Portland/Seattle

[djs]

I will be heading out to Portland in late February and am considering doing a "side trip" to Seattle. I get to Portland on a Wednesday evening and don't depart until Monday morning so right now I'm thinking of heading up to Seattle on Saturday morning and then back sometime Sunday.

First question is if I should even do the Seattle portion of the trip. I'm flying out from Boston so given the 6+ hour flight out I can be convinced to combine the two cities, but don't want to sell myself short on Portland either.

If I go, should I drive up or take Amtrak? At the end of the day the cost for a two day car rental and parking or the train will be about the same.

I'm figuring by driving I'm on my own schedule and if there's something I want to check out I can just pull off the road whereas with the train that's not really an option. On the otherhand, often times trains cut through terain that is not otherwise an option providing a unique experience.

Train is 3.5 hours while driving up I-5 would be about 3 hours, so not much advantage there except that with the train I can put my feet up and enjoy the ride.

Thoughts??

 

[bjones9942]

I wouldn't do it for just a day. The train really isn't going to give you much more of a view than you'd get from driving, although feets-up is a plus. A one to one and a half day 'side trip' won't do Seattle justice, and will take the time from your Portland exploration.

If you decide to do it, then I'd make sure to find specific things based on your interests to do in Seattle (Pike Place Market, Museum of Flight, Underground Seattle, ferry ride, International District) and then fill in with exploring the city. Right now the bus tunnel is free in the downtown corridor (they keep saying they're going to start charging though), so you would have an easy method to pop around the city.

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

Given your window of time in Portland, I concur with others to stick with the Portland portion of the trip.

Instead of going to Seattle I suggest that you spend a day with some activities that are day trips out of Portland. If you should catch some clear weather I would absolutely recommend that you take a trip to Mt. St. Helens. That would be my #1 suggestion - providing you catch a clear day.

Other thoughts are visits to Mt. Hood and Timberline, the Columbia Gorge, and wine tasting in either the Willamette Valley or Hood River locales.

If you like skiing, why not catch a day of skiing at Mt. Hood Meadows or Timberline.

 

[california-bighorn]

Mt. St. Helens

I would consider a side trip to Mt. St. Helens if you drive. There are two visitor centers and the first is 5 miles off I-5 on 504with the other (Johnson Ridge Overlook) being 52 miles off the freeway. Both very interesting.
And I would recommend driving as it is freeway all the way and driving would provide much more flexibility.

 

[djs]

Thanks for the suggestons, I think 3 hours each way is just a tad too long for a "side trip". Mt. St. Helens has been suggested by others so I may do that.

I can always make a seperate trip to Seattle, perhaps some weekend when the Sox are in town. Mt. Hood and wine tasting are also things I want to do while out there.

 

[bjones9942]

If you do a trip to Seattle, keep Woodinville in mind. It's a short distance away and has a winery or two (and Redhook brewery) to sample. If you're into a little physical activity, there's a bike trail (Sammamish River Trail) that goes past two wineries and the brewery. Very nice scenery and basically a very flat trail to ride (two tiny hills).

 

[djs]

If you do a trip to Seattle, keep Woodinville in mind. It's a short distance away and has a winery or two (and Redhook brewery) to sample. If you're into a little physical activity, there's a bike trail (Sammamish River Trail) that goes past two wineries and the brewery. Very nice scenery and basically a very flat trail to ride (two tiny hills).

A brewery or two is very much on a "to do list", no objections to wineries either.

 

[scrapngen]

Saw this Living Social special and thought of you: http://www.livingsocial.com/cities/223/deals/129739

I have no idea if the winery or the wine is any good, so can't give recommendations as far as that goes, but someone else who does might be able to chime in. (My DH doesn't drink, so we don't go to wineries )

 

[eal]

My husband's cousin recently moved to Portland and we went to visit them for a long weekend in October. There is so much to do and see in the area, and we had a great time. Stay in Portrland for the entire time, enjoy the downtown food carts, the Saturday (and Sunday ) Market, the local breweries and the surrounding wineries. Have fun!

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

If you do a trip to Seattle, keep Woodinville in mind. It's a short distance away and has a winery or two (and Redhook brewery) to sample.

There's more like 40 wineries in the Woodinville area. Also a craft whiskey distillery that does tastings.

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

Thanks for the suggestons, I think 3 hours each way is just a tad too long for a "side trip". Mt. St. Helens has been suggested by others so I may do that.

I can always make a seperate trip to Seattle, perhaps some weekend when the Sox are in town. Mt. Hood and wine tasting are also things I want to do while out there.

A brewery or two is very much on a "to do list", no objections to wineries either.

Based on these comments I suggest that you make a Plan A and a Plan B, with one of the plans being Mt. St. Helens and the other being Mt. Hood/Timberline/Hood River. There are quite a few wineries with tasting rooms in Hood River, and the tasting fees are also much less in Hood River than in the Willamette Valley. You can also catch a good stretch of the Columbia River Gorge between Hood River and Portland.

Then decide at the time which you prefer to do, with weather conditions being a factor. In general clear skies should favor going to Mt. St. Helens, but you also don't want to go to Timberline in the middle of a snowstorm either. So one very good option is to do Mt. St. Helens if it's clear, Mt. Hood/Hood River if it's not clear. But if it's snowing on the road to Mt. Hood, then drop the Timberline/Mt. Hood option from your tour.

If weather is really bad (meaning there might even be snow in the Gorge) then Plan C would be to stick close to Portland, perhaps going down to Yamhill for wine tasting in the region.

 

[MON2REY]

http://www.fullsailbrewing.com

We enjoyed visiting and sampling the beers at Full Sail Brewery in Hood River, not far from Portland and a very scenic drive.

 

[sue1947]

The Mount St Helens suggestions might not work for you. In late Feb, when you are traveling, the Johnston Ridge Vis Ctr is closed for the winter and the road is gated several miles below that spot. The Coldwater Vis Ctr (near the gate location) has been closed due to budget cuts. Winter just isn't a very good time to visit. The Johnston Ridge Observatory is a great spot both for views and exhibits and usually opens mid-May to the end of October.

From Portland, I would look at trips to the ocean (Seaside/Cannon Beach/Astoria), Mt Hood at Timberline and a stay at the lodge there or up the Columbia Gorge.

 

[bjones9942]

There's more like 40 wineries in the Woodinville area. Also a craft whiskey distillery that does tastings.

I'd forgotten about the whiskey distillery! I know there are many wineries, but only 2 (Ste. Michelle/Columbia) are right off the trail (I don't count Canon de Sol). Wait ... there's Januik as well ... somehow I never seem to get past Redhook

 

[lorenmd]

if you can fly into pdx and out of seattle, i would go up to seattle and spend a few days. the weather will be a factor, although last february we had some really nice days. i would not do it if you have to go back down to pdx. you can enjoy tax free shopping in pdx though and that always brings a smile.

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

I'd forgotten about the whiskey distillery! I know there are many wineries, but only 2 (Ste. Michelle/Columbia) are right off the trail (I don't count Canon de Sol). Wait ... there's Januik as well ... somehow I never seem to get past Redhook

There are many more than two right off the trail. There are probably at least ten along that same stretch of road where Januik is. Many of the occupy space in the industrial parks in that area. For example in that park where the distillery is there are at least two - possibly three - wineries.