Quiet PreCruise Stay outside of Seattle

[cavaaller]

Hello,

we are flying in 3-4 days early for our cruise (out of Seattle) and would like to stay outside of the city in a quiet area - if possible somewhere with the option to go hiking - (hotel/holiday accomodation). 

Any tipps / infos ? Thank you!

Edited March 16 by cavaaller

[trivia addict]

Check out either Bainbridge or Vashon Island. Both accessible by a short ferry ride.

[Gardyloo]

What kind of budget and what month will this be?  

 

Places to look at:

 

Salish Lodge, overlooking Snoqualmie Falls, 40 min. east of Seattle.  Featured in the Twin Peaks TV series. - https://www.salishlodge.com/

 

Clearwater Casino Lodge, a Tribal casino resort located on the Kitsap Peninsula next to the bridge to Bainbridge Island, reached by 40 min. ferry from downtown Seattle.  https://www.clearwatercasino.com/hotel/

 

Silver Cloud Mukilteo, located on pilings over the beach in Mukilteo,30 min. north of Seattle.  It offers easy access to beautiful Whidbey Island as well as having Mukilteo's cute lighthouse and pleasant driftwood-covered beach within steps.  https://www.silvercloud.com/mukilteo/

 

There are many more possibilities.  

[princeton123211]

8 hours ago, cavaaller said:

we are flying in 3-4 days early for our cruise (out of Seattle) and would like to stay outside of the city in a quiet area - if possible somewhere with the option to go hiking - (hotel/holiday accomodation). 

Check out the Willows Lodge in Woodinville. https://www.willowslodge.com/

[jeromep]

May I ask where you are traveling in from?

 

What kind of hiking are you wanting to do?  If it is just being out in the fresh air, there are numerous walk/run/bike paths and greenways that the local governments have installed over the years.  A lot of this done to supposedly encourage commuting by bike, but very few employers and fewer employees are located along these paths to make commuting by bike on them realistic for many.  Many are located along creeks and minor rivers, some along abandoned railroad right of way.  Most are very nice, but be aware of your surroundings.

 

If your goal is to go to Mt. Rainier, that is going to require a car and driving.  It is over 2 hours from the SeaTac area to Paradise.  They are doing timed entry tickets this year for the first time ever.  This regulates entry into the park, so you'll also have to get the recreation.gov app and book your timed entry ticket and then plan your day accordingly to get there while your ticket is good.  There are a number of vacation rentals near the park boundary, and you could always stay at the historic Paradise Lodge.  There are plenty of hiking paths which start at Paradise Lodge and loop around.  Most of these are going to be out and back hikes for day visitors.  It is possible to circumnavigate the base of the mountain from these paths, but this is going to be a multi-night backpacking/camping type of hike.  You have to be serious, have the gear, know what you are doing in the back country, and probably also have a back country camping permit.

 

Another option is to take the train to Leavenworth.  You'd book that on Amtrak.  Leavenworth is on the east side of the Cascades.  This will be a very scenic trip, it will go through the Cascade Tunnel, both historic and a real engineering feat.  Leavenworth is a Bavarian themed town that is on the east side of the Cascades.  It sits in a steep river valley and is very picturesque.  Plenty of nice hotels there.  You'd get on Amtrak at the King Street Station in Seattle.  Leavenworth is just a whistle stop or flag stop.  There is only a platform and a shack where the train stops, so you'll need to have reserved tickets and the train will be knowing to pick you up for your return to Seattle.  The train doesn't stop unless there are scheduled pickups.  Sorry, I don't know the time tables but that can all be found on Amtrak's web site.  The train platform is over a mile from the center of town.  There is limited ground transport.  I believe you can get an Uber.  The hotel might shuttle you, but ask them about that service before you book a room.  The town is totally walkable and you can rent bikes, too.  If you go I recommend the Bavarian Lodge or the Enzian Inn.  If you want a 5 star experience, the Post Hotel is the newest and most luxurious of them all.  Most of the nicer hotel properties in Leavenworth offer complimentary morning breakfast.  Make your own waffles, plus sausage, eggs, cereal, breads and pastries.  You can really make a meal out of it.  So much free hotel breakfast in Leavenworth that there are only a couple of restaurants in town that offer breakfast, so keep that in mind.  You can also book some guided activities like floating the Wenatchee River or other guided tours.

 

I agree with @Gardyloo, those are good suggestions.  If you are looking for a nice hotel in the SeaTac area, and rent a car to go other places, the Ceaderbrook Lodge near Seatac is a good jumping off point.  It is nestled into a residential neighborhood on the hill overlooking the airport.  You really can't hear the airport, and can barely see it from their rooms.  It is a lovely hotel, easily a 4 or 4.5 star property, also operated by the same folks that operate the Salish Lodge.

 

There are almost infinite options for what you are asking, I could go on and on, but I'll stop here.

[trivia addict]

All good ideas, but as a Whidbey Island resident I would consider

staying on Whidbey itself rather than the Silver Cloud in Mulkiteo. Other than that small beach in Mulkiteo, there is not much there to fill 2 or 3 days.

 

From the South end of Whidbey, one can only get here by ferry. By staying here you get to experience the beaches, beautiful mountain views, gorgeous sunsets and sunrises, breweries, wineries, trails and parks that are here without having to go back and forth to the Mainland.

 

A large Island with a small population, Whidbey is perfect for outdoor activities. Our towns are small and we don’t have any major hotel chains or a lot of retail commerce.

 

I might recommend looking at the seaside town of Coupeville for accommodations. Here you will find Inns and bed and breakfasts. One suggestion is The Captain Whidbey Inn which has been featured in various publications 

[cavaaller]

wow thank you so much everybody, those are incredibly helpful and great suggestions.

I will be flying in from Germany and Mount Rainier NP is on our bucket list. 
I have never rented a car in the US but we will probably have to if we want to see it. 

I like your idea @jeromep of staying at the Ceaderbrook Lodge - then we could return the rental right there at SEA and take a shuttle to the cruise port.

[jsglow]

I do think a car is the way to go @cavaaller as it'll give you the most options. And our roads will feel sufficiently familiar to you. One day you could head to Mt. Rainier NP. The next day you could head out to Olympic NP. Personally, I'd want one day in the mountains, a second day on the seashore and possibly a 3rd day at one of Seattle's great museums followed by some urban time in Queen Anne, Fremont or Ballard. Seattle is a stunningly beautiful place to visit with loads of outdoor recreation at your fingertips. The locals can do a great job guiding you.

 

Oh, they also brew some darn good beer! 🍺

[princeton123211]

33 minutes ago, trivia addict said:

One suggestion is The Captain Whidbey Inn which has been featured in various publications 

A great spot and highly recommend-- but keep in mind that most rooms in the inn itself do not have ensuite bathrooms. 

[trivia addict]

So many great suggestions. As you can see, we Northwesterners are very proud of our beautiful area.

But  be aware that many of these places are very far from each other. You will have to look at a map and decide if you want to generally stay south, north, east or west of the city.

Since Mt Ranier is on your bucket list, I would say stay in the southern to central  quadrant. An excursion to Mt Ranier will take you an entire day. The suggestion of then spending another day on the Kitsap Pennisula, and one day in Ballard/ Fremont ( lots of good beer) would work for you.

[cavaaller]

I guess I will need more than a few days pre-cruise.

I cannot thank you enough for your input everybody. I will work through every suggestion and cannot wait to explore the region.

[trivia addict]

Cavalier, please keep us posted on your final decisions. Would love to hear of your experiences! 

[jsglow]

You're coming a long way and may never return. Certainly give yourself at least 3-4. And no, you can't squeeze in a visit to the Grand Canyon! Enjoy. 

[9tee2Sea]

On 3/16/2024 at 1:21 AM, cavaaller said:

Hello,

we are flying in 3-4 days early for our cruise (out of Seattle) and would like to stay outside of the city in a quiet area - if possible somewhere with the option to go hiking - (hotel/holiday accomodation). 

Any tipps / infos ? Thank you!

If you want quiet, check out the town of Bremerton.  It's about a 1 hour ferry ride out of Seattle, with the most amazing Seattle Skyline views as you sail away.  There is the Hamptons Inn right off the ferry terminal. A few blocks ( I think 4th street) has many bars/restaurants, all within walking distance to the hotel.  Not sure about hiking in that area, but lots of US Naval History.  There is a nice Salmon Stream that can be walked around, and if you are lucky the Salmon will be swimming up stream.  Port Townsend is a very nice place  to visit, although it's a bit far from Seattle.

[Ferry_Watcher]

Since everyone is sharing their favorite places to visit, I will nominate Edmonds.

 

https://exploreedmonds.com/

 

Very picturesque seaside community, with a small town feel.  Lots of great restaurants, plus craft bars and craft breweries, as well as galleries and small shops.  Very walkable.

 

There is one hotel down by the water, or there are various Airbnb's or other rentals available.

 https://www.bestwestern.com/en_US/book/hotel-rooms.48168.html?iata=00171880&ssob=BLBWI0004G&cid=BLBWI0004G:google:gmb:48168

 

There is a whale watching boat that leaves from the Edmonds marina, or you could take a ferry ride from Edmonds to Kingston, grab a meal (or a beer) walk around and hop on the ferry and 30 minutes later you are back in Edmonds.

 

As for hiking, about a mile straight up Main street (of course Edmonds has a 'Main St'), there is Yost Park (48 acres), there are trails, lots of trees, birds, including two resident owls, and other wildlife.

 

Lots to do and experience in Edmonds.  

Edited March 17 by Ferry_Watcher

[Ferry_Watcher]

On 3/16/2024 at 1:21 AM, cavaaller said:

we are flying in 3-4 days early for our cruise (out of Seattle)

 

Hey OP, just checking if the GY under your name means that you are from Guyana?  If so, just making sure that you know if you are sailing to Alaska and stopping in Canada (like all the ships do), that you will need a Canadian Visa.  Sadly, without it you won't be allowed to board.  Hopefully, you are aware, and you are all prepared, but I just wanted to make sure.

 

(I work at Pier 91, and deal with this issue every cruise day).

[cavaaller]

Hey @Ferry_Watcher - the GY is supposed to stand for Germany but we do need ESTA and eTA. Thanks for being thoughtful!

[Ferry_Watcher]

Sorry, I was thinking DE for Deutschland.

The electronic visa that you will have to visit the US is all that you will need.  Since Germany is a EU country, you don't need anything else for your port-of-call in Victoria, BC.

[trivia addict]

Also would recommend Edmonds. We go there a lot. And the whale watching boat is a bit expensive but is comfortable, educational and great with finding whales. We like taking visitors on it.

But if you are going to Alaska, perhaps you already have a whale watching excursion?

[Eaglecw]

On 3/16/2024 at 12:53 PM, cavaaller said:

wow thank you so much everybody, those are incredibly helpful and great suggestions.

I will be flying in from Germany and Mount Rainier NP is on our bucket list. 
I have never rented a car in the US but we will probably have to if we want to see it. 

I like your idea @jeromep of staying at the Ceaderbrook Lodge - then we could return the rental right there at SEA and take a shuttle to the cruise port.

Be forewarned that Mt. Rainier National Park is implementing a reservation system this summer from May 24-Sept 2, 2024, to enter the Paradise and Sunrise Corridors between 7:00 am-3:00 pm.

Read all about https://www.nps.gov/mora/index.htm

[jeromep]

On 3/18/2024 at 6:06 PM, Eaglecw said:

Be forewarned that Mt. Rainier National Park is implementing a reservation system this summer from May 24-Sept 2, 2024, to enter the Paradise and Sunrise Corridors between 7:00 am-3:00 pm.

 

Read all about https://www.nps.gov/mora/index.htm

 

I recommend that you download the recreation.gov app.  From there you can order your timed entry ticket.  Or you can just visit recreation.gov, but I like the app better.

[Eaglecw]

In the summer we like to drive up to Mt. Rainier and have a picnic dinner. It's only 60 miles from our house to the gate so it's an easy drive. I can't imagine what a mess it's going to be when people drive up the the gate with out a ticket and be told they can't get in, I know I wouldn't be happy.