I am planning a trip to El Salvador and I need help.

Planning a trip to Seattle Washington, and i need help?

• Okay, my boyfriend and I are planning a trip to Seattle and Mt. Rainier Natl Park Washington this summer (June, July, or August 2010) I'm just looking for some advice in planning the trip, maybe from someone who has traveled this region before or someone who lives there. 1)How many days should we plan the trip for? We don't want to be rushed in the city, we would like to see all the city attractions, and We don't want to be rushed at Mt. Rainier. 2)Where should we stay? in Seatle all the nights that we are there? or seatle for some nights and a hotel in the national park for some nights? also, any specific names of placed you have had a good experience at? 3)what are the MUST SEES? any other advice or help would be lovely! I have never been to Washington before and I am completely clueless!

• Answer:

  I live here and don't even know where to start. Unless you're planning on hiking Mount Rainier, I'd consider that a one day event. If you haven't been to this site yet http://www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/index.htm check it out. There are so MANY mountains close to us that you never have to drive more than an hour from Seattle to find yourself in the middle of crisp mountain air and soaring evergreen trees. The Puget Sound is our enormous inland bay. I could spend every single day on a boat out there so I'm attaching some links to ideas. http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/ (for the ferry system) http://www.argosycruises.com/ (great fun! take the trip out to Blake Island for the day and experience a REAL native American salmon bake.) If you like seafood, you'll be in heaven here. Ask one of the guys at Argosy Cruises if they can recommend a yacht club or group that might be able to take you out for a day of crabbing (nothing like the "deadliest catch") - there's nothing like it. Downtown Seattle is one of the most walkable cities in America (my opinion). The Seattle Center http://www.seattlecenter.com/ has the Space Needle, Experience Music Project, the Imax, the Pacific Science Center, and the Science Fiction Museum - just to name a few. A mile down toward the city center, you'll find the Pike Place Market http://www.pikeplacemarket.org/frameset.asp?flash=false and just down the Pike Street Climb (some steep stairs) you'll find yourself walking Alaska Way and the Seattle Waterfront http://www.seattlewaterfront.org/ . Don't forget to visit Ye Old Curiosity Shop http://www.yeoldecuriosityshop.com/ for some crazy/weird stuff. If you're into shopping, you might want to leave your suitcase half empty before you leave home - downtown has everything. If you are into the outdoors, I'd recommend a day trip up to Ross Lake Dam in the North Cascades. None of these sites really show you the BLUE BLUE waters, but I'm attaching them anyway. There are some links to Forest Service cabins/lodging up there - and it's only about a 2 1/2 - 3 hour drive from Seattle. http://www.nps.gov/noca/index.htm http://www.experiencewa.com/attraction.aspx?id=308 This is one of my favorite places in the whole WORLD! You could also take the Clipper over to Vancouver Island/Victoria, BC http://www.clippervacations.com/ That would be a great overnight excursion. And the ride over is amazing. The Chinatown in Victoria is hard to beat anywhere (although Seattle's is pretty darn good too.) I'm sure that I've forgotten at least 100 things, but you can always email me if you want any other info. And don't worry about the rain. The sun always comes out and our summers are spectacular.