COMPLETED: October 28th through November 9, 2019
We began our journey in the state of Washington on the far east side in Clarkston. With another cold front moving in with frigid temperatures sub-below zero, we decided to make the long trek over to Seattle and skip staying at Walla-Walla and the Tri-Cities. We spent an entire week in the Seattle area making day trips to see the Pike’s Place Market, a trip to the top of the Space Needle, Chihuly Gardens, Whale Watching and more! And we ended our stay in Washington with driving the camper on the Pacific Coast along the World’s Longest Beach!
Without a doubt, Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, in Vancouver WA. It’s a small National Park, celebrating a number of venues, including the original and still existing ‘Hudson Bay Company’, the ‘Pearson Air Museum’ and of course the historic military presence. If you communicate with them ahead of time you might get a personal tour. And please do yourselves and us a favor and visit, the WSU Washington State University Extension Grounds: https://extension.wsu.edu/clark/healthwellness/foodpreservation/ which helps the entire community with what your site is founded upon, helping others garden safely and productively.
Hope to see you
Richard – can’t thank you enough for all of the wonderful suggestions – and yes, we will definitely add the WSU Extension Grounds to our list, that is right up our alley!
The WSU Extension Grounds sounds wonderful and we have added it to our list! Love all of the other suggestions as well, Washington is one we are really looking forward too!
I wish you were going to be in the Pacific NW in the summertime cause there’s no place prettier in the summer. Hopefully you will have good weather here in the fall. I suggest a ferry ride to the San Juan Islands, a ferry to Tillicum Village for a Native American dinner and show, a drive to Kerry Park in Queen Anne for a gorgeous view of the city or a stop at Alki Beach for another gorgeous view of the city. Might want to have a bite to eat at Saltys Restaurant in West Seattle while you’re there for yet another great view. Of course there’s is always the Space Needle, the Ferris Wheel on the Pier, Fisherman’s Restaurant right beside it, Pike Place and the Fish Market. Enjoy!
We just came back from a quick trip out west and we were in Washington in late June – absolutely beautiful! The Fish Market for sure has to be on our list, and love the Native American dinner and show idea. Thanks so much!
East side of Washington state is a different type of amazing then the wet-western side. Enjoy & drive safely!
J, We are call the Evergreen State not Dry/Dusty State for a reason. Water and sunshine=great green landscape. As you can gather by now I am on the West side. :):)
A common saying in WA is “The mountain is out today!” I hope you get a chance to see Mt. Rainier “out!” It’s hit or miss in November, but if it’s out, you can see it from almost anywhere on the west side of WA. If you are driving over I-90 across WA, be sure to watch for the Wild Horse Monument near Vantage, 15 life-size metal horse sculptures up on the hillside looking out over the Columbia River. If you want a scenic drive over the Cascades without the traffic of Snoqualmie Pass, try going over White Pass instead. There are some stunning views and lots of places to pull out and take pictures. On the coast, Long Beach WA is a fun and funky place with the longest stretch of beach you can drive on in WA. There are two lighthouses you can hike to with awesome views. You can’t go to Long Beach without visiting Marsh’s Free Museum to see Jake the Alligator Man and other “curiosities.” Hope you have a fantastic trip and can’t wait for the book!
Thank you so much for the suggestions Daleen! We have never explored Washington and your suggestions are extremely helpful on what we should see and do while we are there. We can’t wait to see the lighthouses on the Pacific coast and of course Mt. Rainier.
Hoping you’ll be driving through the Columbia River Gorge Scenic Area and covering WA and OR at the same time. Multnomah Falls has been mentioned, an enormous sturgeon on display near Bonneville Dam, The Bridge of the Gods at Cascade Locks, great wineries including my favorite Syncline Winery, right here in Klickitat County, Maryhill and the replica of Stonehenge a little more to the West. If you will be posting your daily destinations, I’m hoping to put myself in your path to say “Hello”
For sure you should stop in to the Snapdragon on Vashon Island. A super short ferry ride from Tacoma Point Defiance on the Ferry Tahlequah and a short 15 minute drive to town.
Say hi to Adam &Megan!
We will have to check that out!
Coffee shops: In Bingen, WA, near the bridge across the Columbia to Hood River, Oregon, is a little shop called MUGS. Their original location burned last year but they’re open and still great.
We will definitely have to check out MUGS! Thanks for the suggestion.
If you like Farmers Markets try to get to the one in Olympia. It is a year-round market but days are are limited as the se check before you head there. Olympia is also were state capital. You can visit that also.
Since no one’s mentioned it yet, come to Woodinville for the complete Washington wine experience. Also home to Molbaks (nursery/general exploration experience) and some nice bike trails 🙂