Photo suggestions for Seattle

[jackie_mccully]

<p>We are taking a quick trip to Seattle at the end of September and first couple days of October. We've never been and would appreciate any photo suggestions. We're getting mixed messages about the whales - will they still be in the area at that time? What about the Olympic NP - is that worth exploring? Any ideas are appreciated. Thanks!!</p>

[famico]

<p>I'm not sure what your photographic interests are (street, landscape, etc.), and how much time you'll have, but Olympic NP is definitely worth exploring. Please keep in mind, however, that it is quite a ride from Seattle proper, and there is so much to see there, that it needs at least a day (preferably two) to do it justice. If you do go, check out Ruby Beach and the Hoh rain forest.</p>

<p>The skyline of Seattle at dusk is also a great photographic opportunity, as is the Space Needle and surrounds. Also, check out Volunteer Park, which is nearby. There is a nice conservatory and gardens to roam around in and photograph. Oh yeah, almost forgot the Pike Place Market - well worth visiting. Whatever you decide, enjoy your time there!</p>

[steve_wagner1]

<p>Jackie, there's a long recent thread on Olympic here</p>

<p>http://www.photo.net/travel-photography-forum/00X2Aq</p>

<p>As a major world class natural destination it's of course worth exploring. Rainier is the other standout option. It's hard to give advice without knowing how many days you're going to devote to getting out and shooting, what you want to shoot, and how far you're willing to drive.</p>

[jackie_mccully]

<p>Thanks for the responses. My interests are landscape/nature and wildlife. We'll be arriving on Thursday afternoon and fly out again on Sunday morning, so we don't have much time. We understand this is not nearly enough time, but it's all we've got, and will give us an idea of what's there so we can better plan our next extended trip. Our first thought was to spend the better portion of one day whale watching. Does anyone know if they will still be in the area during that time?? The rest of the time we're thinking of heading out the Olympic NP. We're not really interested in exploring or shooting much in Seattle.</p>

[rick_wong]

<p>Whale watching is winding down here is a link to a company I have used it also has their rates . <a href="http://island-adventures.com/whale-watching-tours/orca-whale.php">http://island-adventures.com/whale-watching-tours/orca-whale.php</a><br>

It looks like an early fall the north cascades will be the first to show fall colors. besides the vine maple, cottenwoods, Alder, and hucklberrys we have a evergreen called a Larch that changes to a golden color in the fall. The North Cascades are close to where you will be whale watching. <em>Mt</em>. <em>Shuksan is just east of <em>Bellingham on the Mt Baker Highway</em></em> <br>

<a href="http://www.experiencewa.com/attraction.aspx?id=8696">http://www.experiencewa.com/attraction.aspx?id=8696</a></p>

[steve_wagner1]

<p>HI Jackie, with only a couple days, the biggest natural attractions are probably Mount Rainier, and if you are intrigued by the Olympic Peninsula, a hike in the Hoh Valley. Most Northwest attractions (with the exception of places like Rainier and the Columbia River Gorge) require a bit of time to coax out great photos. Have a great trip. You can peruse thousands of photos from this region on my website if you want ideas for places to go.</p>

[jackie_mccully]

<p>Rick, now you're opened up a whole different idea - yikes!<br>

We really wanted to try to do some whale watching and assumed that would take at least 1/2 day. We arrive Thursday around noon and could, possibly head over to the west coast area, hoping for a spectacular sunset and stay in that general area. Friday morning we could head over to Port Angeles or Port Townsend for a 1/2 day whale watching tour and stay in that area. Would we then have time to head toward North Cascades and still get back to Seattle at night? We have a very early flight out on Sunday morning so need to stay our last night back in Seattle. All of that may be a bit ambitious, right? It's hard to judge the driving time. I'm thinking we may need to pick two and slow things down a bit. I'm sure we could spend three complete days in any one of these areas.<br>

Which two of these options are actually "doable" with our timeframe?<br>

1 - Olympic National Park<br>

2 - San Juan Islands<br>

3 - West coastal area<br>

4 - North Cascades NP</p>

[steve_wagner1]

<blockquote>

<p>We arrive Thursday around noon and could, possibly head over to the west coast area... we could head over to Port Angeles or Port Townsend for a 1/2 day whale watching tour and stay in that area.... Would we then have time to head toward North Cascades and still get back to Seattle at night?</p>

</blockquote>

<p>No, not really. You should pick the Peninsula or the Cascades. You basically have two days. Seattle to Forks is 3.5 hours if you take the Ferry, maybe 5 if you go around. You need a full day to do much of anything in the westside valleys other than a quick stroll to a big tree or a waterfall. Back to North Cascades from Forks is about 7 hours. You need a full day to do much of anything in the North Cascades or Rainier, and then 3 hours back to Seattle. No offense to other posters, but North Cascades is not really something to do in a day. I guess you could go for a drive. You'd be better off going to Rainier IMO. If you go to the Peninsula, you can go to Hurricane Ridge, Sol Duc Falls, hit the coast, and go for a short walk in the Hoh.</p>

[rick_wong]

<p>Hi Jackie<br>

If Whale watching is your first pick I would go to San Juan Island when you arrive there you can settle in run out to Whale park and if you are lucky they will swim right along the beach. (some people feel sing to them will bring them in) If the skys are clear the sun will be setting at that side of the island. spend the night and go whale watching. <a href="http://orcawhalewatch.com/">http://orcawhalewatch.com/</a><br>

The good thing about whale watching from Friday Harbor is that you will not have to spend hours making a run from the mainland. The whale watching companies pretty much have a network when one sees the pods they radio in and the rest will all head for them.<br>

I would then head back to the mainland and take Highway 20 east spend the night around Chelan and loop back to Seattle.<br>

<a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Commercial+Ave&daddr=WA-20+E+to:US-2+W+to:Woodinville+Dr+to:I-5+S&geocode=FXIu5AIdQhSx-A%3BFf624wIdVADW-A%3BFWYl1gIdpFzP-A%3BFTS-2AIdZGS3-A%3BFQyO1gIdMma1-A&hl=en&mra=mi&mrcr=3&mrsp=4&sz=8&sll=48.118434,-122.695312&sspn=2.644013,6.437988&ie=UTF8&ll=48.465637,-122.497559&spn=5.25239,12.875977&z=7">http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Commercial+Ave&daddr=WA-20+E+to:US-2+W+to:Woodinville+Dr+to:I-5+S&geocode=FXIu5AIdQhSx-A%3BFf624wIdVADW-A%3BFWYl1gIdpFzP-A%3BFTS-2AIdZGS3-A%3BFQyO1gIdMma1-A&hl=en&mra=mi&mrcr=3&mrsp=4&sz=8&sll=48.118434,-122.695312&sspn=2.644013,6.437988&ie=UTF8&ll=48.465637,-122.497559&spn=5.25239,12.875977&z=7</a><br>

As Brett said the ocean and Olympic National Park is pretty much all you will have time for. you can make it a loop and finish up driving north from Olympia<em>.</em><br>

<em>And here is the third option drive up to <em>Bellingham</em>, <em>Washington spend the night and book a whale watching tour <a href="http://www.orcawatch.com/">http://www.orcawatch.com/</a></em></em><br>

<em>spend the day Whale watching and then head up to mt Baker This is the northern part of the North Cascades and <em>Mt</em>. <em>Shuksan and picture lake.</em></em><br>

<a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Eldridge+Ave&daddr=WA-542+E&geocode=FTgF6AIdyM2y-A%3BFWZY6QIdti2_-A&hl=en&mra=mift&mrsp=1,0&sz=11&sll=48.857487,-121.825333&sspn=0.325723,0.804749&ie=UTF8&z=11">http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Eldridge+Ave&daddr=WA-542+E&geocode=FTgF6AIdyM2y-A%3BFWZY6QIdti2_-A&hl=en&mra=mift&mrsp=1,0&sz=11&sll=48.857487,-121.825333&sspn=0.325723,0.804749&ie=UTF8&z=11</a><br>

explore the area during the day and then head back to Seattle about 3-4 hour drive.<br>

Just a reminder we are heading into winter now so our days are getting shorter.</p>

<p><a href="http://orcawhalewatch.com/"></a></p>

[jackie_mccully]

<p>Thanks for all the helpful tips - I love this site! I think we're all set now. We are driving up to Anacortes when we arrive and leaving our car parked there overnight. We'll take the ferry over and stay overnight in Friday Harbor. On Friday, we're taking one of the whale tours and heading back to pick up our car. We'll then drive all the way over to Forks, arriving fairly late, but in the perfect spot to spend the whole day Saturday exploring Olympic National Park as we work our way back to Seattle. Thanks to your ideas and suggestions, I think we're definitely getting the most out of this short trip. I'm excited about all the photo ops.</p>

[steve_wagner1]

<p>Hi Jackie, A short walk up the Hoh Valley is a must since you're so close. One of the greatest places on Earth. If you go up and around on the way back you can also go to Sol Duc falls and Hurricane Ridge. There's the Kalaloch cedar nearby too, a quick side trip. Some of my Olympic photos <a href="http://brettcole.photoshelter.com/gallery-list">here</a> in the Washington and temperate rain forest galleries, have a great trip!</p>