Olympic Loop

Tip one: If you want to see the Rain Forest at it's best, do this trip when it's raining. Actually that is not hard to do--it rains there most of the time. However it doesn't rain (mostly) in August, so don't go then! There are several reasons for this: (1)all the other tourists are there; (2)whether it is because of this or whether it is their vacation time, all of the trolls, dwarves, fairies and other mysterious creatures (including Bigfoot) that hide in the strange mists that normally pervade this marvelous park disappear in the bright summer air. (3) The trees look sad, their yards of lichen drooping from the branches, awaiting the first refreshing fall storm. But, back to your trip--if you start early, you can do the Olympic Rain Forest in a day, with a short hike on a Pacific Ocean Beach at Kalaloch and a quick hike up the Hoh Rain Forest, dinner at the Three Crabs in Sequim (pronounced squim), and arrival back at the Villa at sunset, where you can look back and watch the sun setting over the magnificent peninsula you just circumnavigated. PS--yes, you may see the sun set from here--just because it's raining there does not mean we won't have a splendid day here!

Port Townsend

This port town is almost too cute--kind of like Monterey twenty years ago, for those of you familiar with California. Like that city it saw it's boom days long ago, started downhill, and then revitalized based on tourism. It is actually well known around these parts for it's Victorian B&B's and old hotels. So, yes, you could stay there and day trip to here--send us an e-mail if you want some help finding a place to stay there. Warning: in summer or on weekends, book early!  Port Townsend features lot's of shops and some neat parks, several festivals (jazz, folk, etc..) If you're not going for an event though, this is only a half day trip.
For a loop trip, you can take the ferry to Whidbey Island. From there, drive north through Deception Pass to La Conner, and the Tulip Fields. Shop their marvelous artisans, have dinner, and hit the freeway back "home" after Seattle rush hour traffic is done. This is another long day, but gives you a taste of Washington history, marvelous views , great food, gifts to take home, and a ferry ride-click here for a gallery of pictures.

-if you don't ride a ferry at some point on your trip to Puget Sound, you -- well, you just need to do it.

Mt. Rainier

Sometimes we Northwesterners actually forget about this mountain, easy to do when it is so frequently hidden from view. But it is truly awesome on a clear morning when the rising sun splashes the snow capped peak with a soft red glow and the clear air offers the illusion that you could reach out and touch the glaciers. Like the Olympics, this is a mythical and mystical place, but unlike them, you should go here in August --for you need to see Mt. Rainier in the sun. When fields of purple lupine decorate the slopes, ptarmigan plunge through the underbrush chasing their wayward chicks, deer become so friendly that you almost forget to revere their wild side, hoary marmots laze in the warm afternoon sun and the birds in the picnic areas perch  on your finger and join you for lunch. There simply is no place anywhere more wonderful.. If you want to hike you can avoid Paradise and its myriad of tourists by heading up to Mowich Lake.

To  circle  the mountain, the drive, including stops at Sunrise and Sunset Ranger Stations (can you guess which side of the mountain these are on?) with a stop at Paradise and a quick hike to the snowline makes for a long days drive, but one you'll never forget! 

Mt. St. Helen

Many years ago I was hiking in the Sierra Nevada when I heard what sounded like a bowling ball coming down the alley --from the pin's point of view. Suddenly the ground began to tremble and I realized I was experiencing an earthquake. You could see the avalanches starting on the hillsides around us--all in all, an awesome experience. The sight of Mt. St. Helens and the marvelous presentations done at the visitor center will help you experience some of that same awe. This was not some Hollywood special effect, this was real, and many people truly thought the world was ending. There is simply nothing else like this in the continental U.S., so you should take a day and do it --provided the weather lets you see the mountain (well, what is left of it!) If you want to hike into the crater, check with the rangers on current restrictions. . A friend of mine did this and said he was just sitting on the rim in utter silence trying to absorb what he was seeing when a helicopter flew though the crater, lending a sense of scale to what he saw--he said that I had to see it--no description does it justice.
This trip makes a full day with stops in Centralia to antique or do the outlet shops and/or Olympia to tour the State Capitol or the brewery.