Howdy-

I think Sarah, the dog and I are going to head towards Seattle next Thursday. Originally we were going to go through Idaho and camp but I think it will be too smoky. Looking for advice on a halfway stop for the night and advice on the Seattle area. Planning on going into Renton unless you all have other ideas. Maybe get an air BNB near the harbor/Pikes Place, and maybe look for a San Juan Island destination for a bit of exploring for a few days.

Would love any advice on the area. We will have a small dog and a 2 year old.

Thanks!

Brad

I'm at Smith Prairie, Idaho (2U0). Nice long runway (5K), all of our smoke has cleared out.. today was about a 5kt breeze up the runway, and 65 degrees. Gorgeous. Tie-downs, bbq pit, area to camp. Will even give you a ride to the local store for a hot meal.

Check it out, and let mew know! Shoot me a PM.

- Joseph

Are you on floats, amphibs or wheels?

The smoke is actually not all that bad over most of the Northwest right now, but there are several strips that are "closed until further notice" in the Frank and up around Glacier.

Yeah, my avatar is confusing, on wheels right now. I'm thinking we will stop in Idaho and am eyeing up Greene Valley Retreat. Its expensive but I think the family would enjoy it. Then we would head to Seattle. We could also stop in Smiley Creek, or Sulphur Creek, probably not camping this trip so would want a lodge.

Brad

I've been to Green Valley. It's great. Excellent views of the Sawtooths and a fun little pond that's full of trout.

Sulphur creek Lodge is also a really great destination. http://sulphurcreekranch.com/ It's a little more rustic than Green Valley, but a more authentic wilderness Lodge, and also less expensive.

Fortunately the smoke is less pervasive than it has been, and there is a wave of rain and snow moving through the Northwest helping the firefighters battle the worst fire season in many years. Your timing should work out pretty well

Flying up Lake Chelan and in to Stehekin in the North Cascades National Park is beautiful and there are a few lodging options there with a shuttle bus to and from the strip three or four times per day. It is a great flight across the North Cascades in to the Seattle/Puget Sound area from Stehekin if the weather is clear.

Great mountain biking near Ranger Creek, WA if you are prepared for that.

Orcas East Sound has on airport camping, lodging and a courtesy car. The town is fun and has everything you need. You can rent sea kayaks at Crescent Beach and paddle around the bay there.

Stuart Island has a very rustic little cabin that you can use if you are a member of the Washington's Pilot association. I think the dues are like 40 bucks a year and you schedule it with a nice guy named Tom. Hiking out to the state park and beyond to the schoolhouse and lighthouse is a great activity on Stuart.

There are great destinations and an active crew up in B.C. too. I think that most of them fly out of chilliwack. Most strips in B.C. are private, so permission must be arranged, but I've had really good luck with that in the past. There are some neat beaches on the western shore of Vancouver Island that are landable at low tide.

Sounds like a fun trip!

Scolopax wrote:....Flying up Lake Chelan and in to Stehekin in the North Cascades National Park is beautiful and there are a few lodging options there with a shuttle bus to and from the strip three or four times per day. It is a great flight across the North Cascades in to the Seattle/Puget Sound area from Stehekin if the weather is clear.........

Nice Forest Service campground right near Stehekin, and marina carts to tote your gear from airplane to camp. There's still two big TFR's alongside either side of Lake Chelan, but a friend of mine got married near Chelan (at the south end of the lake) last weekend and said no smoke & blue skies.

hotrod180 wrote:

Scolopax wrote:....Flying up Lake Chelan and in to Stehekin in the North Cascades National Park is beautiful and there are a few lodging options there with a shuttle bus to and from the strip three or four times per day. It is a great flight across the North Cascades in to the Seattle/Puget Sound area from Stehekin if the weather is clear.........

Nice Forest Service campground right near Stehekin, and marina carts to tote your gear from airplane to camp. There's still two big TFR's alongside either side of Lake Chelan, but a friend of mine got married near Chelan (at the south end of the lake) last weekend and said no smoke & blue skies.

I wouldn't count on those marina totes. I was there in May and one was useless and the other was well on its way. The bikes are useless as well.

How about Seattle airports and FBO's is Renton the place to go for being convenient to downtown?

Or Boeing?

I usually fly into Boeing Field when I need to be in Seattle. Park at AeroFlight on the South East end. Usually easy to get a rental car from them.


Minam Lodge Oregon also has new cabins to rent, that would be close to your route.

Don't know about any Renton outfits but Aeroflight at BFI has always been real helpful. No parking fees, they can give you a ride loan you a car or call a cab.

Talked to aeroflight, they said $15 dollar handling fee waived with fuel, $10 a night tie down. Probably the best deal around but sounds like you've gotten the tie down waived too?

I don't go to Boeing Field a lot, but when I do I park at Aeroflight. I've never had them even mention a handling fee. I had a friend drop me off there when I had to catch a smoker at SeaTac- I asked the receptionist to call me a cab & she offered to just have one of the line guys drive me down in one of their vans. No charge, but I tipped him abut what the cab ride woulda cost me (although I probably should have tipped the gal, not the driver). I did ask the driver about how much it would cost me if I wanted to fly down & leave my airplane at Aeroflight for a week or so the next time- he said no charge. So I guess their fees are on a sliding scale.