:17:30Z")
It’s just a ferry ride and a couple of hours to Dungeness Spit near Sequim. The hike out to the lighthouse and back is a level 10 miles. Wildlife and ship traffic are wecome distractions along the way.