OT - Need Help From Pacific NW Folks!

John and I are foregoing our Florida trip this year in favor of the
Pacific NW. It would be SO helpful if those of you familiar with the
area (and I realize it's a HUGE area!) could help us at least narrow
it down.

We're looking at about a 1 week stay. What time of year is the best,
weather-wise? Summer? What about for whale watching? Seals? Fishing?

Is it possible to be somewhere that has both ocean AND mountains? I've
never been out that way, except for a flight into Vancouver, BC on my
way to Alaska.

You know how much we love glass and glass studios... It would be cool
to be able to visit some hot shops and galleries.

We would prefer a private cabin or cottage. Beachside would be nice
:-) We love little towns with personality and artsy shops. We're not
big on touristy stuff.

Are there bears out there? Bigfoot?

I'm guessing we'd be narrowing it down to Washington and Oregon. We
are in the very beginning stages of planning this trip, so at this
point we know next to nothing. Your help is appreciated!

Tink
Check here for available work:
http://blackswampglassworks.com/latest.htm

Hi Tink!

Ah, a question I can definitely answer! Yay! I'm a transplant from NYC, but
I live here now.
I live up between Bellingham and Mt. Baker, just a few minutes away from the
Canadian border. We have both the water and the mountains nearby.

The Pacific Northwest (aka, the pacific northwet - and for very good
reason....) is truly gorgeous. For the best shot at good weather, I would
shoot for July through August, although the weather is pretty nice until
October, too. If you want a better chance of sun, I would come in the summer
months. This part of the country is breathtaking in beauty. No kidding. You
will come away inspired by the sheer beauty of this place.

For whale watching, go he
http://www.whales.com/index.html

There are some really gorgeous places to stay. If you want island life, try
he
http://www.san-juan-island.net/

If you want the mountains and you want a B&B, go he
http://www.theinnatmtbaker.com/

http://www.duckinnbb.com/

self-catered cabin rentals:

http://www.mtbakerlodging.com

Some of the accommodations folks above are, or were Web clients of mine, but
I don't get $ for referrals and they do have really nice places.

If you stay up in this part of the state, do yourself a huge favor and take
a drive across the border to Vancouver, BC. It's much more cosmopolitan than
any WA State city and they have some wonderful art, food, etc.

For artsy type towns in WA, try La Conner. It's small, but artsy. Friday
Harbor in the San Juan Islands is artsy as well. Port Townsend, out on the
Olympic Peninsula is very, very charming and artsy, too! Here's a link for
Port Townsend:
http://www.ptguide.com/

If you head to the Olympic Peninsula, you'll be near water and you can see
the rain forest. mmmmmm

For glass - well, there are loads of glass folk here, as I am sure you know.
You'll have to go to the Museum of Glass in Tacoma:
http://www.museumofglass.org/s99_home.jsp

and there's always Pilchuck:
http://www.pilchuck.com/default.htm

Now then, if you go to Oregon, go to the coastal towns; somewhere in the
Cannon Beach area. It's gorgeous!!!!
http://www.cannonbeach.org/

And of course, there's Portland - another yummy city. I am not that familiar
with Portland, but I know other folks who are will pipe in here.

Yes, there are bear. We just bought some property for our new house and at
the back of the property we saw bear tracks. We have beaver and deer and
large cats, too.

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask away.

All the best,
Deborah


"Tinkster" wrote in message
...
John and I are foregoing our Florida trip this year in favor of the
Pacific NW. It would be SO helpful if those of you familiar with the
area (and I realize it's a HUGE area!) could help us at least narrow
it down.

We're looking at about a 1 week stay. What time of year is the best,
weather-wise? Summer? What about for whale watching? Seals? Fishing?

Is it possible to be somewhere that has both ocean AND mountains? I've
never been out that way, except for a flight into Vancouver, BC on my
way to Alaska.

You know how much we love glass and glass studios... It would be cool
to be able to visit some hot shops and galleries.

We would prefer a private cabin or cottage. Beachside would be nice
:-) We love little towns with personality and artsy shops. We're not
big on touristy stuff.

Are there bears out there? Bigfoot?

I'm guessing we'd be narrowing it down to Washington and Oregon. We
are in the very beginning stages of planning this trip, so at this
point we know next to nothing. Your help is appreciated!

Tink
Check here for available work:
http://blackswampglassworks.com/latest.htm

We've lived in Vancouver (twice!) and also south of Seattle. I'd also
recommend Port Townsend - small, beautiful, on the ocean, in sight of
mountains, full of cool old Victorian-style B & B's (including one that
was a bordello). Michael Barley and Andrea Gaurdino (sp???) live there,
There's a great Thai restaurant there. Vancouver is very cool, very
beautiful, very wet (go in July or August for sun) and lots to see
there as well as great restaurants. Seattle has lots going on
glass-wide, and an amazing market on Pike Street with fish flying
through the air at one stall. Eugene, Oregon is also cool - Eugene
Glass School is there and a Saturday market that'll have you doing the
time warp back to the 60's. The other place I can highly recommend is
the San Juan Islands - a ferry ride away from Seattle - quiet,
beautiful, lots of ocan experiences to be had and mountains in the
distance. Victoria, BC can also be reached via ferry from Seattle and
is full of very English experiences - Tea at the Empress Hotel, horse
drawn wagons, a great museum with some amazing west coast Indian art,
antiques, etc. I think you'll find that WA, OR and BC all have lots to
offer. The Pacific NW is one of my favorite places to visit - can't
live there though, as the gray winters get me down big time.

susan in canada

--
JustBead Auctions:
http://www.justbeads.com/search/ql.cfm?s=65191
EBay Auctions:
http://cgi6.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...iredwo mandes
ign1&include=0&since=-1&sort=3&rows=50

All I know is that if I don't get to Orcas Island sometime soon, I'll go
insane!!!!!

The Blessed Fiddy, Patroness Saint of the Disorganized
LC in Sunny So Cal
Personality Development Specialist (Full-Time Mom!)

Thank you, everyone! What wonderful and helpful links and info!

We're looking at making a move in about five years or so. Possibly
less. So we need to start scouting out the places we've felt drawn to
for whatever reason.


Tink
Check here for available work:
http://blackswampglassworks.com/latest.htm

All I know is that if I don't get to Orcas Island sometime soon, I'll go
insane!!!!!

OHHHHHH YESSSSSS.
RCB Group Trip, anyone?
~~
Sooz
The things that will destroy us a politics without principle; pleasure
without conscience; wealth without work; knowledge without character; business
without morality; science without humanity, and worship without sacrifice. - M.
Ghandi

Answers inline -

John and I are foregoing our Florida trip this year in favor of the
Pacific NW. It would be SO helpful if those of you familiar with the
area (and I realize it's a HUGE area!) could help us at least narrow
it down.

Woohoo!

We're looking at about a 1 week stay. What time of year is the best,
weather-wise? Summer? What about for whale watching? Seals? Fishing?

If you like warmer weather, August is about the best month there is in the
PNW. Oregon is usually warmer than Washington, but it totally depends on
where you are. The coast can be windy, rainy and cold in every other month
but August and on the rarest occasion, July.

Is it possible to be somewhere that has both ocean AND mountains? I've
never been out that way, except for a flight into Vancouver, BC on my
way to Alaska.

Most of the coast in OR and WA is close to the Olympic mountains and the
Coast Range mountains. Portland, OR has Mt. Hood and is a couple hours away
from the nearest Ocean Beach. Seattle is central to both beaches and
mountains. Lots of opportunity to see both if you're here for a week.
When you travel from Portland to a beach, you go over the Coast range, so
you'll see both within an hour of eachother. The drive is wonderful.

You know how much we love glass and glass studios... It would be cool
to be able to visit some hot shops and galleries.

Glass Museum in Tacoma, WA - has lots of Chihuly and a glass bridge.
FrantzArt Glass is in Shelton, WA
Eugene, OR has the School of glass, and a lot of boro artists.
Northstar Glass, Bullseye Glass and Glass Alchemy are all located in or
around Portland, OR.

There are lots of little glass and art galleries all over the Northwest.
Plus, there are tons of glass artists around here to show you around.


We would prefer a private cabin or cottage. Beachside would be nice
:-) We love little towns with personality and artsy shops. We're not
big on touristy stuff.

When my family goes to the beach in Oregon, we usually go to Canon Beach, or
any of the small towns near Newport ar Lincoln City. Lots and lots of nice
beach house rentals around there.

Are there bears out there? Bigfoot?

Oh, yeah - especially up here in the Cascades (western WA). We also have
lots of UFO activity, spirit activity, wildlife, miles of trees and
wilderness, etc. It's wonderful.


I'm guessing we'd be narrowing it down to Washington and Oregon. We
are in the very beginning stages of planning this trip, so at this
point we know next to nothing. Your help is appreciated!

Cool! The PNW is the BEST. You'll love it here.

--
Kandice Seeber
Air & Earth Designs
http://www.lampwork.net

Heck, yeah! We could all rent a huge house on the beach! Oh, that would be
so much fun.
There are tons of beadmakers and beaders up here.
--
Kandice Seeber
Air & Earth Designs
http://www.lampwork.net

All I know is that if I don't get to Orcas Island sometime soon, I'll go
insane!!!!!

OHHHHHH YESSSSSS.
RCB Group Trip, anyone?
~~
Sooz
The things that will destroy us a politics without principle; pleasure
without conscience; wealth without work; knowledge without character;
business
without morality; science without humanity, and worship without
sacrifice. - M.
Ghandi

Port Townsend! It's within a couple of hour drive of Seattle, and of the
glass museum in Tacoma. It's stunningly beautiful, there are whales, I'm
sure there are charter boats for fishing, there's Michael Barley,
there's Andrea Guarino who knows ALL the glass people, it's a day trip
to Olympic Color Rods, Frantz Art Glass, NW Art Glass, etc etc etc, it's
close to Victoria and you can actually get a tour bus to Butchart
Gardens from Port Townsend, it's close to the Olympic National
Rainforest, in fact, it's close to everything and I think it may be the
most perfect place in the entire world.

Summer is nice but autumn is my favorite. It does rain a lot in the
fall, though, so you might be happier in the summer if you dislike rain.

Yes, there are bears, coyotes, foxes, raccoons, eagles, otters, elk,
deer, and wild mink, as well as a plethora of other wildlife.

A friend of mine said she found a cottage up there that rents for $400
for the whole week. I stayed at the hostel, which offers private rooms
for under $30 a night.

-Kalera
http://www.beadwife.com
http://www.snipurl.com/kebay


Tinkster wrote:
John and I are foregoing our Florida trip this year in favor of the
Pacific NW. It would be SO helpful if those of you familiar with the
area (and I realize it's a HUGE area!) could help us at least narrow
it down.

We're looking at about a 1 week stay. What time of year is the best,
weather-wise? Summer? What about for whale watching? Seals? Fishing?

Is it possible to be somewhere that has both ocean AND mountains? I've
never been out that way, except for a flight into Vancouver, BC on my
way to Alaska.

You know how much we love glass and glass studios... It would be cool
to be able to visit some hot shops and galleries.

We would prefer a private cabin or cottage. Beachside would be nice
:-) We love little towns with personality and artsy shops. We're not
big on touristy stuff.

Are there bears out there? Bigfoot?

I'm guessing we'd be narrowing it down to Washington and Oregon. We
are in the very beginning stages of planning this trip, so at this
point we know next to nothing. Your help is appreciated!

Tink
Check here for available work:
http://blackswampglassworks.com/latest.htm

That would be SO fun!

-Kalera
http://www.beadwife.com
http://www.snipurl.com/kebay


Dr. Sooz wrote:
All I know is that if I don't get to Orcas Island sometime soon, I'll go
insane!!!!!


OHHHHHH YESSSSSS.
RCB Group Trip, anyone?
~~
Sooz
The things that will destroy us a politics without principle; pleasure
without conscience; wealth without work; knowledge without character; business
without morality; science without humanity, and worship without sacrifice. - M.
Ghandi