Where Ya Been?

[El_Jefe]

I'm slowly realizing that a Pacific Northwest trip needs to be shrunken down to a much smaller area. Any suggestions around Seattle and Olympic NP, and surroundings, would be appreciated. I'm thinking even adding in North Cascades is too much.

Of course it depends on how long you'll be there ...

About 10 years ago we (brother, dad, and I) went to Seattle + Vancouver for a week. We did not do Olympic or Cascades, but did do Mt Rainier.

Seattle:
- Seattle is limited as a tourist city, can do it in 2d, 3d max. But it has beautiful waterfront views in many places. My favorite: on a clear day, you can see Mt. Rainier from Husky Stadium as if it's 5 mi away -- it's really 90 min away.
- Do the standard tourist stuff: Space Needle, Jimi Hendrix Experience (now Museum of Pop Culture), Chihuly Glass Museum, etc. Pike Place Market is severely overrated, can skip that, but some of the market restaurants are good if you're already there.
- Severely underrated: Seattle Underground Tour (starts downtown near Pioneer Square) and the Japanese Garden (in a quiet residential area in the east side of town). Do these.
- Plan to eat a lot of Asian and seafood (especially king, sockeye, and coho salmon, halibut, and dungeness crab). Ivar's is good -- go to the one on Northlake just off I-5. Also lots of good places in West Seattle, that feel more like Annapolis than a major city.
- Seattle has big problems with homelessness and political violence. Pay attention and be wary of downtown and Capitol Hill (the hipster district that the city allowed anarchists to take over in 2020). If you do either, be aware of the situation (and hopefully it's ok that day).
- Traffic is very nearly as bad as LA and SF. There are very few ways in and out. Plan accordingly.

Mt. Rainier is about 90 min S of Seattle. We did it as a day trip, but it is a long day. Plan to leave early. Also, I think you now need to reserve entry.

Between Seattle and Vancouver: do the Boeing factory tour. It's about 1 hr N of the city, so best done to/from Vancouver (or to/from Cascades). Bellingham is a decent pit stop if you need to stretch your legs, but not a priority.

Vancouver:
- Vancouver is a very pleasant city but kinda boring. And expensive. Manhattan thinks Vancouver is expensive.
- In town, do Sun Yat-Sen Chinese Garden and walk around Chinatown. Drive or bike thru Stanley Park, then take the bridge to North Vancouver and walk over Capilano Suspension Bridge. Do the markets on Granville Island.
- Take the car ferry to Victoria, which is a lot like Annapolis. While on the Vancouver Island, definitely do Butchart Gardens. Can be done in a day, does not need an overnight. Definitely need a car, ferry terminal is about 30 min from Victoria, and Butchart is in between.

Don't take a ferry across the border between Seattle and Vancouver. Passport control on both sides can make the boat ride much longer than driving. Consider the ferry between Olympic NP and Vancouver Island (Victoria BC) -- but first check the ferry schedules.

 

[amattaro]

I'm slowly realizing that a Pacific Northwest trip needs to be shrunken down to a much smaller area. Any suggestions around Seattle and Olympic NP, and surroundings, would be appreciated. I'm thinking even adding in North Cascades is too much.

Many childless years ago my wife and I circled the Olympic peninsula and also hit Mt St Helens, Mt Rainier, and Crater Lake. They are all definitely worth seeing. The diversity across Olympic is amazing. We are planning on taking the kids to see them but will probably do Olympic and North Cascades in one trip and the volcanoes/Crater Lake/Bend in another. Maybe when track and field team trials are going on.

 

[AgSurfer]

I'm slowly realizing that a Pacific Northwest trip needs to be shrunken down to a much smaller area. Any suggestions around Seattle and Olympic NP, and surroundings, would be appreciated. I'm thinking even adding in North Cascades is too much.

Stay out of Seattle. It used to be a nice place to visit but it’s now not much better than Oakland.

Go to Mt Rainier and/or the Olympics for awesome natural scenery. A trip to the San Juan Islands is also worth it.

And go between mid July to mid August for the best weather unless you want a rainy vacation.

 

[HikeNatParks]

My wife and I are still trying to figure out what to do for vacation in June this year. We went to Yellowstone and Grand Teton last year and we absolutely loved it. My son also enjoyed it and suggested we go out west to another national park this year.

I'm looking for advice from anyone that's been to a few of them and suggestions on what you believe are the most beautiful parks to visit in June.

One of my favorites is Glacier National Park, but I’ve never gone in June. We like September, for cooler hiking weather and fewer crowds. If you don’t mind a relatively level hike, take in just a few miles of Highline Trail (see me below).
The other shots are a grizzly on the eastern side of Going-to-the-Sun Road near St Mary Lake, and Lake Sherburne, on the way back to the Many Glacier area (a must see). Maybe others can actually give precise suggestions for where they've visited in June. I wish you good weather wherever you choose!

 

[AgSurfer]

Our view from our back deck in Bonney Lake.

 

[RockySmith]

I’m following the Big10s from Chile today.

Retired 18 months ago, and have been traveling a lot since, doing all the things I never had time to do.

Our friends invited us to whitewater raft in one of their bucket list locations, on the Futaleufú River here in Patagonia. The area is a bit like PA, if Pennsylvania had turquoise rivers and glaciers. The mountains also remind me of the Canadian Rockies more than the Appalacians.

My wife and I had never rafted before, but it’s great. About 5 days of class 4/5 whitewater, plus 2 days of inflatable ducky kayaks on class 2-3+, plus a 7 mile hike with 3000 feet of elevation gain to a glacial lake. Nice cabins each night, hot tubs, etc. The weather was dicey, with rain about half the time and morning lows between 30-45 degrees. But we also had some warm and sunny days.

Anyway, I recommend it if you ever get the chance.

Like this:

Futaleufu Multi-Sport Adventure | Earth River Expeditions

Experience Chile’s Futaleufú like never before—raft, kayak, hike, bike, and canyon on a world-class multi-sport adventure with Earth River.

earthriver.com

 

[El_Jefe]

We're going to Italy for 2 weeks in early October. Flying into Naples, return from TBD.

It'll be like multiple trips: earlier segments with in-laws, then just wife + me.

1. Business trip for BIL, attending a conference in Capri for 2d, likely staying on the island. Wife and I will be watching the 2 teenage nieces -- the dramatic 9th grader, and the 7th grader who needs to be surgically removed from her tablet and only eats french fries. Guessing we'll spend 1 day around the island, other day taking ferry to Amalfi Coast, see Positano and one other town (Amalfi or Ravello?).

2. Naples for 3 days with the family. Not sure what we'll do in this time (other than eat pizza). Nieces have been to Pompeii and Herculaneum earlier this year, so wife and I will do these separately. We don't need to spend this entire time with the family, but we will likely spend some of each day together.

3. About another week to see more of Naples + some other part of southern Italy. Wife wants to go to Sardinia or Sicily.

Will be my first trip to this part of Italy. Wife and BIL have been to Naples/Amalfi Coast in their childhood but not since. We will not be renting cars, everything needs to be public transit, boats, planes, or taxis.

Any thoughts?

 

[Corby2]

We're going to Italy for 2 weeks in early October. Flying into Naples, return from TBD.

It'll be like multiple trips: earlier segments with in-laws, then just wife + me.

1. Business trip for BIL, attending a conference in Capri for 2d, likely staying on the island. Wife and I will be watching the 2 teenage nieces -- the dramatic 9th grader, and the 7th grader who needs to be surgically removed from her tablet and only eats french fries. Guessing we'll spend 1 day around the island, other day taking ferry to Amalfi Coast, see Positano and one other town (Amalfi or Ravello?).

2. Naples for 3 days with the family. Not sure what we'll do in this time (other than eat pizza). Nieces have been to Pompeii and Herculaneum earlier this year, so wife and I will do these separately. We don't need to spend this entire time with the family, but we will likely spend some of each day together.

3. About another week to see more of Naples + some other part of southern Italy. Wife wants to go to Sardinia or Sicily.

Will be my first trip to this part of Italy. Wife and BIL have been to Naples/Amalfi Coast in their childhood but not since. We will not be renting cars, everything needs to be public transit, boats, planes, or taxis.

Any thoughts?

If you've never been to Rome I would recommend it. The train ride is quick and easy . Bari is also a place I would stop it's on the east coast we drove it was 3 hours from Naples

 

[OzarkLion]

Palermo was a lot of fun. Lots of 7th and 8th century cathedrals and other architecture. The catacombs were sort of eerie, but I'm happy I got to experience it. The theater from Godfather is in the city. When I was there, the soccer team was playing Rome in the national championships, so the whole city was a party. May have skewed the entertainment factor in their favor. Food was great, either way!

 

[PUR158]

View attachment 1208202
Our view from our back deck in Bonney Lake.

Lived on Whidbey for 2 years...hoping to head back that way later in life.

 

[Cali_Nittany1]

We're going to Italy for 2 weeks in early October. Flying into Naples, return from TBD.

It'll be like multiple trips: earlier segments with in-laws, then just wife + me.

1. Business trip for BIL, attending a conference in Capri for 2d, likely staying on the island. Wife and I will be watching the 2 teenage nieces -- the dramatic 9th grader, and the 7th grader who needs to be surgically removed from her tablet and only eats french fries. Guessing we'll spend 1 day around the island, other day taking ferry to Amalfi Coast, see Positano and one other town (Amalfi or Ravello?).

2. Naples for 3 days with the family. Not sure what we'll do in this time (other than eat pizza). Nieces have been to Pompeii and Herculaneum earlier this year, so wife and I will do these separately. We don't need to spend this entire time with the family, but we will likely spend some of each day together.

3. About another week to see more of Naples + some other part of southern Italy. Wife wants to go to Sardinia or Sicily.

Will be my first trip to this part of Italy. Wife and BIL have been to Naples/Amalfi Coast in their childhood but not since. We will not be renting cars, everything needs to be public transit, boats, planes, or taxis.

Any thoughts?

The palace in Caserta can be a day trip out of Naples.

 

[El_Jefe]

If you've never been to Rome I would recommend it. The train ride is quick and easy . Bari is also a place I would stop it's on the east coast we drove it was 3 hours from Naples

Very good chance we'll get a day or so in Rome at the end. The return flights to PHL from Sardinia and Sicily are atrocious -- require an airport change at the connection city, or an overnight in a non-EU city (so we'd have to deal with immigration and the like, just to see nothing but a hotel room), or both.

So we'll wind up doing a re-positioning flight somewhere. Could be Milan, Barcelona, or Madrid, but most likely it'll be Rome.

Bari is out. We're not renting a car. Maybe another trip.

 

[Pointingdogsrule]

We're going to Italy for 2 weeks in early October. Flying into Naples, return from TBD.

It'll be like multiple trips: earlier segments with in-laws, then just wife + me.

1. Business trip for BIL, attending a conference in Capri for 2d, likely staying on the island. Wife and I will be watching the 2 teenage nieces -- the dramatic 9th grader, and the 7th grader who needs to be surgically removed from her tablet and only eats french fries. Guessing we'll spend 1 day around the island, other day taking ferry to Amalfi Coast, see Positano and one other town (Amalfi or Ravello?).

2. Naples for 3 days with the family. Not sure what we'll do in this time (other than eat pizza). Nieces have been to Pompeii and Herculaneum earlier this year, so wife and I will do these separately. We don't need to spend this entire time with the family, but we will likely spend some of each day together.

3. About another week to see more of Naples + some other part of southern Italy. Wife wants to go to Sardinia or Sicily.

Will be my first trip to this part of Italy. Wife and BIL have been to Naples/Amalfi Coast in their childhood but not since. We will not be renting cars, everything needs to be public transit, boats, planes, or taxis.

Any thoughts?

Sicily last September. Amazing, so much to see. Don’t know where you would start. Maybe fly into Catania? Mt Etna is close.

 

[Kingslayer]

Sicily last September. Amazing, so much to see. Don’t know where you would start. Maybe fly into Catania? Mt Etna is close.

Been in Italy for the last couple of weeks and have an another week or so. I was disappointed in Amalfi and wished I skipped it , much more crowded than 6 years ago. Loved Ravenna , Florence , Sienna , Orvieto. Currently in Trieste which is great . Used trains only to move around . All the ticket machines have the option of using English. Very helpful ticket booths.

 

[Headlock]

We're going to Italy for 2 weeks in early October. Flying into Naples, return from TBD.

It'll be like multiple trips: earlier segments with in-laws, then just wife + me.

1. Business trip for BIL, attending a conference in Capri for 2d, likely staying on the island. Wife and I will be watching the 2 teenage nieces -- the dramatic 9th grader, and the 7th grader who needs to be surgically removed from her tablet and only eats french fries. Guessing we'll spend 1 day around the island, other day taking ferry to Amalfi Coast, see Positano and one other town (Amalfi or Ravello?).

2. Naples for 3 days with the family. Not sure what we'll do in this time (other than eat pizza). Nieces have been to Pompeii and Herculaneum earlier this year, so wife and I will do these separately. We don't need to spend this entire time with the family, but we will likely spend some of each day together.

3. About another week to see more of Naples + some other part of southern Italy. Wife wants to go to Sardinia or Sicily.

Will be my first trip to this part of Italy. Wife and BIL have been to Naples/Amalfi Coast in their childhood but not since. We will not be renting cars, everything needs to be public transit, boats, planes, or taxis.

Any thoughts?

An amazing trip with so many places to see. We spent 10 days home-based in Tuscany last summer and then traveled to Florence, Siena, San Gimignano and Rome. Side street cafes and viewing the architecture makes you feel like you are in a movie. If you like reading Grisham, get a copy of The Broker and you'll want to learn the language and visit Bologna.
Be safe from pick-pockets and travel safely.

 

[1995PSUGrad]

My daughter is going to be in Florence next semester, so my wife and I are planning to go see her for about 10 days. We have to go to Florence and my daughter wants us to take her to Paris. My wife wants to get to Venice, so we will try to do all three for a few days each. I have been to Paris, but I only spent about 10 minutes in Italy so I really don't have much of a plan so far.

 

[El_Jefe]

My daughter is going to be in Florence next semester, so my wife and I are planning to go see her for about 10 days. We have to go to Florence and my daughter wants us to take her to Paris. My wife wants to get to Venice, so we will try to do all three for a few days each. I have been to Paris, but I only spent about 10 minutes in Italy so I really don't have much of a plan so far.

Can't help with Florence, but have been to Venice. Hotel location is less critical than merely being in the city -- because the "suburbs" are on the mainland and you don't want to rely on the boat schedule to get to/from your room. (Also Venice has a commuter tax for tourists staying on the mainland, waived for those staying on the islands.) And don't assume all hotels have elevators or A/C.

The top thing to do in Venice is wander around aimlessly -- and you'll do this at some point regardless because a lot of the streets aren't marked. In the pre-Google Maps days, you had to recognize landmarks near your hotel such as various stores. (The 2nd thing to do in Venice is to avoid becoming pigeon bombing target practice on Piazza San Marco.)

Also try to avoid eating the overpriced mediocre tourist food around Piazza San Marco. Lots of very good food in other areas as you wander about.

For your flights: be aware that some airlines go to Treviso instead of VCE. Treviso is about 30 min further out, not a huge deal, but something to know before booking. It matters more for the departure than for the arrival.

 

[RockySmith]

My daughter is going to be in Florence next semester, so my wife and I are planning to go see her for about 10 days. We have to go to Florence and my daughter wants us to take her to Paris. My wife wants to get to Venice, so we will try to do all three for a few days each. I have been to Paris, but I only spent about 10 minutes in Italy so I really don't have much of a plan so far.

You should see Cinque Terre one day, you won’t regret it, believe me.

We also did an incredible cooking class with Walkabout Florence Tours. Ive done cooking classes many places, but this is the best.

 

[LostInTransition]

My daughter is going to be in Florence next semester, so my wife and I are planning to go see her for about 10 days. We have to go to Florence and my daughter wants us to take her to Paris. My wife wants to get to Venice, so we will try to do all three for a few days each. I have been to Paris, but I only spent about 10 minutes in Italy so I really don't have much of a plan so far.

When in Florence I highly recommend Trattoria da Benvenuto. Best meals I've ever had, traditional Tuscan food. If your up for it get the "Fiorentina", if not, there's more modest entrees on the menu. The first time I was there I had fettucine with cream truffle sauce and a grilled filet and I've eaten there 4 more times, unfortunately, the last was in 2004. Time to get back to Italy. My niece did a semester there in 2009 and ate there once a week.

I've sent a lot of friends there and none have been disappointed. Just be sure to give me an update when you get back.

 

[tullfan68]

Of course it depends on how long you'll be there ...

About 10 years ago we (brother, dad, and I) went to Seattle + Vancouver for a week. We did not do Olympic or Cascades, but did do Mt Rainier.

Seattle:
- Seattle is limited as a tourist city, can do it in 2d, 3d max. But it has beautiful waterfront views in many places. My favorite: on a clear day, you can see Mt. Rainier from Husky Stadium as if it's 5 mi away -- it's really 90 min away.
- Do the standard tourist stuff: Space Needle, Jimi Hendrix Experience (now Museum of Pop Culture), Chihuly Glass Museum, etc. Pike Place Market is severely overrated, can skip that, but some of the market restaurants are good if you're already there.
- Severely underrated: Seattle Underground Tour (starts downtown near Pioneer Square) and the Japanese Garden (in a quiet residential area in the east side of town). Do these.
- Plan to eat a lot of Asian and seafood (especially king, sockeye, and coho salmon, halibut, and dungeness crab). Ivar's is good -- go to the one on Northlake just off I-5. Also lots of good places in West Seattle, that feel more like Annapolis than a major city.
- Seattle has big problems with homelessness and political violence. Pay attention and be wary of downtown and Capitol Hill (the hipster district that the city allowed anarchists to take over in 2020). If you do either, be aware of the situation (and hopefully it's ok that day).
- Traffic is very nearly as bad as LA and SF. There are very few ways in and out. Plan accordingly.

Mt. Rainier is about 90 min S of Seattle. We did it as a day trip, but it is a long day. Plan to leave early. Also, I think you now need to reserve entry.

Between Seattle and Vancouver: do the Boeing factory tour. It's about 1 hr N of the city, so best done to/from Vancouver (or to/from Cascades). Bellingham is a decent pit stop if you need to stretch your legs, but not a priority.

Vancouver:
- Vancouver is a very pleasant city but kinda boring. And expensive. Manhattan thinks Vancouver is expensive.
- In town, do Sun Yat-Sen Chinese Garden and walk around Chinatown. Drive or bike thru Stanley Park, then take the bridge to North Vancouver and walk over Capilano Suspension Bridge. Do the markets on Granville Island.
- Take the car ferry to Victoria, which is a lot like Annapolis. While on the Vancouver Island, definitely do Butchart Gardens. Can be done in a day, does not need an overnight. Definitely need a car, ferry terminal is about 30 min from Victoria, and Butchart is in between.

Don't take a ferry across the border between Seattle and Vancouver. Passport control on both sides can make the boat ride much longer than driving. Consider the ferry between Olympic NP and Vancouver Island (Victoria BC) -- but first check the ferry schedules.

when I was in the Navy homeported in Long Beach we made a cruise up the coast and enjoyed Portland Seattle and Vancouver reminded me of my hometown on Erie,Pa but more rain!as for Cali not so much to many people!

 

[Headlock]

My daughter is going to be in Florence next semester, so my wife and I are planning to go see her for about 10 days. We have to go to Florence and my daughter wants us to take her to Paris. My wife wants to get to Venice, so we will try to do all three for a few days each. I have been to Paris, but I only spent about 10 minutes in Italy so I really don't have much of a plan so far.

One of my sons got married in Paris giving us a reason to spend 7 days seeing the Louvre, Versailles Palace and the underground catacombs while partaking in street side cafes. If you read Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code before you go it will feel like your third visit.

 

[SleepyLion]

One of my sons got married in Paris giving us a reason to spend 7 days seeing the Louvre, Versailles Palace and the underground catacombs while partaking in street side cafes. If you read Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code before you go it will feel like your third visit.

There are 23 places in the USA named Paris. Your son got married in one of those towns and you thought it was in France. At least you saw some nice sights, but missed the wedding.