Forget Seattle, See Someplace Else
(Day trips from Seattle)
| Leavenworth | Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium | Dungeness Spit | La Conner |
| Ape Caves | Baker Hot Springs |
- Leavenworth
I admit it. I love this place. It's a "Bavarian Village" set in the high Cascades northeast of Seattle. The best time to go is in the winter, when the town is all lit up for the holidays, and the stores stay open late to shop. The downside is the massive crowds. The upsides include snow, shopping, Bavarian food, the festive atmosphere, caroling, and more shopping. If you go during the summer months, the town offers many theatrical and musical entertainments, and it's in a beautiful alpine area with wildflowers, mountain streams, and views of the Cascades. Try not to let the McDonald's built to resemble an Alpine Chalet frighten you.If you go in the winter, I recommend taking the bus or train. The road through Steven's Pass can be a bit dicey in winter, and it's much nicer to just sit back and let someone else worry about it. If you insist on driving, be sure to check the road conditions, pack some chains and emergency roadside equipment, and consider taking a cell phone along.
- Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium
Did you know that if you make a simple one-letter typo, this becomes "Point Deviance Zoo"? That alone makes it a fun place. The beluga whales make it even more fun. They're great little critters, even though Raffi did write that horrible song about them. They have two aquariums on site, both a cold water and a tropical. Worth the trip south to Tacoma to visit! - Dungeness Spit
A trip for one of those rare sunny days. Take the ferry from Seattle to Bremerton, then head north on hiway 101 to Sequim (for you non-locals, that's pronounced "SKWIM"). The turnoff to Dungeness Wilderness Area is actually a bit west of town. Turn north on Kitchen-Dick Road (don't laugh. That's really the name of the road). Follow the signs to Dungeness Spit. It's a 216 acre wildlife preserve, and the highlight is the walk out along the spit. If you're a landlubber, a spit is a projection of land out into the water, in this case across New Dungeness Bay. There is a lighthouse out at the end of the spit, about a five mile beach walk. - La Conner
A pretty little portside town about 45 miles north of Seattle. Scenic enough that directors keep wanting to shoot films there, and La Conner instigated a fee for anyone who wants to do a movie there, to try and keep the roar to a minimum. Lots of Bed and Breakfasts, and a great place to take a charter and do some whale watching. Window-shoppers will find lots of things to look at, and in the spring, there are many flower fields nearby. - Ape Caves
Got the urge to explore? Feel like a little amateur spelunking? Head down to Mt. St. Helens and check out the Ape Caves. (No, there are no apes in them, and yes, it's safe to be that close to Mt. St. Helens). There are walks of various lengths and strenuousness available, from an easy .75 mile hike to the lower caves to the 1.5 mile, fairly athletic hike to the upper caves. Do bring: Warm clothes, good hiking shoes, flashlights, spare batteries, and consider matches and candles as well, just in case. It's completely unlit inside, and the temperature hovers around 42 degrees farenheight. There are guided tours available for the less adventurous as well during the summer months. - Baker Hot Springs
Oooh, what a feeling! The water is warm, the scenery is lovely, and the pool is sandy and big enough for more than a dozen people. This is an easy day trip from Seattle. Take along a water bottle and some munchies, a towel, a change of clothes, and don't forget some industrial-strength insect repellent for the biting black flies. (The flies won't bother you until you get out of the spring, then OUCH!) Don't wear anything into the springs that you don't want to smell like sulphur for about the next decade. The walk from the parking area is a very easy 1/4 mile...assuming the parking area is open again. When I went in May, there was a tree down in front of it and we had to park along the logging road about 50 yards back. May be impassable in winter through early May, depending on the amount of snowfall.
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