zztop11
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by zztop11 on Jun 12, 2024 21:30:14 GMT
We are flying to Seattle soon and will have about 7 days to explore before we leave on our Alaskan cruise. We were going to go to the San Juan Islands but can't get a ferry reservation. So we have decided to stay in Leavenworth WA. How long should we stay there? Is there somewhere else we should also go? We love love love to relax and not relax. I like to get the real feel for the town when I am staying somewhere. What are your suggestions? TIA.
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Post by ntsf on Jun 12, 2024 21:37:48 GMT
lovely hiking. golf near by.. if you have time for a long car ride, go north, then back west on hiway 20. over the north cascades. (always have lots of gas in car). leavenworth.. a couple of days.. depends what you like to do.
stevens pass is beautiful but there are no services there.. mountain biking at the ski area and the cafe may be open.
you could also take a day or two in seattle and walk on ferries.. to bainbridge island is popular.
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stittsygirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,615
Location: In the leaves and rain.
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Post by stittsygirl on Jun 12, 2024 21:44:22 GMT
Leavenworth is pretty but I wouldn’t stay seven days there, especially not with Rainier or Olympic National Parks nearby. I would suggest exploring the Olympic Peninsula or the Mt. Rainier area for a few days too, if you have that option. Every place will be busy this time of year though, even Leavenworth.
Enjoy your visit and cruise. We did an Alaskan cruise two years ago and really enjoyed it 😊.
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zztop11
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,542
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Post by zztop11 on Jun 12, 2024 21:47:24 GMT
Leavenworth is pretty but I wouldn’t stay seven days there, especially not with Rainier or Olympic National Parks nearby. I would suggest exploring the Olympic Peninsula or the Mt. Rainier area for a few days too, if you have that option. Every place will be busy this time of year though, even Leavenworth. Enjoy your visit and cruise. We did an Alaskan cruise two years ago and really enjoyed it 😊. We've seen The Olympic Peninsula and Mt. Rainer and Mt. St. Helens, all of it. Yes, we've been on a cruise to Alaska before too. Ten years ago. Always wanted to go back but needed it to be more than 7 days. I found a 10 day cruise on NCL and am looking forward to it. |
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stittsygirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,615
Location: In the leaves and rain.
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Post by stittsygirl on Jun 12, 2024 21:50:18 GMT
Leavenworth is pretty but I wouldn’t stay seven days there, especially not with Rainier or Olympic National Parks nearby. I would suggest exploring the Olympic Peninsula or the Mt. Rainier area for a few days too, if you have that option. Every place will be busy this time of year though, even Leavenworth. Enjoy your visit and cruise. We did an Alaskan cruise two years ago and really enjoyed it 😊. We've seen The Olympic Peninsula and Mt. Rainer and Mt. St. Helens, all of it. Yes, we've been on a cruise to Alaska before too. Ten years ago. Always wanted to go back but needed it to be more than 7 days. I found a 10 day cruise on NCL and am looking forward to it. Nice! Be prepared for Leavenworth to be warmer than the western side of WA. Both times I’ve been there were in the summer and so hot. It kind of killed the Bavarian vibe 😉. |
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Post by ntsf on Jun 12, 2024 22:04:23 GMT
you could wander up to whidbey island for a few days.. there are lovely beaches, cute towns, and you take a ferry but you can also drive off the north end of the island. la conner on the north end is pretty cute little town on the slough.. you could combine this with leavenworth.. about 3 hours apart.
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Post by MichyM on Jun 12, 2024 22:09:30 GMT
We are flying to Seattle soon and will have about 7 days to explore before we leave on our Alaskan cruise. We were going to go to the San Juan Islands but can't get a ferry reservation. So we have decided to stay in Leavenworth WA. How long should we stay there? Is there somewhere else we should also go? We love love love to relax and not relax. I like to get the real feel for the town when I am staying somewhere. What are your suggestions? TIA. I'd say 2 nights in Leavenworth. Spend the rest of the time and hour away in Lake Chelan (my favorite summer vacation in state). I've been going there once or twice yearly (most years) since I was about 7 years old. Great place for both kids (if you have any with you) and adults. www.lakechelan.com/ |
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Post by Delta Dawn on Jun 12, 2024 22:16:12 GMT
Leavenworth is pretty but I wouldn’t stay seven days there, especially not with Rainier or Olympic National Parks nearby. I would suggest exploring the Olympic Peninsula or the Mt. Rainier area for a few days too, if you have that option. Every place will be busy this time of year though, even Leavenworth. Enjoy your visit and cruise. We did an Alaskan cruise two years ago and really enjoyed it 😊. We've seen The Olympic Peninsula and Mt. Rainer and Mt. St. Helens, all of it. Yes, we've been on a cruise to Alaska before too. Ten years ago. Always wanted to go back but needed it to be more than 7 days. I found a 10 day cruise on NCL and am looking forward to it. Ten days on a boat would be my sweet spot as well. For now we do nice coach tours but I love all inclusive places so a cruise makes sense. |
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milocat
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Location: 55 degrees north in Alberta, Canada
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Post by milocat on Jun 12, 2024 23:29:33 GMT
Enjoy Leavenworth! I've been a couple times for one night and a couple times as a day trip from just over the border in Canada. I haven't been in probably 15 years. Yes it was always just as hot as it was in the Okanagan (of BC)
I stayed at the Enzian Inn before, it was cute years ago. A guy plays the alp horn on the railing of the top floor, just outside the breakfast room.
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Post by iteach3rdgrade on Jun 12, 2024 23:35:43 GMT
I wasn’t prepared for how warm it was! We went rafting while there and had so much fun!
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Post by lavawalker1 on Jun 13, 2024 0:56:30 GMT
Just a little fyi in case you might still want to go to the San Juan’s. I’ve only been to Friday Harbor(3-4 times) and I’d say go. It’s so pretty, and the ferry ride is fun too.
Anyhow, this is from the Washington State Dept of Transportation website, where you get reservations - “Reservations are released in three tiers: First Tier: Two months before the start of the sailing season. Second Tier: Two weeks prior to the specific sailing date. Third Tier: Two days prior to the specific sailing date. Space for each release becomes available at 7:00 a.m. PT”
Hope this helps!
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Post by cmpeter on Jun 13, 2024 2:33:11 GMT
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zztop11
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,542
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Post by zztop11 on Jun 13, 2024 21:02:32 GMT
Thanks to everyone for their suggestions. Turns out we are going to do a circle tour for 8 days before the cruise. We're going to a very nice inn in La Conner WA, then on towards North Cascades National Park working our way from west to east around the circle. Will end up in Leavenworth for 3 nights and two days.
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Post by ntsf on Jun 13, 2024 22:31:25 GMT
just know to fill your tank at burlington or concrete as you head east on hiway 20. I used to stand in a visitor center at the center of the park and tell people they passed the last gas station 25 miles back west or there was one 70 miles east.. that was fun! (during the 70's gas crisis). you will pass the dams that provide much of the electricity for the city of seattle. I gave tours of the dams one summer.
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zztop11
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,542
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Post by zztop11 on Jun 13, 2024 22:38:40 GMT
just know to fill your tank at burlington or concrete as you head east on hiway 20. I used to stand in a visitor center at the center of the park and tell people they passed the last gas station 25 miles back west or there was one 70 miles east.. that was fun! (during the 70's gas crisis). you will pass the dams that provide much of the electricity for the city of seattle. I gave tours of the dams one summer. Will do about the gas. I love dams. I find them very interesting.  |
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Post by hopemax on Jun 13, 2024 22:43:38 GMT
just know to fill your tank at burlington or concrete as you head east on hiway 20. I used to stand in a visitor center at the center of the park and tell people they passed the last gas station 25 miles back west or there was one 70 miles east.. that was fun! (during the 70's gas crisis). you will pass the dams that provide much of the electricity for the city of seattle. I gave tours of the dams one summer. Will do about the gas. I love dams. I find them very interesting. In that case, it was like 40 years ago since I did it, but Grand Coulee Dam has tours. It's about 2 hours from Leavenworth. |
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