Embark on a thrilling ten-day road trip through the captivating wonders of the Pacific Northwest coast! This journey promises an unrivaled blend of scenic beauty, adventure, and cultural exploration. From the iconic cityscape of Seattle, where the famous Space Needle stands tall, to the rugged cliffs and stunning sea stacks of the Oregon coast, our route will take us through a symphony of landscapes.
We'll wind our way along the famed Pacific Coast Highway, passing through charming towns, witnessing majestic waterfalls, and immersing ourselves in the vibrant coastal culture. Whether it's wandering through enchanting rainforests, spotting whales in the deep blue ocean, or savoring freshly caught seafood, each day will be filled with extraordinary experiences.
So, let's buckle up and hit the open road, ready to create unforgettable memories as we navigate through the natural wonders and hidden gems of the Pacific Northwest coast. Adventure, beauty, and discovery await us at every turn!
Pacific Northwest Road Trip Map
Below is the map showing the route for 10 days. I have pinpointed the area on Google Maps. You can download this map for your trip.
Pacific Northwest Road Trip Itinerary: 10 days
Day 1: Anacortes & San Juan Islands
The remote San Juan Islands are located halfway between the U.S. city of Seattle and its Canadian neighbor Vancouver. We decided to make the first stop here since we were going south and it was better at the beginning of the trip. We decided to add this stop to have the chance to see orcas, as it is one of the best places in the world to see killer whales in the wild.
They are named after the 19th century Spanish explorer Gonzalo López de Haro, although there are hardly any traces left of these colonizers. Due to its cold and humid climate, the best time to visit them is from the end of spring (early May) to the beginning of autumn (the rainy season begins in mid-October).
To reach this remote place the best option is to rent a car from Seattle and drive an hour and a half (130 kilometers) to the city of Anacortes where you take the ferry to the various islands of the archipelago.
We had booked a boat tour with @sanjuanexcursions to see killer whales. The tour had a duration of 4/5 hours and cost: $278.85 for both of us. It was an unforgettable experience. We were lucky enough to see a pod of orcas. We were sailing for several hours and at the end we were able to see them. It was amazing! The tours do not guarantee that you will see orcas, but from April to October it is quite likely. However, our tour told us that if we didn't see orcas we could reuse the ticket and try again (they give you 5 years).
We got off the ferry at Friday Harbor, a historic fishing village where there are a number of companies offering orca whale watching tours, as well as diving, kayaking, biking and wildlife expeditions.
It belongs to San Juan Island, the second in size. There is a very interesting history on San Juan Island related to the American Camp Park and the English Camp. In 1859 an American killed the pig of an Englishman, this gave rise to a dispute over ownership of the island between the United States and Great Britain that became known as the "Pig War", which incidentally was the only one killed in this war. Both countries had a military presence on the island between 1860 and 1872 until the United States was declared the owner of the island; in the American Camp was the American Army and in the English Camp was the Royal Army. Today they are the two largest parks on the island as well as being National Historical Parks.
After the tour we took the ferry back to Anacortes and were ready to travel to North Cascades National Park (see below for camping details).
Day 2: North Cascades National Park
North Cascades National Park is one of three national parks in Washington State. It is known as the Alps of the United States. It features the rugged mountain peaks of the North Cascade Range, the most expansive glacial system in the United States. The Skagit River flows through the reservoirs of the Ross Lake National Recreation Area.
It is accessible during the summer months, but the road through the park (Highway 20) is closed in winter due to heavy snowfall.
We only had one day so we could not do many hikes, but it was enough to admire the beauty of this place. If you only have one day, don't worry, I will explain what you can do to get an idea of this magical place. The North Cascade Scenic Highway form Newhalem to Winthrop is 72 miles with no gas stations in between!
What to do in one day in North Cascades National Park
1. Drive North Cascades Scenic Highway: Stop along the different overlooks. These were my favourites:
Suspension Bridge To Trail Of The Cedars
A short, easy, family-friendly hiking trail in North Cascades National Park is the Trail of the Cedars. This 0.6-mile flat trail passes through a verdant old-growth forest and features a cute suspension bridge that makes for great photos.
Gorge Overlook
Situated between Diablo Lake and the Trail of the Cedars, Gorge Lake Overlook is another scenic stop along Highway 20.
You’ll follow a short paved walkway from the parking that leads to views of the Skagit Gorge and the hydroelectric Gorge Dam — which provides electricity to Seattle!
Diablo Lake Vista Point (BEST ONE)
Diablo Lake Overlook has the iconic photo of the North Cascades National Park. The water is this beautiful unreal emerald color. The “rock flour” is what gives it that color. It forms when glaciers rub against the mountain. The area is breathtaking! This alone is worth the drive!
Washington Pass Observation Site
Also a must if you are visiting North Cascades National Park. Before you go, check the website because normally this part opens in late June due to the snow.
2. Hiking in the North Cascades National Park
We didn't have much time to do any long hike but we did one of the best short hikes called Rainy Lake: an easy 2-mile hike. It shares the same trailhead as the Maple Pass Loop. To get to Rainy Lake is a flat walk on a paved trail to a viewpoint of the lake. It is a gorgeous hike and beyond the lake sits North Cascades National Park.
However, here is a list of the best hikes:
Mapple Pass (challenging) 7.2miles -> One of the most popular hikes in the North Cascades.
Cutthroat Lake (easy) -> 4 miles, easy. Cutthroat Lake is another lovely lake. To get here, it is a mostly flat walk through a forest. The best part of the hike is crossing the log footbridge just before you reach the lake.
Thornton Lakes (moderate): 10.4miles
Trail of Cedars (easy) -> 0.3miles
Thunder Knob (moderate)-> 3.6 miles, easy to moderate. For beautiful views over Diablo Lake, hike to the top of Thunder Knob. This is a family-friendly trail that starts at Diablo Lake.
Blue Lake: 5 miles, easy to moderate. This is a great to add on to your North Cascades to-do list. It’s short and relatively easy, so it’s perfect for almost all ages and ability levels. The trail ends at the Blue Lake, a brilliantly blue lake that is surrounded by towering mountains.
Camp in North Cascades National Park
This National Park has many designated campgrounds where you can enjoy and have a nice time.
Campsites are opened usually from mid-May to early September and highly recommended that you reserve a spot in advance.
Below is a breakdown of the different campgrounds in North Cascades NP:
Gorge Lake Campground
Lower Goodell Creek Group Campground
Goodell Creek Campground
Newhalem Creek Campground --> We stayed at this Campground.
Colonial Creek North Campground
Colonial Creek South Campground
After an amazing day, we started heading to Olympic National Park which was our next destination. For this night we didn't have anything planned in terms of accommodation but as we wanted to camp as many nights as we could in our car, we decided to try sleeping at one of the Walmart's that allow overnight in Port Angeles.
We found a website where you could see all the Walmart's where you could sleep. You can see the page here.
We did overnight in Kolonels Way, Port Angeles East, WA 98362
Tips to visit North Cascades National Park
Entrance fee is free: The North Cascades Highway is a major thoroughfare between the western part of the state and eastern Washington, so you don’t need a pass to park inside the park.
The visitor center is located in Newhalem
There is no services inside the park.
Day 3: Olympic National Park
We woke up in Port Angeles and started our day driving into the Olympic National Park. This National Park is one of the most popular areas in Washington. The reason is that the park is very divers with mountains, lakes, waterfalls, beaches and rainforests! A haven for hikers, backpackers, photographers and beachcombers! As there's so much to do there's also a lot of driving. We only had one day to explore the park, but honestly we saw practically everything.
This national park covers a vast area of the spectacular Olympic Peninsula. It is a complete wilderness area ranging from huge glaciated mountains to dense, humid tropical rainforests.
The region receives more precipitation than any other part of the continental United States. Most of it is snow, which over time has created more than 250 glaciers in the park.
While Washington State’s national parks are super seasonal, the moderate climate of the Olympic Peninsula makes it more accessible year-round. In fact, it’s the national park that makes the most sense to visit during the winter and spring when the rest of Washington’s national parks are largely closed. This is true particularly for the coastal and rainforest regions of Olympic National Park, which due to their low elevation rarely experience snowfall.
What to do in Olympic National Park in one day
In order to organize your trip, I'll break down all the amazing things to do into sections:
NORTH OLYMPIC
1. Hurricane Hill
This is one of the most popular stops. It is the most accessible mountain in Olympic Park and offers unparalleled panoramic views, however when we went it had suffered a fire and the area was closed.
Hurricane Hill trail is one of the more popular activities in this area. A 3-miles roundtrip with 650 feet of elevation.
2. Lake Crescent
On the way to the coast you will go around the lake, you have very good views from the road and through the viewpoints you can even have a picnic in some of the sites established by the park. Lake Crescent is outstanding! It is tough to capture it all in a photo. The lake is so large, but it has a beautiful hint of a blue-green color. People take advantage of their long stays in Olympic to kayak or paddle surf, as the lake is very calm and relaxed.
3. Sol Duc Falls
An easy 1.6-mile out and back trail to one of Washington's prettiest waterfalls. The trail is crossing between huge trees, with very nice views until you reach the three waterfalls that, although they are not of great size are impressive. The view from the bridge is where you have the best appreciation of the environment.
WESTERN OLYMPIC
1. Hoh Rainforest
One of the best places in the national park. Hoh Rainforest is located on the west side of the Olympic Peninsula, and is one of the few temperate forests in the country. There are practically no words to describe what my eyes saw, the rays coming through the foliage of leaves and trees that are wrapped in moss generating a kind of hair all over the tree. This trail called Hall of the moss is very easy to do with children.
It is a circular circuit of 0.8 miles that will leave you wanting to see more places like this. One of the places that makes you think about the diversity of the whole park from the coast to the mountains. Totally different from the previous ones.
PACIFIC COASTLINE
Pacific Coastline area of the Olympic National Park is filled with gorgeous rocky beaches, hidden caves and many locations to explore. Below we share our favorite ones:
1. Rialto Beach
Rialto Beach is probably one of our favorite beaches in Olympic National Park. It has an endless beachside walk, open ocean, and towering rock formations. This beach is also very popular place for beach camping!
One of the most famous hikes is the Hole-in-the-Wall trail. It's a 3.5 mile trip to see a hole in the rock. You'll need to check the tides because it's only accessible if the tide is low. When we went it was high and we couldn't do this hike.
However, we still decided to explore this area and went left. It was a beautiful walk along the beach where you could see on the horizon huge rock formations.
2. Ruby Beach
Ruby Beach was also one of our favorite places in Olympic National Park. This area is very popular as it has an easy access to the beach. It gets it's name from the ruby-colored crystals in the sand.
To visit Ruby beach, park in the large parking area and walk downhill towards the beach. Beautiful view from the top!
3. Tree of Life
This might be one of the coolest things to do in Olympic National Park. Visiting the tree of life must be on your what to do list. Located in the Kalaloch Day Use Area. I have never seen a tree this beautiful. At the moment the tree is levitating, the roots are still hooked on both sides of the ground and the tree is in the middle, making it float in the air.
Tips for visiting Olympic National Park
The entrance stations and visitors’ centers are laid out a bit differently in Olympic National Park than in the other national parks. You won’t stop at a visitor center to pay your entrance fees, so you’ll want to have a pass in advance.
You'll need to pick up a permit to explore the beaches on the northern Pacific Coast, including Shi Shi. Permits are available from a number of stores in Neah Bay.
The National Park is huge. You'll have long drives between the different areas, so plan accordingly.
After spending one day in this amazing National Park it was time to head to our next destination. We decided to sleep again in one of the Walmarts that allow overnight parking in Aberdeen.
CROSSING TO OREGON STATE
Oregon, in the Pacific Northwest of the United States, is a state of overwhelming and diverse nature. Traveling through it you will find wild beaches, dense forests, volcanic calderas, rolling dune deserts... And, of course, cities like Portland or Bend, where you can relax between excursions with a good beer or coffee.
Day 4: Astoria, Cannon Beach and Cape Kiwanda
Astoria
We said goodbye to Washington State and it was time to cross into Oregon. We entered Oregon State through Astoria. One of Oregon's most historic cities, and arguably one of its most picturesque, offers plenty to see and do. It may be most famous among movie buffs for being the setting of the 1985 hit film "The Goonies," and fans will find plenty of ways to relive some of their favorite scenes. Astoria itself is rich in tradition and historic architecture, located along the Columbia River, providing more scenic beauty and all kinds of water activities.
Ecola State Park
An incredible coastal scenery can be enjoyed at Ecola State Park, which lies just north of Cannon Beach and encompasses fifteen miles of scenic and serene coastline. Its beauty is such that several famous movies, such as The Goonies and Twilight, have been filmed in the park over the years (5$ parking fee)
Cannon Beach
One of the most popular and perfect places to visit and stay on the Oregon coast is charming Cannon Beach. Surrounded by spectacular rock formations and beautiful beaches, the small coastal town is not far from many sublime landscapes and nature.
The highlight of Cannon Beach, however, is the remarkable Haystack Rock, which rises 235 feet high and is one of the tallest sea stacks in the world. It is one of the most famous landmarks in the state, making for fabulous photo opportunities and is a popular tourist attraction.
Protected as part of the Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge, the massive monolith was formed millions of years ago by the same lava flows that shaped much of the state's rugged coastline. At low tide, you can stroll up to the sea mound and observe the many marine species that inhabit the tide pools and surrounding waters. Because of its striking size, Haystack Rock has been featured in numerous movies over the years, including The Goonies.
In addition, the village of Cannon Beach is very interesting (as well as touristy). The best thing to do is to park in the public parking (free) on the main street and walk around, between wooden houses, stores, cool cafes, etc..
Cape Kiwanda
It is a very touristy seaside town: you pay $10 for parking and you have several restaurants to eat next to the beach and the Haystack Rock (not the same rock as Cannon Beach, but on the Oregon coast there are several bluffs)! On a sunny day, it must be a great plan, as next to it there are huge sand dunes where people climb and jump.
We continued driving towards Lincoln City where we were going to spend the night in Devil's Lake State Park. This campground was one the best ones we stayed at. While the sites are close together, with the vegetation between it doesn't seem so bad. The camp hosts are very pleasant. And the showers were simply awesome.
Day 5: Silver Falls and drive to Crater Lake
We had ahead of us nearly 5 hours of drive to Crater Lake. On our way we passed close to Silver Falls, which is worth stopping and should definitely be on your must-do in Oregon.
Silver Falls
Silver Falls State Park is a park located 20 miles from the city of Salem and very close to Silverston. It has an area of more than 36 square kilometers, which makes it the largest park in the state of Oregon. There are many biking and hiking trails in the park. The park also has many waterfalls, the most visited is South Fall, which has a drop of 54 meters.
The most famous trail in the park is called the trail of ten falls. It is a moderate trail of about 7.4 miles.
However, if you don't have much time I would recommend doing South falls. This waterfall drops over a ledge that overhangs and crashes 177 feet down into the pool. South Falls is one of several waterfalls that have a niche large enough to walk behind the falls. If you've never walked behind a waterfall, this is a fun experience! For a short visit, we recommend the trail that takes you to South Falls - go behind the waterfall and back to the parking lot for a quick trip!
After a full day driving to Crater Lake, we arrived in the afternoon. For the night, we had read that during Spring and Summer it was free to park and sleep in several Snow-Parks near the National Park. The nearest one to Rim Village entrance was Annie Creek Sno-Park. It was the first time staying in one of this Sno-Parks and it was very cool. There were other families staying the night and we felt very safe.
Day 6: Crater Lake and Bend
On the sixth day of the Oregon itinerary we left the coast behind and headed inland to Crater Lake National Park. Up to this point, we had seen forests, oceanfront cliffs, dunes, waterfalls... And now it was the turn of a mind-blowing volcanic landscape!
We had it well marked in red on our map: Crater Lake National Park is one of the essential visits to make on a trip to Oregon, and could not miss on our roadtrip.
Over several centuries, rain and snowmelt began to fill the crater with water until it reached a depth of 1,932 feet, making it the deepest lake in the United States. Covers an impressive crater opened some 7,700 years ago, when the Mount Mazama volcano collapsed after a major eruption. Now Crater Lake is a national park and a true wilderness experience.
If you enter through the south entrance, as we did because the other access was still closed due to snow (we traveled in the month of June), you will arrive at the Steel Visitor Center where they inform you about the state of the roads, if there are any closed viewpoints, etc. On our visit, there was only a 1 mile stretch of the road around the crater, all the way to Discovery Point.
We saw it with snow, which gave it an extra plus of beauty... although it also had its cons: we could not visit all the viewpoints surrounding the crater because some of the roads were closed.
What we did in one day (with most of the park closed)
Rim Village Visitor Center: This is the center from where the Crater Lake visit begins. There is a large expanse of parking, a souvenir store, a cafeteria and even a lodge (the Crater Lake Lodge).
Discovery Point: We parked the car in this parking lot and started a trail called Rim Trail. This would lead us to Watchman Overlook.
Watchman Overlook: it has the best panoramic point of all Crater Lake. It is located right in front of the famous Wizard Island. We started the trail from Discovery Point that went along the edge of the crater. It was one of the most beautiful hikes I have ever done. Half way up there was a lot of snow and we couldn't see the trail so we couldn't continue up the crater. We had to go down one side to the normal road that would take you to Watchman Overlook. The truth is that we were practically the only ones doing this route, so we had it all to ourselves. When we arrived at the parking lot of the Watchmen Overlook, we saw that it was practically impossible to go all the way up, as it was still covered with snow. Even so, the views from the parking lot were incredible!
Other things to do in Crater Lake (when the park is completely opened):
About halfway down is the Cleetwood Cove Trail, a fairly steep 1.7 km trail that descends to the waters of the lake, and where if you want you can take a dip (it is allowed!). Down there is a small dock from where in summer boats leave for a tour of the lake. There are two types of tours: a 2-hour tour around the lake ($44), and a 3-hour tour that includes a visit to Wizard Island, where you trek to the top ($55). It can be a nice experience.
On the eastern part of the circular route, we have two more stops at Cloudcap Overlook (for sunset) and Phantom Ship Overlook. Before arriving back at the Rim Village Visitor Center and finishing the visit to Crater Lake. Before finishing the tour, there is a detour of about 10 km to the Pinnacles Overlook, at Kerr Notch from where you can see some pretty cool eroded rock formations in the shape of a needle.
This Rim Drive tour is easy to do with your own car, there is parking at each overlook and the road is in perfect condition, but note that it is only open during the summer months. However, in winter the road to the Rim Village Visitor Center is also usually open and ready for tourism, and although you can not visit other viewpoints, the views from here are spectacular and worth the visit.
Hikes in Crater Lake:
Watchman Peak Trail: 1.6mile roundtrip
Sun Notch: This super short, .8 mile relatively flat loop will grant you perfect views of Phantom Ship, which is definitely a sight to be seen! You’ll hike through an open pumice meadow directly to the rim of Crater Lake, where you’ll instantly get fantastic views of the lake!
Discovery Trail: 2 miles roundtrip, small elevation gain. An easy trail with spectacular views of Crater Lake along the rim. Snaking right along Rim Drive, you’ll want to be sure to stay on the hiking path in order to soak up the views.
If you only have one day I recommend the following: drive Rim Drive and go on a boat tour of the lake. More time allows you to hike the trails in the park (Watchman Overlook)
Bend
Located near the Cascade Mountains and the Deschutes River, Bend offers endless opportunities for outdoor activities. Known as the adventure sports capital of Oregon and is a big city, but with a small, walkable downtown, nature everywhere and a young, artsy vibe that we loved. We stayed the night in Bend and the next day we headed to Smith Rocks State Park and cross back to Washington State.
Restaurant recommendation: Spork - Great food and nice atmosphere. Food was delicious! Highly recommended if you are in Bend.
Day 7: Smith Rocks State Park, Mt Hood and Mt Saint Helens
On the seventh day of this Pacific Coast itinerary, we leave Bend behind to drive north of the state and back again to Washington State where we will visit Mt Rainier.
Smith Rocks State Park
About 45 minutes from Bend, this Crooked River canyon reminded us of Arizona and Utah landscapes, with whimsically shaped rock formations popular for rock climbers. After paying $5 to park next to the visitor center, you can choose from several hikes. We chose to do part of the River Trail, a trail that follows the river and, after the initial slope, is fairly flat.
The problem is that there are no shadows and, at 9 am and even though it was June, it was very hot. If we could do it again, we would go much earlier (there are cafes nearby that open from 5am, so we imagine it is an early bird destination).
Mt Hood
After Smith Rock State Park, our next goal was to reach Mount Hood Mountain. It is the highest mountain in the state of Oregon and the fourth highest in the Cascade Range. It is considered the volcano most at risk of erupting in the state of Oregon, although the last known eruption occurred in 1866.
We made a stop at Trillium Lake, a mountain lake situated at the foot of the mountain. The cost for parking is $10. It is a very nice place to come and relax or spend the whole day with the family. You can swim, fish or just admire the incredible views of Mt Hood while having a picnic.
Mt St Helen
On our way to Mt Rainier we made a stop to admire the beautiful Mt St Helen from one of the overlooks near the National Volcanic Monument.
If you visit the state of Washington you cannot miss Mount Saint Helens. This volcano is remembered for its recent eruption in 1980, which was very powerful and devastating because of its huge explosion. The mountain reached an elevation of 3000 meters, but due to the explosion and the crater that remained afterwards, its current height is 2550 meters. Before the aforementioned event, it exhibited an almost symmetrical shape that earned it a comparison with Japan's Mount Fuji.
We stopped at the overlooked McClellan Viewpoint and the view of Mt St Helen was amazing! However, it is not the view of the crater.
To finish the day we headed to Mt Rainier to spend the night.
Day 8: Mt Rainier National Park
This national park owes its name to the enormous volcano of more than 4,300 meters Mt Rainier. It rises 4,392 meters and exceeds the surrounding mountains by at least 2,500 meters. It is awe-inspiring to see as you get closer. On clear days it dominates the skyline of Seattle and all the surrounding communities. The peak and its upper slopes are perpetually covered with ice and snow, including 23 active glaciers.
Mount Rainier is an active volcano. In fact, due to is high probability of eruption in the near future, it is considered to be one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world.
There are four entrances into the park: the Nisqually entrance (in the southwest), the Stevens Canyon entrance (in the southeast), the White River entrance (in the northeast), and the Carbon River entrance (in the northwest).
Paradise, which is located on the southern slopes of Mount Rainier, is one of the most heavily visited areas of the park. Numerous hiking trails are found here, including the spectacular Skyline Trail, and nearby, you can also hike to numerous lakes and waterfalls.
At Ohanapecosh, which is on the southeastern corner, you are tucked away in the ancient forests. A visit here isn’t so much about big views of Mount Rainier. Instead, you can walk through forests of trees that are hundreds of years old.
Sunrise is similar to Paradise, with amazing views of Mount Rainier and a multitude of hikes to choose from, depending on your activity level.
Best things to do in Mount Rainier National Park
1. Spend time in Paradise: when we went this was the only area opened in the park. Event hough it was June there was still a lot of snow. During the summer this area is beautiful, with the slopes covered with wildflowers and amazing views of Mt Rainier.
In this area you'll find several hikes to do:
Alta Vista Trail: 1.7miles
Nisqually Vista Trail: 1.2miles
Myrtle Falls: one of the prettiest views in the park. An easy walk on a paved trail (1 mile roundtrip). This is the only hike we could do as everything was covered with snow and they didn't recommend the others. The whole way was snowy and very foggy so you could not appreciate the wonderful view of Mt Rainier.
2. Visit Paradise Inn: we decided to stay a little longer in the area and visit the Paradise Inn Lodge right next door. It has a store and a large lounge to rest. It is really worth a visit!
3. Reflection Lake: On a clear, windless day, it is possible to capture the reflection of Mount Rainier in Reflection Lake.
4. Narada Falls: a short but steep walk to a viewpoint (0.2miles round trip)
5. Sunrise Point: from here you'll be able to see also Mount Adams, the second highest peak in Washington.
6. Visit Sunrise: Like Paradise, Sunrise is one of the best places to spend your time in Mount Rainier National Park. This is the highest you can get by car in the park. At an elevation of 6,400 feet, not only do you have fantastic views of Mount Rainier, but you can also look out over the Cascade Range. In this area you'll find several hikes to do:
Sourdough Ridge Trail
Sunrise Nature Trail
Mount Fremont Fire Lookout: this is the hike we wanted to do, but this area in June was still closed. If you are looking for a hike that’s not too long, not too difficult, and offers beautiful views of Mount Rainier, the Mount Fremont Fire Lookout is one to put on your to-do list. It is 6 miles long and takes the average person 3 to 4 hours.
How many days do you need to explore Mount Rainier?
With one day, you can visit one area of the park. I recommend choosing between Paradise and Sunrise (depending on the month you go) Which one you choose will depend on where you are coming from and where you are going. Both are incredible and you'll have lots of hiking options and spectacular views from both places.
Two days in Mount Rainier gives you enough time to visit Sunrise and Paradise. If you plan to stay more, then any additional days will allow you to visit other areas of the park, big hikes, scenic drives and visit lakes & waterfalls.
Hotel recommendation: Gateway Inn & Cabins - This is the last hotel before the entrance (to go to Paradise) to Mount Rainier National Park . It was very convenient and the staff was very nice.
Day 9: Trip to Seattle
Seattle is the biggest city in the Pacific Northwest and one of the most interesting urban travel destinations in the United States. Seattle is probably not one of the most visited cities, but I can guarantee you that the birthplace of Grunge, the famous Starbucks coffee chain and Boeing airplanes, surprises everyone who knows it. It is also the largest city in the state of Washington State and is known for being the city of eternal rain surrounded by mountains and incredible nature.
We drove to Seattle from Mount Rainier. It is about 2hrs and 30 mins. For this day we wanted to visit everything that was outside Seattle downtown. We went and visit Gas Works Park, located on the north shore of Lake Union, which shows us a perfect example of how to convert an obsolete industrial space, as it was an old refinery until the 50s, into a leisure space for the inhabitants of the city, with fantastic views of the skyline, and a fun maze of colorful machines for the little ones, in what used to be the extractor building. Do not miss it if you are traveling with children!
We also made a stop in Seacrest Park. Nice park to view Seattle’s Skyline.
Day 10: Visiting Seattle
For our last day, we decided to stay in the downtown of Seattle. The first thing was to grab something for breakfast, and we decided to stop by the Pike Market in Le Panier: Amazing place! The aroma of freshly baked goods welcomed me as I stepped in. The variety of pastries and bread they offered was impressive, and everything tasted amazing. The staff was friendly and helpful, making the experience even better. Highly recommend this charming bakery to all pastry lovers out there!
Space Needle
After having breakfast we had booked tickets to go up the Space Needle. It is the most striking tower of the Seattle skyline, a tower of almost 184 m. built in 1962 for the Universal Exposition, which presides over the views from anywhere in the city. An elevator that goes up at 16 km/h. will take you in just 43 seconds to an incredible viewpoint at 160 m. high, with 360 degree views of the entire city, the mountains, Elliot Bay and the surrounding islands, which will surely leave you with your mouth open.
Pike Market
After visiting The Space Needle we went back to Pike Market. One of the most emblematic places in the city, with a history of over 100 years, which was created by some farmers who were outraged by the high prices at which their products were sold to the consumer, decided to do it themselves.
Today, it is a market with 36,000 square meters on several floors, and with more than 600 stalls of fresh fish, fruits, bakeries, ice cream shops, pastry shops and much more than you can imagine. It is well worth a visit!
Food Recommendation
Le Panier
Piroshky: Family owned Russian bakery serving the eponymous classic eastern European pastries since 1992. The handmade pastries are baked fresh daily using traditional eastern European recipes and are delicious. Available in both sweet and savory and even have a couple of vegetarian/vegan filling options like potato and mushroom or Impossible beef and onion. Would recommend for a flavorful and authentic experience.
Market Grill: The name says it all in the best sense of the word. Fish fresh off the grill with an exceptional flavor and an impeccable term as far as salmon is concerned. I ordered their star dish - the salmon sandwich - and was pleasantly satisfied, as the bread is very good and also toasted on the grill, plus the house mayonnaise with rosemary gives it a little special touch. The place is small, yes, but the staff can gladly pack your order so you can eat it at one of the many public tables that Pike's Market has to offer.
Beecher's Handmade cheese.
Gum Wall
Do not leave there without going to Post Alley, to see one of the top 5 tourist attractions in the world contaminated by germs, not suitable for scrupulous, the Gum Wall, a brick wall full of chewed gum, whose picture will look great on your instagram or facebook, as it does in many wedding albums and even in some movies like Love Happens.
Other Top places to visit in Seattle:
Capitol Hill
One of the most interesting neighborhoods and with more personality in Seattle is Capitol Hill, the neighborhood that hosts the largest LGBT community in the city. If you like to wander the streets, stop for a beer and go shopping... you have to stop by.
Ice cream recommendation : Frankie & Jo's Capitol Hill
Starbucks
Did you know that Seattle is home to the first Starbucks in the world? It was founded in 1971 and since then who knows how many liters of coffee were drunk on the streets of Seattle (and the world!). And yes, even if it's just to visit this historic place, it's a must-see. But if there is a Starbucks that drives everyone who visits it crazy (especially instagramers) is The Seattle Roastery.
Fremont
Fremont is one of the hippest neighborhoods going right now. Here you will find countless stores, restaurants and a craft brewery that you have to visit: we are talking about Fremont Brewing.
Pier 66
The Seattle Boardwalk still boasts the splendor of yesteryear, with several piers along the Elliot Bay, where different tourist attractions are located, such as Pier 57 with its iconic Seattle Great Wheel, which reminds us of the one in Santa Monica, one of the must-see attractions in Los Angeles.
