Washington State
Sept. 5 - 9, 2017 (5D4N): Leg 2 of our 10 day journey to the Pacific Northwest. We visited Vancouver - Mt. Baker - San Juan Islands - Seattle during this trip. Unfortunately the sky was covered in smug due to the wildfires, but we still got to sample everything the Emerald city was able to offer!!
*Highly Recommended Food & Accommodation
Day 1
1:50-2:20pm: Border crossing @ Sumas
Drive to Glacier for Mt. Baker Ranger station ($5 parking)
Artist Ridge Trail @ Mt. Baker (1.5 mile RT; views of Mt. Shuksan)
Shop @ The Oulet Shoppes at Burlington (Lululemon & Nike)
Dinner @ Aslan Brewing*
Drive to Springhill Suites by Marriott Bellingham* (more parking in the basement)
Day 2
Breakfast @ hotel
9:05am: Ferry to San Juan Island (take the car on the ferry)
10:10am: Friday Harbor
English Camp (free)
Pass by Krystal Acres Alpaca Farm and Country Store (photo with Alpaca)
Lime Kiln Point State Park (to watch whales cavorting in Haro Strait; $5 parking or free with state park parking permit)
Walk around the shops @ Friday Harbor
Lunch @ Pier one Fish and brew
2:15pm: Ferry to Orcas
Orcas Island Pottery (cool tree house & garden)
Eastsound
Rosario Resort & Spa/Moran Museum (do not miss!)
5:15-6:20pm: Ferry back to Anacortes
Stay @ Nantucket Inn*
Walk around town of Anacortes (Commercial Ave, check out murals)
Dinner @ Adrift*
Drink wine @ Inn’s outdoor fire pits
Day 3
Breakfast @ Inn
11am: Future of the Flight Aviation Center & Boeing tour (suggested duration 90-120 mins)
Olympic Sculpture Park (skip if running short on time)
Check in @ Kimpton Palladian*
Bike to Seattle waterfront
Pork bun @ Mee Sum Pastry*
Lunch/Happy Hour oysters @ Elliott’s Oyster House (did not enjoy the oysters)
Bike to Pioneer Square
5-6pm: Wine hour @ the hotel
Walk to Pike Place Market:
Flower Market
First Starbuck’s
Go down to the basement when the stores are closed
Farmers Market
Walk to Starbucks Roastery* (opens till 11pm; try their mocktail)
Dinner @ Sushi Kashiba* (best black cod)
Day 4
Morning stroll of the Pike Place - fish market
Breakfast @ Piroshky Piroshky*
Lunch @ Microsoft food court (best fish & chips) with a friend
Tour Microsoft + Visitor Center
Snoqualmie Falls (park for free at the public lot across the hotel)
Hike down towards the water & the fall (2 different trails once you get to the lower level parking lot, alternatively, you can drive to the other lot instead of hiking; ~1.5hr RT)
Drive to wineries in Woodinville
Dinner @ Facing East*
Stay with a friend in Kirkland
Day 5
Kerry Park for one of the best views of Seattle
Brunch @ Dough Zone dumpling house
Drive to Vancouver/Cross @ Peace Arch
Meet friend @ Richmond Centre
Dinner @ Toshi Sushi*
Bubble tea @ Dragon Ball Tea House
10:50pm: Flight to NYC
Other points of interest
Bellingham
San Juan Island
San Juan Island National Historic Park (free)
Moran state Park ($10 parking or free with state park parking permit) & Town of Olga in Orcas
Seattle
Hike at Mt. Rainier: go to Paradise and hike that area, see some ice caves and wildflowers, then later hike through the ape cave, and then swing by Mt St Helens.
Tips
The fare for Washington State Ferry to San Juan Island is based on the furthest westbound point you have to travel to when starting at Anacortes. So for instance, if you plan to visit Friday Harbor as well as Orcas or Shaw islands, you will need to reserve your tickets for Friday Harbor (furthest point west), make that as your first stop and continue your journey eastward to Orcas (2nd stop) and Shaw (3rd stop) before returning to Anacortes.
If you are boarding the ferry with a vehicle, make sure to reserve slot for the ferry online
