Things to do in Washington state?

[coldplugs]

My wife is attending a class on Bainbridge Island near Seattle in early September and I'll be tagging along. Then we plan to spend a couple of days on Bainbridge and the other islands and figure we'll take a week or so to trek around WA or possibly Oregon. After that I'll probably fly home, probably via my sons place in Moab UT and then back to Maine. She'll head south to see friends & relatives.

I'm looking for some suggestions re interesting places to see that aren't necessarily easily found with an internet search. Anything involving cars or railroads would be my interest, hers would be ceramics and glass. We're looking at the Mt. Rainer RR, a glass museum in Tacoma, and the LeMay car collection museum there also, all of which are prominent on the net.

Do any of you folks local ot the area have any gems to suggest that the tourists usually miss?

 

[NutmegCT]

First thing I thought of when I saw your post was Butchart Gardens on Vancouver Island up in BC. Beautiful ferry ride from Seattle, and Victoria is like a bit of Britain.

https://www.clippervacations.com/clipper-ferry/

And once you're there ...

https://www.butchartgardens.com/gardens/photos-and-video

Afterward, went camping up on the coast. Might not be your cup o' tea - but it is mine!

Acres of gardens were created in an old limestone quarry. Wow. And many good restaurants to boot.

 

[coldplugs]

Thanks. I think that's on her list. If not, it will be.

 

[GregW]

Whidbey Island has glass blowers in the town of Langley. At least they did when I was there a little over 20 years ago. You can watch them as they work. In Seattle, there are tours of the old city underground. I haven't taken the tour, but hear it is pretty cool.

 

[Boink]

It's a lovely time of year on the coast (well, I think so). The trouble with the Washington coast is that there aren't a lot of places to stay (unless camping).

If you are going back across the Sound to Seattle, of course there are a ton of things to do (depending on if you've been there). My home town.

And speaking of glass-blowers in Langley, there is the newer Chihuly museum right at the very foot of the Space Needle (and, obviously, the Needle itself). It's pretty neat. You could also pop down 15 minutes south to the Boeing Museum (Boeing field is just south of downtown)... or pop up north the same distance and take a tour of the Boeing plant (the largest building in the world), in Everett.

 

[coldplugs]

We're planning on Whidbey Island so will get to Langley. We've been to Seattle several times but apparently not since the Chihuly museum started. I've been to Boeing on business, but never to the museum & will take a look at that. Thanks for all the ideas.

 

[Boink]

Well, then if you're up on Whidbey you could drive north to Deception Pass (which is a wonderful park with an amazing gorge). Beware, though, ferries have become very crowded... and if you try anything on a weekend, it can be dreadful (especially that Mukilteo one to Clinton).

 

[sail]

We camped at Fay Bainbridge Park last fall and enjoyed sitting on the beach watching traffic on the sound, nice little quiet park with a view. The Northwest Maritime Center is in Port Townsend, they would be building some kind of wood boats. The ferry to there from Ft Flagler is the only ferry that you need reservations we were told when we showed up and got on anyway. Some guy wanted me to backtrack and take the Boeing plant tour but all our time was spent outdoors. We drove all around the coast which was great, into the rain forest on the west side but it was sunny and lost something. Then La Push near there and watched surfers for a couple days. Beautiful beach but not much there as most of the coast. Further down in Westport, WA are some clean cottages https://www.harborresort.com/index.html on a fishing harbor. Once in Oregon there is a beautiful something around every curve and more places to stay.

 

[AngliaGT]

If you go to Whidbey Island,continue up towards Anacortes,& head East,back to the mainland.Just after you get on the mainland,lookfor Chuckanut Drive,heading North.That drive up to Bellingham is great. Also,the Carnation Valley,between Monroe & North Bend is agreat drive.Snoqualmie Falls is a nice stop,& there's a railroad meseum,with a lot of old trains/cars in Snoqualmie. - Doug

 

[coldplugs]

Thanks to everyone - we made our first week's reservations today & it looks like we'll be in WA or Canada for 2 weeks. I'll print this thread & give it to the boss/planner.