Pacific NW/AK/BC Seattle Suggestions

[Varmintmist]

OK.

I want to take the family west to ski and see some stuff. I lived in Puget sound 30 years ago so part of the plan would to be a drive by in the old stomping grounds. Make a run over Deception Pass, do the Mukilteo ferry hit the Space Needle...... at least that is the selling point. I want to go skiing. I would love to do Baker again, however the ungroomed might get me in trouble with SWMBO. Best dates I can swing is the first week in Mar. Plan would be arrive, drive to a mountain rental (located one on Stevens that would function and is reasonable) ski 2 days possibly 1st night, pull out next AM head N work the way S doing tourist stuff, end up in SEA at the Hyatt, do dinner in the pin thing, hit the airport next AM. 5 day trip but could extend by a little. IF I can get 2 good days in I will be happy. It will likely be the last "family" vacation as the older one will be a colleg gradutate this spring and the whole life thing will get in the way.

Looking for opinions on Stevens and or possibly Snoqualmie 1st full week in Mar. I was looking at Bachelor, because the snow would be better. Downsides. Flying into Redmond is pushing the cost envelope, and though the kids are older, only one could appreciate Dechutes brewery and I would be the only one who would get a kick out of the Nosler plant.

I have some time but I want to have a plan soon.

 

[Posaune]

First week of March is a good week for the Cascades. A week in a place near Stevens sounds great. You could get in a little Leavenworth action too. Baker is great, but Stevens has just as much ungroomed gnarly stuff while also having plenty of gentler groomed runs which Baker has in less abundance. Snoqualmie is low and flat, except for Alpental which is low, steep, and small. Stevens is 1000' higher at the base. Lots of folks will tell you to go to Crystal, but I can see that it's a bit out of the way for the northern loop that you have in mind. Stevens for two days has plenty of terrain. Unless you do end up at Baker AVOID THE WEEKENDS at any of the Seattle areas. Weekdays in March are great for lack of crowds.

The Space Needle restaurant is going to undergo a remodel, so if your heart is set on it, you should check it out to see if it will be open. There was a restaurant review of the needle in the Seattle Times last week and they panned it. Minimum charge for each individual is $50 (but not to worry, you couldn't really eat there for that small amount, anyway), the food was only adequate, and the service was lousy. You might consider going to the observation deck and eating elsewhere.

Don't worry about missing the beer in Bend, the entire region has gone microbrew crazy and you can find great suds just about anywhere you go.

 

[David Chaus]

Honestly, Baker has the reputation for the most snow, which is indeed true, but the terrain can be challenging, especially given the heavy and mostly ungroomed conditions, and not as much fun for non experts. As there is basically no grooming at Baker, I would skip it if you've got SWMBO (not sure what that means, but I'll go with it). Oh wait, just got it. "She who must be obeyed."

• Instead, assuming you're arriving at SeaTac from some point east of the West Coast, you'll arrive in the late afternoon or evening.
• Spend the night at a hotel near Sea Tac, or maybe drive to Crystal Mt and stay at one of the small hotels there.
• Enjoy skiing Crystal, if you're lucky you'll get views of Mt Rainier that will make the entire trip worthwhile in the eyes of SWMBO.
• After skiing, drive to Leavenworth. Yes, you will be driving over Snoqualmie Pass on I-90 and skipping the skiing there. Deal with it. Instead, enjoy the charm of a faux-Bavarian village for the night. SWMBO will be happy.
• Next morning, drive 45 minutes to Mission Ridge, absolutely the best place in WA state for nice long groomers with good snow conditions, SWMBO will be happy, plus you will enjoy a few decent steep runs. Great views of the Columbia River and Eastern WA, plus you will probably get views of Mt Ranier and Mt Adams. Sunny skies. All uncrowded. Again, SWMBO will be happy.
• Stay another night in Leavenworth. SWMBO continues to be pleased.
• In the morning, head west 45 minutes over Hwy 2 to Stevens Pass, have fun there. Drive west on Hwy 2 to I-5, drive a few miles north to Marysville to stay the night at the Tulalip Resort Hotel and Casino.
• Congratulations, you have 3 days of skiing accomplished with some great views along the way, and you have two more days to sightsee.
• You can head north to drive to Anacortes and then Deception Pass, drive south through Whidbey Island, take the ferry to Mukilteo and head to Seattle. Even if it's commuter hours you will be going against the flow of commuter traffic.
• Enjoy the evening and the next day in Seattle. Seattle Center, particularly the Chilhuly Glass Musuem, Pike Place Market (flying fish and all), the Great Wheel, Wings Over Washington, feed seagulls french fries from Ivar's; etc. Sleep well knowing your time was well spent.
• In the morning, back to SeaTac and wherever you came from.

 

[Posaune]

David's ideas are great but the Crystal to Leavenworth drive, after skiing all day, is 3.5 hours or so. I worry about that. It will be dark most of the way, and you have to go over two passes after driving down from Crystal, which may or may not be a problem. While a bunch of the road is freeway, another bunch of it is two lanes, windy, and unlit. Assuming a successful drive, would you really have the energy to jump out of bed and get the clan ready to go skiing in the AM?

I wouldn't.

 

[Varmintmist]

When I was out there Baker was the go to and while I was amped about it, I had to consider the rest of the family. I am from and currently in PA and although I learned to ski here, I feel I learned on Baker.
The microbrew craze started AFTER I left. You all were serious Hamms (the beer refreshing) and Olympia drinkers while I was there. I have been out to Portland and even Bend in the interim so I have seen you get good beer and coffee, lots of coffee...
Hadnt thought about the weekend, that can be shifted by adjusting a day. Kids and wife have work, I have enough vacation
As to driving around? I hate to travel, I like to arrive. I have driven over the Cascades a few times, I think it was relaxing...... once.
I skied Stevens, and Snoqualmie before, but I slept a few times since then.

The tentative plan is:
Day one; wheels up around 0600 from PIT, getting in to SEATAC about 1100 local. Rent vehicle, drive to Skykomish, provision on the way, check in after 4P, put feet up, enjoy adult beverage.
Day 2, wake up, ski
Day 3, wake up, ski
Day 4, wake up, check out, head for old stompin grounds, head south checking out Puget sound, plan was to end up at the Hyatt that night because its close to the needle, but if it isnt good and or is closed, Seattle Center will work. I just want the kids to see something a little different.
Day 5, wake up, go to SEATAC approx 1300, arrive PIT 2300 local, drive home, pass out in a attempt to counteract the time difference that I just got used to.

 

[Posaune]

In your first post you mentioned Whidbey Island going to the Kingston Ferry and in your last post you said you were going south. The two are not compatible, so if you go south from Stevens you won't be hitting Deception Pass. Highway 2 ends in Everett, so you'd have to go north from there on I-5 about 30 minutes before heading west and then south on 20 to the pass and on to the ferry.

 

[oldschoolskier]

Your weather forecast is overcast and the possibility of rain any day of the year..

Have family that lives there.

 

[Varmintmist]

In your first post you mentioned Whidbey Island going to the Kingston Ferry and in your last post you said you were going south. The two are not compatible, so if you go south from Stevens you won't be hitting Deception Pass. Highway 2 ends in Everett, so you'd have to go north from there on I-5 about 30 minutes before heading west and then south on 20 to the pass and on to the ferry.

N to old stompin grounds AKA Whidbey on I-5. South from D pass by way of Mt Vernon through Whidbey to the ferry. Back to I-5S to Seattle. It was late here and I was under the affluence of incohol.

 

[Varmintmist]

Your weather forecast is overcast and the possibility of rain any day of the year..

Have family that lives there.

Yep, I want the job of weatherman in Seattle. In the "summer months" you say 80% chance of light rain or drizzle with highs in the mid to high 60's. In the winter, 80% chance of light rain or drizzle with temps near 40.

 

[Posaune]

Yep, I want the job of weatherman in Seattle. In the "summer months" you say 80% chance of light rain or drizzle with highs in the mid to high 60's. In the winter, 80% chance of light rain or drizzle with temps near 40.

Not quite right. You've got the winter down, but it's usually dry and sunny in the summer with highs in the 70s and low 80s. It hasn't rained around here this year in over two months except for a few sprinkles one night last week. However, the rain will be back. People around here don't bother to water their lawns, they just let them go brown over the summer. They'll be back to green come October.

If you're interested, check the chart here for rainfall and temperature averages: http://www.usclimatedata.com/climate/washington/united-states/3217

 

[David Chaus]

^^^^^ Agree, the PNW is actually the driest region of the country from 4th of July to late September/October.

 

[Posaune]

^^^^^ Agree, the PNW is actually the driest region of the country from 4th of July to late September/October.

Usually the 5th of July. It rains on the 4th a lot, but not the last few years. Must be global warming.

 

[Varmintmist]

Then where do you guys get all those custom green roofs?

 

[Posaune]

October, November, December, January, February, March, April, May, and June.

 

[oldschoolskier]

Microsoft has stats on on how weather relates to potential employees signing on, sunny almost 100%, typical Redmond weather significantly lower.

BTW Seattle is the Prozac capital of the world followed by Vancouver.

During our 1 week visit my wife and I decided Seattle was close to #1 for places not to live for that very reason.

 

[David Chaus]

You know, the strange thing is, once I took up skiing again, I started to look forward to colder weather and more precipitation in the winter. Go figure.

It's not like it's super cold at sea level where most people live. We do have pretty constant gray skies; but we don't have bitter cold weather, nor snowstorms that bury the cities. Last year was very unusual in which small lakes froze over and stayed that way for 3 weeks. Usually it's 40-50 degrees for high temperatures in the cities, and 15 degrees cooler than that in the mountain passes.

 

[Posaune]

I've lived here all my life and have had no problems with the gray weather in the winter. I've also known transplants that have been happy with the weather, and others that it has driven nuts. The summers are incredible though, and like David says the rain in the winter at home means snow in the hills.

 

[roark]

No one's talked beer yet?

You'll find Georgetown's Mannys on tap at nearly every restaurant.

In Seattle Reubens covers all styles well (and is kid friendly), Holy Mountain makes superlative farmhouse style (and an occasional IPA, but not kid friendly), Cloudburst does almost nothing but IPAs (not kid friendly), and Fremont at ~10 years old is now one of the elder statesmen of the scene - in particular their barrel aged stuff is excellent (also a kid friendly spot). Chucks Hop Shop has a great selection to go (both growler/crowler and bottles/cans) along with onsite (also kid friendly, suggest bringing a pizza or ordering some delivery).

 

[John O]

I've lived here all my life and have had no problems with the gray weather in the winter. I've also known transplants that have been happy with the weather, and others that it has driven nuts. The summers are incredible though, and like David says the rain in the winter at home means snow in the hills.

Yeah, it really comes down to personal preference. I don't mind the gray winters at all, in fact I couldn't stand the constant sun when I spent 3 years living in New Mexico. This works much better for me. I would I imagine I might feel differently about it if I didn't ski or do some other wintertime activity that I look forward to.

 

[noncrazycanuck]

weather aside
don't rule out Baker if its a trip to memory lane
not a lot of grooming but every lift has some very intermediate terrain. Although I certainly would defer to Pousane's advice on it.

Views of Shuksan are as spectacular as Rainier but more in your face. (odds of seeing either are similar)

Lodging is an issue, Glacier is only place close - and its still 1/2 hour down the hill and then its pretty much private homes,

Also possible to take the Cuckanut Drive instead of Whidby Island enroute and you may even get an island view without the ferry.