A few ???s regarding the state of Washington

[casa_mugrienta]

Wife and I are heading up for about 2 weeks in early August. Going to spend 5 or 6 days backpacking in the Cascades. Figure we'll spend the last 2 days in Seattle. We'll also have about 2.5 days in the middle to screw around doing stuff on the relaxing end of things. Not sure where.

So a few ?s for the trusted erBB knowledge basin:

- Recommendations for good seafood, anywhere in the state. Fish, crab, oysters.

- Anywhere we can pick up some squaw candy?

- Best island to ferry to?

- Any reason to drive out along the strait to the tip of the Olympic Peninsula?

- Other cool stuff you guys can recommend (not beer related)?

 

[Q_Surf]

sorry to say i haven't a clue - have only ranged into WA for flyfishing &/or work.

 

[b.r.]

my sister in law lives in Friday Harbor on San Juan Island, you get the ferry from anacortes, some nice state and national parks. lime kiln point is a rare place where you can see the Orcas from the shore, they come right up there to feed, its cool. lots of hiking not to strenuous though, good seafood and beers in town, cool old bowling alley, you can ferry to the other four islands in the chain, orcas island has more hiking and some cliffs to hang off of too! if you can do it go to Vancouver island and see hump, lots of fun to be had up there.

 

[Redeyes]

Marijuana is legal there, So you can enjoy it on the hikes instead of carrying a backpack for beers. That's my $0.02 about Washington

 

[silentbutdeadly]

Orcas island has a nice vista at the top that's pretty cool. Some hiking and camping there too. One of the best skateparks in the world but that probably doesn't do much for ya.
Wife has family on Lopez. I absolutely love it up there.

 

[byoda]

august is a great month to visit
generally buy seafood off the boats at westport
its pretty good
the san juan island ferry is real cool
but real crowded this time of year
the last 15 miles going out to neah bay along the strait
is perhaps one of the most picturesque drives
around who knows maybe some surf too

 

[Firebird]

See you there homey!!!!! My wife and I arrive Aug. 12.
Any of the ferries are worth the ride in itself. The Olympic Peninsula is absolutely worth the visit.
Eat at Jack's Fish Spot.
Go to a Mariners game. Way different than a MLB game in SoCal. Party atmosphere. Lots of people just standing on the concourse having a drink and watching the game while socializing.
Try a Sounders game. I haven't been but I understand its better than a Mariners game.
We have family in Poulsbo on Liberty Bay so that's our home base. We take the Bainbridge ferry to get there. Bainbridge Island is pretty cool. I'm not a wine drinker but my wife is. The Bainbridge Island Winery is a cool place to visit even if you aren't a wino.
Poulsbo is an old Scandinavian town. Kinda touristy but some good stuff to see.
We don't gamble but there are lots of deluxe Indian Casinos.
I've been going there every summer my whole life and I can tell you, pretty much anything around the Puget Sound is pretty damned cool. Especially in August because the weather is very favorable.

 

[afoaf]

my brother is up there. I will get some intel for you.

 

[Ifallalot]

Take the ferry from Seattle to Victoria and go to the museums there.

 

[afoaf]

Standard Stuff:

Pioneer Square > Seattle Underground Tour > Pike's Place > Monorail > Seattle Center

Other Thoughts:

Washington Park Arboretum
Chihuly Glass Museum (at night)
Queen Anne for food - Shiki (sushi) and Mezcaleria Oaxaca (mexican, duh)

In Pioneer Square you can try Flat Stick Pub...all local beers, a nine hole putt putt and other games

If you get sunny and clear weather, Bremerton Ferry for views of the city, sound, and Olympic mountains.

There is more to do on foot once you get to Bremerton

I would also look for highly rated oyster bars in downtown...there is A LOT of great oysters production
going on in the Puget Sound area which puts you in to the fresh stuff.

I recall The Brooklyn being good.

If you are mobile (car) I highly recommend you try the asada burrito at Casa D's in Bellvue.

It's the best burrito north of San Diego. The bring the heat; don't fk around.

 

[hammies]

Olympic Peninsula FTW, plus Mt. Baker and the San Juans are super cool. Seattle is a big city with the usual combo of cool things to do and big city problems.

And I know this sounds weird, but the Boeing factory tour in Everett is frigging amazing.

 

[$kully]

Good seafood pretty much everywhere. You're hard pressed to find a region of the country with better seafood.

San Juan islands are fantastic. Spent a week on Orcas where my sister got married 6yrs ago and fell in love with it. I highly recommend the inn at Orcas island where we stayed. Incredible oysters are farmed right on the island. Bought a knife and made regular trips to the gas station where local oysters were kept on ice. I probably at more oysters that week than I ever have. Lopes is pretty great as are so many other gems in the San Juans. You could probably devote your entire trip to hopping around the islands and be very happy.

I spend most of my time in Ballard where my sister lives so I know it better than other neighborhoods. It's kinda blown up and become real yuppified but there's some good stuff. If you want good cuban sandwiches hit up paseo for lunch one day. I'd send you to my sisters bar but new owners are really making it a sad state of affairs there.

I second going to M's and Sounders games.

The pacific nw is probably my favorite corner of this country. The right mix of culture, outdoor life, beautiful scenery and moderate climate. I could see myself being very happy ending up somewhere between Portland and Vancouver. If you haven't spend time up there you really should.

 

[casa_mugrienta]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. Mouth is already watering with all the oyster talk. Maybe I'll come back with gout.

 

[R3W]

I recall The Brooklyn being good.

Man, it is so weird to see the name of a place I used frequent but was completely lost to memory until you posted it.

Since it was twenty odd years ago, I guess it's a good sign that it's still around.

As far as local oysters go my favorites were always -

Westcott Bay Belons (aka Flats)
Penn Cove Selects
Chelsea Gems
Quilcene

And don't overlook the mussels.

 

[test_article]

Whenever I'm in the Port Townsend area I always visit Seajay's.

 

[flyinraptr]

If you're into it and the Mariner's are in town - catch a game a Safeco. One of the nicest ballparks in MLB.

 

[Autoprax]

My parents had property on orcus and lumy (sp) but sold it.

Thanks mom and dad!

 

[Mr Doof]

Though i only lived a state away, I don't know much, but, I think you should consider:

- visiting the oyster stands on Willapa Bay. I only know the ones on the sandspit coming up from Astoria. Do they still let you drive on Long Beach there?

- U pick raspberry farms near Bellingham. You should be able to work in a visit to one of them ass you make you way to the Twin Sisters Range or Mt. Baker.

- waterfalls and the swimming opportunities they present. I only know the one of the Lewis River. There are stacks of waterfalls in the NW. Great swimming...but choose one where you can lay on rocks (afterwards/during) that are in sunlight as that water is soul shriveling cold.

- islands in the Sound...I don't know if I could pick one out, all have their thing. But know that beach access on those islands is tough, property rights very different than California. International travel via ferry can be fun. See if you can rent a skiff somewhere and camp/travel by boat.

- Cape Flattery is worth the hike for me. Not worth it to others. hard to judge. Drive to Neah is neat if you don't have car driving experience in the NW forested lands, but it isn't like it is crazy super great view-wise for much of it.

 

[ShiverMeTimbers]

Lewis River is a really fun mtb ride too, mystical old growth forest with giant ferns all over the floor, its like riding thru Endor. We rode the whole thing backwards last year, that was a long day.

 

[teeroi]

We went to the EMP museum by the Space Needle. Experience Music Project. Hendrix, Heart, Nirvana displays.

Washington has some of the best skateparks in the world.

The Ballard Locks was interesting too. There's a fish ladder and the salmon go up it. There's a glass veiwing area.