Portland, Oregon/Seattle, Washington trip

[nkereina]

I've only been to Seattle once and it was a few years back (visiting a relative in Tumwater), but three things I remember the best - lunch at Lunchbox Laboratory, visiting Mt. Rainier, and the Seattle duck tour. The duck tour is a campy tourist thing but it was a good way to see much of the city in a short amount of time. The boat part of the tour took us through the house boat area of Lake Union and past the Sleepless in Seattle house boat! So we saw some cool things on that tour.

 

[Kirby]

I haven't been to Seattle but I've spent a few weeks in Portland here and there.

Definitely second McMenamin's, the Jet Boat, and the Japanese Garden/zoo area.

For breakfast one morning try Stepping Stone Cafe for huge hearty meals, "mancakes" and great coffee.

We've done a road trip to Mt Hood and loved it, lots of farmstands along the way, the river gorge is stunning and the Timberline Lodge is where the exteriors of The Shining were filmed. It's a beautiful place to walk around for a few hours.

The OMSI, Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, is a great place, laser show, planetarium, science labs, etc. The theater they have there is incredible.

Goose Hollow and The Pearl districts are great places to roam around for dining and shopping.

And don't forget Powell's Books if your a reader, overwhelming!

Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day! And I love to read. I've always got a book going.

I've only been to Seattle once and it was a few years back (visiting a relative in Tumwater), but three things I remember the best - lunch at Lunchbox Laboratory, visiting Mt. Rainier, and the Seattle duck tour. The duck tour is a campy tourist thing but it was a good way to see much of the city in a short amount of time. The boat part of the tour took us through the house boat area of Lake Union and past the Sleepless in Seattle house boat! So we saw some cool things on that tour.

I'm always in for a campy tourist outing.

 

[Meriweather]

I lived in the area for over 30 years....and love the duck boat. So fun.
Mt. Rainier, Mt St Helens and whale watching are things I still do when going back.

 

[Kirby]

I lived in the area for over 30 years....and love the duck boat. So fun.
Mt. Rainier, Mt St Helens and whale watching are things I still do when going back.

I was hoping that you would chime in. If you hadn't, I was going to contact you.

 

[bcla]

I've only been to Seattle once and it was a few years back (visiting a relative in Tumwater), but three things I remember the best - lunch at Lunchbox Laboratory, visiting Mt. Rainier, and the Seattle duck tour. The duck tour is a campy tourist thing but it was a good way to see much of the city in a short amount of time. The boat part of the tour took us through the house boat area of Lake Union and past the Sleepless in Seattle house boat! So we saw some cool things on that tour.

Didn't you hear about the duck boat accident in Seattle? They were crossing a bridge with narrow lanes, the axle broke, and the boat slammed into a charter bus. They were shut down for months as the state investigated. They're not allowed on the bridge any more, and they ended up going through tons of safety improvements. The one big thing was that passengers were thrown off the duck boat.

The Ride the Ducks franchise in San Francisco closed shop after one duck boat hit a pedestrian. The city then wouldn't allow them to operate unless they would use a separate narrator so the driver could concentrate on driving. They said they couldn't afford that and closed.

 

[nkereina]

Didn't you hear about the duck boat accident in Seattle? They were crossing a bridge with narrow lanes, the axle broke, and the boat slammed into a charter bus. They were shut down for months as the state investigated. They're not allowed on the bridge any more, and they ended up going through tons of safety improvements. The one big thing was that passengers were thrown off the duck boat.

The Ride the Ducks franchise in San Francisco closed shop after one duck boat hit a pedestrian. The city then wouldn't allow them to operate unless they would use a separate narrator so the driver could concentrate on driving. They said they couldn't afford that and closed.

I do seem to recall something about that. I'm on the east coast and in a city that doesn't have a duck tour, so not highly publicized here. That's horrible what happened. That said, duck tours have been in many cities for a long time with multiple tours every day. Accidents on the road are just as likely for anyone. It wouldn't stop me from going on the tour - I've been on many of them in various cities.

 

[xlxo]

My concern about duck boats is the large blind spots under the hulls in city traffic.

 

[Meriweather]

I was hoping that you would chime in. If you hadn't, I was going to contact you.

I can tell you more. And still have a dear friend that lives there.
I go to visit her once a year.
She had never done the whale watch or gone on a duck boat, so new experiences for her and she has lived in the area for over 60 years.
I hate driving downtown. We go just as far as Seattle Center and park and walk around there and then hop on the monorail and go downtown to look around......but that is not really site seeing
She had also never done the underground tour. It was interesting.
And Pikes Place is always a must along with a walk along the pier. Interesting shops.....especially Ye Ole Curiosity Shop.

 

[Kirby]

I can tell you more. And still have a dear friend that lives there.
I go to visit her once a year.
She had never done the whale watch or gone on a duck boat, so new experiences for her and she has lived in the area for over 60 years.
I hate driving downtown. We go just as far as Seattle Center and park and walk around there and then hop on the monorail and go downtown to look around......but that is not really site seeing
She had also never done the underground tour. It was interesting.
And Pikes Place is always a must along with a walk along the pier. Interesting shops.....especially Ye Ole Curiosity Shop.

Isn't that always the case? We never go see things in our own area. You wouldn't believe how little I've done in the DFW area and I was born and raised here.

 

[Meriweather]

Isn't that always the case? We never go see things in our own area. You wouldn't believe how little I've done in the DFW area and I was born and raised here.

It is true.....the year DS got married we decided not to take a vacation away from the area and every month did a local tourist thing.
Very fun.

 

[Monykalyn]

And don't forget Powell's Books if your a reader, overwhelming!

I could have spent an entire day here! I only came out with 4 books and Powell's coffee mug.

I shouldn't have clicked on this thread-we went to Portland this past July for 4 days prior to a company meeting at Skamania Lodge. Could have spent a month exploring Oregon/Washington and still be left wanting more!

If you like to try craft beers there is a place on practically every corner in Pearl district. We found it is really easy to walk in Portland, took trolley to the Rose and Japanese Garden-just stunning! and the falls are spectacular. We didn't rent a car until we left to drive to see Multnomah Falls. We weren't going to rent car at all (Company provided transport from airport to lodge but we were told to not miss the falls). The Bridge of the Gods is aptly named-STUNNING views. And we did stop for smoked salmon from "the Indian on other side of bridge" (literally-those were the directions)
We also did a walking tour (found Portlandia!) and a haunted pub tour.
OP please do a mini trip report??

 

[Kirby]

It is true.....the year DS got married we decided not to take a vacation away from the area and every month did a local tourist thing.
Very fun.

Maybe I could talk my husband into doing something like that here.

I could have spent an entire day here! I only came out with 4 books and Powell's coffee mug.

I shouldn't have clicked on this thread-we went to Portland this past July for 4 days prior to a company meeting at Skamania Lodge. Could have spent a month exploring Oregon/Washington and still be left wanting more!

If you like to try craft beers there is a place on practically every corner in Pearl district. We found it is really easy to walk in Portland, took trolley to the Rose and Japanese Garden-just stunning! and the falls are spectacular. We didn't rent a car until we left to drive to see Multnomah Falls. We weren't going to rent car at all (Company provided transport from airport to lodge but we were told to not miss the falls). The Bridge of the Gods is aptly named-STUNNING views. And we did stop for smoked salmon from "the Indian on other side of bridge" (literally-those were the directions)
We also did a walking tour (found Portlandia!) and a haunted pub tour.
OP please do a mini trip report??

A mini trip report, I can do that. Where did you stay when you were in Portland? Was it at Skamania Lodge or somewhere else?