Sample Itineraries:See Seattle (2 days)Pike Place Market
Wagnerian Opera (2nd best in the world, always in the summer)
Eat at Wild Ginger or Flying Fish
Goldrush National Park & The Underground Tour
Museum of Flight and/or Boeing Factory Tour
Grownup's Central Washington (3 days)2 days Wine Tasting in Yakima and Walla Walla
1 day Big Amphitheater Show (like G. Love) & desert camping at The Gorge
Nearby National Parks (6 days)2 days (1 overnight) at Mt. Rainier
4 days of Rainforests, Mountains & Rugged Pacific Coast in Olympic Natl Park
Puget Sound Deluxe (7 days)1 day Anacortes visiting Kathleen and Fred (Parents of the Groom)
3 days whale & bird watching in the San Juan Archipelago
Ferry from Whidbey Island to Port Townsend Olympic Peninsula
3 days of Rainforests, Mountains & Pacific Coast in Olympic Natl Park
Oregon (5 days)1 day hanging out in Portland
1 day touring Oregon Wine Country
2 days Oregon Coast
1 day Mt. St. Helens National Park
Adventure Sports Deluxe (8 days)4 days backpacking in the North Cascades National Park
3 days hardcore mountain biking at Whistler BC
1 day recovering in a nice hotel in Vancouver
Northwest Luxury Spa-Hopping (3 days)1 day and night at Salish Lodge and Spa in Snoqualamie
1 day and night at Willows Lodge including dinner at The Herb Farm
1 day and night at The Chrysalis Spa and Lodge in Bellingham
Neighbors to the North (4 days)2 days visiting gardens and having high tea in Victoria
2 days shopping & museum hopping in Vancouver
|
Extend your trip and see the Pacific Northwest
We appreciate the time and effort that you are taking to come to our wedding. The Pacific Northwest is a beautiful region to visit. If you have the time, you could easily extend our wedding weekend into a fabulous 1-2 week vacation.
Here are some ideas (shamelessly stolen from my sister's travel guide) to help you put together a northwest escape. We have been to many of these places and would be happy to recommend hotels or attractions for you. Just ask!
1-5 Day Excursions
Mt Rainier National Park
Why it's cool: Volcano, Glaciers, Tallest Peak in Continental US, Sub-alpine FlowersEstimated time to add-on: 1-2 days
Approximate Distance from SeaTac Airport: 65 miles (2 hours 45 minutes) see map
Mount Rainier National Park established on 02 March 1899, contains vast expanses of pristine old-growth forests, subalpine flower meadows, spectacular alpine scenery, and great opportunity for stimulating outdoor activities. Mount Rainier National Park is the fifth oldest national park in the United States. The park has the greatest single-peak glacial system in the United States. Glaciers radiate from the summit and slopes of the 14,411 foot volcano.
Read MoreCamping in the North Cascades National Park
Why it's cool: Crunchy Backpacker's Delight, Lots of ridges to climbEstimated Time to add-on: 1-5 days Approximate Distance from SeaTac Airport: _______
North Cascades National Park contains some of America's most breathtaking beautiful scenery - high jagged peaks, ridges, slopes, and countless cascading waterfalls. Hiking, backpacking, and mountaineering are the most popular activities in the park. The park's 505,000 acres encompass some 318 glaciers, more than half of all glaciers in the United States. There are a few roads into the park, but views into the park can be had on clear days from the North Cascades H wy at Goodell Creek, Diablo Lake Overlook, and other places. The Cascade River Road, 23 miles of improved dirt and gravel, gives summer and fall access into the park and to the Cascade Pass Trailhead.
Read MoreThe San Juan Islands
Why it's cool: Orca Whales, Peace & Quiet, Kayaking, Puget SoundEstimated time to add-on: 2-3 days
Approximate Distance from SeaTac Airport: 95 miles driving (2 hours) + 2-3 hours on ferry see map
From bicycling and birding to sea kayaking and whale watching, you'll find plenty of outdoor recreation in the San Juan Islands! Indoors, enjoy our plentiful art galleries, performing arts programs and historical museums.
Read MoreOlympic National Park & the Olympic Peninsula
Why it's cool: Rain Forest, Rugged Northwest Pacific Coast, Great BackpackingEstimated time to add-on: 3-5 days
Approximate Distance from SeaTac Airport: 126 miles (3 hours) + 1-2 hours to get deep into park see map
Olympic National Park has a diverse and stunning world, a fog shrouded coast with booming surf and waves-manicured beaches, spectacular alpine country dotted with sparkling lakes, lush meadows, glaciers, and North America's finest temperate rain forest. Olympic is a wilderness park, with much of its interior accessible only by trail. A variety of spur roads lead to various destinations around the park. Scenic drives to Hurricane Ridge, along the Pacific Coast and through the forested valleys of the Sol Duc, Hoh and Quinault Rivers provide glimpses of Olympic's diversity.
Read MoreSeattle
Why it's cool: Great Food, Loud Rock, Fish Throwing, Espresso DrinksEstimated time to add-on: 1-3 days
Approximate Distance from SeaTac Airport: 15 miles (25 minutes) see map
It's Pike Place Market, Pioneer Square, Seattle Center and Space Needle, ferry rides, art and music, and the best coffee on the planet!
Read More: Jordan's Take, Experience Washington, See SeattleThe Herb Farm Restaurant
Why it's cool: 9 course dinner with selected wine, one of top restaurants in country, it's where Jordan and Alex got engagedEstimated time to add-on: 1 day
Approximate Distance from SeaTac Airport: 30 miles (45 minutes) see map
You'll revel in seasonally unique menus featuring the foods of the Northwest. Each 9-course dinner, served with 5 or 6 matched wines (non alcoholic options are also available), draws its inspiration from the rhythms of the season.
Read MoreVictoria, British Columbia
Why it's cool: High Tea, Wax Museum, Fancy Gardens, Arrival by BoatEstimated time to add-on: 2-3 days
Approximate Distance from SeaTac Airport: ~5 hours driving from SeaTac including Ferry Trip; You could take 4 hour Victoria Clipper from Downtown Seattle
Cascading with flowers and laced with British propriety, Greater Victoria is a place of endless attractions and exceeding beauty. Whether you surround yourself in the glorious colour of Butchart Gardens, revel in the splendour of the Olympic Mountains as you walk along the beach on Dallas Road, or marvel at the lush green of the area's 15 year-round golf courses, the memories you make here won't soon be forgotten.
Read MoreVancouver, British Columbia
Why it's cool: Multi-cultural Big City, Good Shopping with Canadian Exchange Rate, Museum of Natural HistoryEstimated time to add-on: 2-3 days
Approximate Distance from SeaTac Airport: ~ 4 hours
Imagine sprawling streetlights carpeting a rolling landscape into the foothills of the Coastal Mountain range. Greater Vancouver has it all: All scenery, all cultures, all attractions, all for you.
Read MoreWhistler, British Columbia
Why it's cool: Ski town built out for golf, mountain biking and fly-fishingEstimated time to add-on: 2-5 days
Approximate Distance from SeaTac Airport: 5 hours
When the white stuff disappears, the excitement in Whistler doesn't slow down. The snow melts off the ski trails revealing exciting, daring mountain bike tracks. Race down the mountainside at full speed and feel the wind in your face and the sun on your back. If the challenge of riding up the mountain face isn't in your plans, lifts run year-round to carry you and your bike back to the top for another run. If mountain biking isn't your thing, try glacier skiing at the top of the Blackcomb Mountain from June to August. Whistler is one of the only four-season ski resorts in the world! Known worldwide as a skier's paradise, Whistler has also earned its reputation as a world-class golf destination. Home to four award-winning designer courses, Whistler challenges the most skilled golfer. The villages are a shopper's delight filled with classic shops, fun stores, and funky boutiques.
Read MorePortland Oregon + Oregon Wine Country
Why it's cool: Science Museum, Rose & Japanese Gardens, Even more casual than SeattleEstimated time to add-on: 1-3 days
Approximate Distance from SeaTac Airport: 3 hours
Come get a first-hand look at our unmatched natural beauty, our bustling local scene, our sumptuous dining and welcoming accommodations -- all effortlessly accessed thanks to our justly-famous light-rail system. Though it's not easy being green, it's exactly why so many visitors flock here, year-round.
Read More: Portland, Wine CountryCannon Beach & the Oregon Coast
Why it's cool: Natural Pacific Coastline, Wild Tidal Pools, Peace & QuietEstimated time to add-on: 2-3 days
Approximate Distance from SeaTac Airport: 4 hours
Nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the Coast Mountain Range, rests Cannon Beach; famed for its forested headlands, towering monoliths and miles of pristine, sandy beaches.
Photo by: Matthew Calder
Walla Walla -- Washington Wine Country
Why it's cool: Wine, Desert Warmth, Sweet Onions, Alliteration Estimated time to add on: 2-3 days
Approximate Distance from SeaTac Airport: 274 miles (5 hours) see map
The Walla Walla Valley wine region is the most remote of all Washington State wine regions. Ironically, that remoteness may be an advantage for Washington wineries located there. Some say it is the major Spring Valley Vineyard, Walla Walla region, southeastern Washington contributing factor to the well-known esprit de corps of Walla Walla wineries and their vintners. Others say Washington wineries within this arid, 530 square-mile appellation are setting the standard for Northwest winemaking -- especially when it comes to Merlots and Cabernet Sauvignons.
Read MoreMt. Saint Helens National Park
Why it's cool: volcano aftermathEstimated Time to add-on: 1-2 days
Approximate Distance from SeaTac Airport:__________
At 8:32 Sunday morning, May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens erupted. Shaken by an earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale, the north face of this tall symmetrical mountain collapsed in a massive rock debris avalanche. Nearly 230 square miles of forest was blown over or left dead and standing. At the same time a mushroom-shaped column of ash rose thousands of feet skyward and drifted downwind, turning day into night as dark, gray ash fell over eastern Washington and beyond. The eruption lasted 9 hours, but Mount St. Helens and the surrounding landscape were dramatically changed within moments.
Read MoreGlacier National Park
Why it's cool: Canada/US joint venture, Glaciers, Glacial run-offEstimated Time to add-on: 2-4 days
Approximate Distance from SeaTac Airport: 550 miles (8.5 hours) see map
Glacier National Park offers a wide variety of recreational activities. Popular activities include camping, hiking, boating, fishing, backcountry camping, bicycling, ranger-led nature hikes and talks, horseback riding, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and sightseeing.
Read MoreThe Columbia River Gorge & Amphitheater
Why it's cool: Lollapalooza meets Grand CanyonEstimated time to add-on: 1 day
Approximate Distance from SeaTac Airport: 100 miles (2 hours) see map
Carved in the high basalt cliffs overlooking the Columbia River gorge, the lawn-covered terraces of the Gorge amphitheatre are the hottest destination for the concert enthusiasts in the Pacific Northwest. A magnificent view, often compared to the scenic beauty of the Grand Canyon, and outstanding acoustics have earned the facility recognition as a "venue of choice" for major artists worldwide. Lovely weather to the tune of more than 310 days of sunshine per year, with the temperatures in the 70-90 degree range from spring to fall, enabled the 20,000 seat Gorge amphitheatre to host 25 concerts in the 2001 season. Over the years, it has staged performances by some of the biggest names in show business including: Aerosmith, Jimmy Buffett, Britney Spears, Tina Turner, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, KISS, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Chicago, Joni Mitchell, Dave Matthews, Phish, Metallica, Rod Stewart, Creation Festival, Van Halen, James Taylor, Paul Simon, KUBE Jam, BB King, Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, Shania Twain, John Mellencamp, Lillith Fair, Ozzfest, Motley Crue, Santana and many, many more.
Read More: Amphitheater, Ellensburg