Hi outdoor enthusiasts ~

Anyone knows of what to do if you have 6 days in Seattle area & surroundings?
Anyone from Washington state in this group or have visited WA?
What would you recommend?
Mt St Helens volcano, Olympic national park, or other? Will visit beginning of September.
So far we are planning whale watching from San Juan island. Do you know if you
can see the volcano from Seattle or where you can go for a great lookout point?

appreciate it,
Thanks,
Kristine

I haven't been there in about 25 yrs, but Mt. Ranier is an active volcano nearby along with North Cascades, a national park. I think Mt. St Helens is quite a ways out(in Oregon?). Last time I saw Mt. St. Helen's, it was just a brown mess - shortly after eruption. There's also lovely shopping areas near the waterfront. You probably have great viewing from the Space Needle. You will LOVE it whatever you decide to do!

Kristine,

What worked for me was to go to Seattle Meetup and search "hiking"or something comparable. There are so many groups and you can either join them or get ideas from their activities. I arrived on a Thursday night and was on my first hike Saturday AM.

I was out there for about 6 weeks this spring and would be happy to talk to you.

Enjoy!

Kay

Here is some of the stuff I have done in Seattle area:

Paradise on Mt. Rainier NP, hiking trails there.
Submarine Museum in Bremerton
Ride the ferry at night, city lights were nice (over and back maybe $2)
Sea kayak at Bar Harbor, no whales but Sea Otters, check the Pig War while on the island
Visited McDonnell aircraft plant (525 acres under one roof)
Experience Music Project, Paul Allen of Microsoft built it
Space Needle
St Helens
Hoh rain forest in Olympic NP
Rialto Beach on the coast, has a big rock with a hole in it, neat driftwood
Ride the Tram
Pike Fish Market, they throw fish to the customers
REI mother store
Visit Pioneer Square, Visit Klondike NP, VC there
If you are going to Olympic NP take a ferry it saves a lot of time

I just visited Seattle in June and went to Ruby Beach and to the Hoh rain forest which was incredible. Also did the ferry to Bremerton which was great fun. Have a blast! Ruth

My husband and I did a circle out of Seattle last summer. We left the airport and drove north to Anacortes, ferried thru all the San Juan Islands (hikes and biking available on all), then took the international ferry from Friday Harbor on San Juan Island to Vancouver Island. There we went salmon fishing at Campbell River (quite a ways north). Returning to Victoria, we boarded another ferry that took us back to the Olympic Peninsula and all it offers. Eventual return to airport. We bypassed Seattly itself because we had been there so many times. All ferries were car ferries. There is also a 4 hour ferry that will take you directly from downtown Seattle to Victoria. It is a jewel.

Reading the other postings, I would say most things around Seattle are covered. One thing that is missing is a drive up scenic and quaint Whidby Island. We were fortunate on our flight in to fly so close to Mt. Ranier that you felt you could reach out and touch it.

I lived in the Seattle area for 8 years- looks like most of the great locations have been mentioned in other posts. The Olympic Peninsula has Hurricane Ridge, Port Townsend, Port Angeles (quaint seaside towns)and the drive through to the Pacific Coast. Kalaloch Beach is amazing as is the whole coastal drive- this is a full day trip and includes a ferry ride if you leave from Seattle. The Hoh rain forest is on the drive across to the coast and is beautiful. The only other thing I would add is food/restaurants. Anthony's Home Port in Des Moines, Salty's at Redondo or West Seattle and lots of little spots over near Pikes Place Market for great fresh seafood. Some of the best steaks, oysters & PNW beer selection at FX McCrory's. TONS of good seafood eating in Seattle..check into it. Have fun!