Seattle - Bremerton ferry advice needed

[KAE27]

Will there be any salmon running in late May?

D'oh! I forgot your timing. No, you'd be about two weeks early anyway, probably. Enjoy the locks!

[flatlander321]

I'm going to post a crazy question, but any input is appreciated.

 

One of the ideas I had was to spend a full day driving around the base of the Cascade mountains in a day, it's about 350 miles if based out of Bremerton. Obviously the weather and road conditions would have to cooperate, but is it a bad/risky idea for some reason?

 

I like to drive, especially in scenic locations, hence my insistence on having a rental car with unlimited mileage when others would wisely choose to take a cab or the train.

 

I'm also an amateur photographer, so I'd be stopping to take photos at times. I'm planning for 500-1000 keeper photos per day during port stops and excursions in Alaska.

[KAE27]

I'm going to post a crazy question, but any input is appreciated.

 

One of the ideas I had was to spend a full day driving around the base of the Cascade mountains in a day, it's about 350 miles if based out of Bremerton. Obviously the weather and road conditions would have to cooperate, but is it a bad/risky idea for some reason?

 

I like to drive, especially in scenic locations, hence my insistence on having a rental car with unlimited mileage when others would wisely choose to take a cab or the train.

 

I'm also an amateur photographer, so I'd be stopping to take photos at times. I'm planning for 500-1000 keeper photos per day during port stops and excursions in Alaska.

 

I don't think it's risky but would likely take you forever. What specific route were you looking at taking?

 

A couple of alternative ideas:

 

1. Since you're already on the west side of the Sound staying in Bremerton, do a portion - or if you're insane, all - of the Highway 101 loop around the Olympic peninsula. You will see almost unimaginable beauty of the wild coast, mountains, the gorgeous Hood Canal area. Highly recommend driving up to Hurricane Ridge as part of this trip for the most incredible views. I think that area is even more beautiful than the Cascades.

 

2. If you really have a hankering for the Cascades, take Highway 2 across Stevens Pass, maybe as far as Leavenworth, which is a charming little town to poke around and have some amazing sausages. The scenery on Highway 2 is stunning, and to me a more desirable route than I-90. Going all the way to Leavenworth will make for a long-ish day, but seems like you're up for it.

Edited April 17, 2016 by krista4

[Gardyloo]

One of the ideas I had was to spend a full day driving around the base of the Cascade mountains in a day, it's about 350 miles if based out of Bremerton. Obviously the weather and road conditions would have to cooperate, but is it a bad/risky idea for some reason?

I'm thinking you're referring to the Olympic Mountains, not the Cascades. The loop around the Olympic Peninsula is 350-400 miles; the Cascades would be longer and very hard to do in a day. And no, you're not crazy; I've done it in a very long but incredibly rewarding day.

 

There are three "must-see" destinations for the day. GET UP EARLY and be thankful the days in late May are long.

 

Head north to Port Angeles and drive up to Hurricane Ridge, a spectacular overlook of the Olympic Mountains. With luck there might be wildflowers around.

 

Then drive around the top of the peninsula, past beautiful Lake Crescent, and down the Pacific side to the Hoh Rain Forest. Walk the Hall of Mosses trail - very easy and it will leave you speechless.

 

Then back out to US 101 and down to Ruby Beach near Kalaloch.

 

Continue south to Lake Quinault - maybe a meal in the historic Lake Quinault Lodge, then back around the bottom and back to Bremerton. Like I say, it's a long day, but for a photographer there's nothing like it.

 

You can rest up on the cruise.

 

Map - https://goo.gl/maps/LuQt9fNB6pA2

[flatlander321]

Very nice Gardyloo! That is the route I was thinking about plus your additions. Yes, Olympic, not Cascade, mountains. I'm glad to have a photographers perspective. I hope it works out so I can do this day trip. I'm good for 600+ miles driving on a normal day on open roads.

[VibeGuy]

Also you should plan to visit the Naval Undersea Warfare Museum at Keyport. Excellent collection.

 

I would actually not count on the Bremerton boat eastbound being traffic-free on a summer Saturday morning if the weather is good or if there's a Mariners game. From Bremerton going directly to the airport, Inwould usually drive around.

Edited April 20, 2016 by VibeGuy

[flatlander321]

I'll check out the museum. I want to drive across the Tacoma Narrows bridge at least once while we are there. It'd certainly be an option to the ferry on Saturday. Thanks

[Eaglecw]

A lot of people don’t realize how much there is to do and see on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula. I’d rather go to the Olympic Peninsula than. I few years ago we had a student from Germany staying with us for the summer. We took him all over the Pacific Northwest. I just couple of weeks before he went home I asked him what were the most interesting places that he saw or went to and said the Naval Undersea Warfare Museum http://www.history.navy.mil/museums/keyport/index1.htm and the Museum of Flight at Boeing field https://www.museumofflight.org/ . When I told him that we could go back to those museums his eyes lit up like a 5 year old with a new puppy at Christmas. A drive around the Olympic Peninsula would be a long day, but would be an interesting drive. We’ve done it many times. If you have time drive to the viewpoint on Mt. Walker on the Olympic Peninsula. It’s beautiful up there, you can all the way across Puget Sound to Seattle. https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g143047-d147192-r177203866-Mount_Walker-Olympic_National_Park_Washington.html

[flatlander321]

For a visit to Mount Walker, would that be better at the start or end of the day considering we would be there the last few days of May? The Museum of Flight visit is a certainty no matter what the weather.

 

This is the route that Gardyloo started with Mt Walker added.

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Bremerton,+WA/Mt.+Walker+Viewpoint,+Mount+Walker+Lookout+Road,+Brinnon,+WA/Hurricane+Ridge+Visitors+Center,+3002+Mt+Angeles+Rd,+Port+Angeles,+WA+98362/Hoh+Rain+Forest+Visitor+Center,+Forks,+WA+98331/Ruby+Beach/Lake+Quinault+Lodge,+345+South+Shore+Road,+Quinault,+WA+98575/Bremerton,+WA/@47.7289183,-122.7809347,9z/data=!4m23!4m22!1m2!1m1!1s0x549037795212e35b:0xb238651d502a0952!1m2!1m1!1s0x548fd7fed2c968ef:0x9f70f9b47aa2eefa!1m2!1m1!1s0x548e4aec9a9ce0a7:0x406b3943986bc515!1m2!1m1!1s0x548e6a766596fcf3:0xdf8cc1609f40c624!1m2!1m1!1s0x548ddf3b68ebcbbd:0x6b94341955be96e3!1m2!1m1!1s0x5491fdf1233b53f5:0xd2cc120b4a18c3ef!1m2!1m1!1s0x549037795212e35b:0xb238651d502a0952!3e0

[KAE27]

For a visit to Mount Walker, would that be better at the start or end of the day considering we would be there the last few days of May? The Museum of Flight visit is a certainty no matter what the weather.

 

This is the route that Gardyloo started with Mt Walker added.

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Bremerton,+WA/Mt.+Walker+Viewpoint,+Mount+Walker+Lookout+Road,+Brinnon,+WA/Hurricane+Ridge+Visitors+Center,+3002+Mt+Angeles+Rd,+Port+Angeles,+WA+98362/Hoh+Rain+Forest+Visitor+Center,+Forks,+WA+98331/Ruby+Beach/Lake+Quinault+Lodge,+345+South+Shore+Road,+Quinault,+WA+98575/Bremerton,+WA/@47.7289183,-122.7809347,9z/data=!4m23!4m22!1m2!1m1!1s0x549037795212e35b:0xb238651d502a0952!1m2!1m1!1s0x548fd7fed2c968ef:0x9f70f9b47aa2eefa!1m2!1m1!1s0x548e4aec9a9ce0a7:0x406b3943986bc515!1m2!1m1!1s0x548e6a766596fcf3:0xdf8cc1609f40c624!1m2!1m1!1s0x548ddf3b68ebcbbd:0x6b94341955be96e3!1m2!1m1!1s0x5491fdf1233b53f5:0xd2cc120b4a18c3ef!1m2!1m1!1s0x549037795212e35b:0xb238651d502a0952!3e0

 

What time are you getting going? If you hit Mt Walker for sunrise, that would be really nice. Otherwise, it doesn't matter much - you might put it at the end just in case you run out of time, as I think it's not as big a "must-do" as your other stops. Then again, I have hiked to the top of Mt Walker more than 20 times already in 2016 - it's a great training hike for when you can't get to higher elevations due to snow - so I might just be a little bored with it. :D

 

Looking at your map, I note that your route is completely missing my second-favorite "drive" of this loop (setting aside times where you get off the loop for Hurricane Ridge and Hoh rainforest) - the entire Hood Canal portion of 101! (The Lake Crescent area being the most beautiful in my opinion.) I think if you're doing this, do it completely and hit that area. You won't be sorry. Be sure to do it when it's light out.

 

Edit: Want to make clear that you can drive to the top of Mt Walker - the road to the top opened this past Thursday for the season. Didn't want any confusion by my reference to hiking it. I've actually never driven to the top!

Edited April 25, 2016 by krista4

[flatlander321]

Krista4, is this a better route? It's 3 weeks until boarding the cruise ship. Plenty of time to refine the route and HOPE, HOPE the weather cooperates for 2 days out of 5. The first nice day has to be at the space needle and things close to it, but the 2nd nice day is destined for driving... ;) I can leave early if needed; I'm on vacation. There's a 50/50 chance the family will say "have a nice trip" as they roll over to sleep in then bum around the area that day probably eating pizza for lunch and dinner.

 

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Bremerton,+WA/Hurricane+Ridge+Visitors+Center,+3002+Mt+Angeles+Rd,+Port+Angeles,+WA+98362/Hoh+Rain+Forest+Visitor+Center,+Forks,+WA+98331/Ruby+Beach/Lake+Quinault+Lodge,+345+South+Shore+Road,+Quinault,+WA+98575/Mt.+Walker+Viewpoint,+Mount+Walker+Lookout+Road,+Brinnon,+WA+98320/Bremerton,+WA/@47.5419907,-123.5125555,9z/data=!4m23!4m22!1m2!1m1!1s0x549037795212e35b:0xb238651d502a0952!1m2!1m1!1s0x548e4aec9a9ce0a7:0x406b3943986bc515!1m2!1m1!1s0x548e6a766596fcf3:0xdf8cc1609f40c624!1m2!1m1!1s0x548ddf3b68ebcbbd:0x6b94341955be96e3!1m2!1m1!1s0x5491fdf1233b53f5:0xd2cc120b4a18c3ef!1m2!1m1!1s0x548fd7fed2c968ef:0x9f70f9b47aa2eefa!1m2!1m1!1s0x549037795212e35b:0xb238651d502a0952!3e0

Edited April 25, 2016 by flatlander321

[KAE27]

Krista4, is this a better route?

 

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Bremerton,+WA/Hurricane+Ridge+Visitors+Center,+3002+Mt+Angeles+Rd,+Port+Angeles,+WA+98362/Hoh+Rain+Forest+Visitor+Center,+Forks,+WA+98331/Ruby+Beach/Lake+Quinault+Lodge,+345+South+Shore+Road,+Quinault,+WA+98575/Mt.+Walker+Viewpoint,+Mount+Walker+Lookout+Road,+Brinnon,+WA+98320/Bremerton,+WA/@47.5419907,-123.5125555,9z/data=!4m23!4m22!1m2!1m1!1s0x549037795212e35b:0xb238651d502a0952!1m2!1m1!1s0x548e4aec9a9ce0a7:0x406b3943986bc515!1m2!1m1!1s0x548e6a766596fcf3:0xdf8cc1609f40c624!1m2!1m1!1s0x548ddf3b68ebcbbd:0x6b94341955be96e3!1m2!1m1!1s0x5491fdf1233b53f5:0xd2cc120b4a18c3ef!1m2!1m1!1s0x548fd7fed2c968ef:0x9f70f9b47aa2eefa!1m2!1m1!1s0x549037795212e35b:0xb238651d502a0952!3e0

 

Looks perfect.

[shadowmeboy]

The Mariners play at 710pm on Saturday, May 28th against the Minnesota Twins. You should be fine if you stick to morning ferry runs.