Seattle is worth a stop for a shot of big city adventure. If you haven't been there before, Pike Place Market is a big draw with tons of fresh fish, veggies, crafts and LOTS of people. The original Starbucks is there along with a line of Asian tourists getting their pictures taken in front of the shop. Lots of great restaurants with views of Elliott Bay and other diversions to match any tastes. There is the extensive sculpture garden along the north end of Elliott Bay if you like long walks around art, there is the Aquarium with lots of Sea Otters (go during feeding time), there are whale watching tours (mostly Orcas in the summer time) and underground tours in Pioneer Square. The waterfront in Seattle was originally a floor lower than the present day structures. When a big fire burned down most of the wooden buildings, they built back over the top of the ruins but the historical structures are still there with lots of ghost stories. There's also the Chihuly glass gardens at Seattle Center and the monorail that gets you there from downtown. Seattle Center and the monorail are remnants of the 1962 Worlds Fair.
Depending on your tastes, there are plenty of interesting diversions in the city.

Heading up to the San Juans there are lots of sights to see. Several have mentioned a stop at Concrete. Even if you don't stop there, the flight up and around the river valleys that surround Concrete is spectacularly beautiful.



Here is a shot of the Friday Harbor Airport and surroundings: The runway is on the right side in the middle and you can see the town and the marina. It is a pleasant walk into town from the airport.


Here is Roche Harbor and its marina from the air:


And here's some shots of the hotel and restaurant at Roche on the ground



And finally, here is the approach into Eastsound airport at Orcas Island from the water:


You really can't go wrong in this neck of the woods when the weather is good!

Unless you're into big city culture I'd stick to the islands, Wenatchee, the Olympics, the south sound, the north sound (tulip farms are blooming, spectacular view) or maybe even Couer D'lene. Beautiful country and fun flying. IMHO Seattle has become another west coast ulcer like L.A., homelessness and drug addiction are government sponsored industries, best way to see Seattle is in the air on the way over or around it.

If we are also talking east side of the cascades I'll add Cashmere. Borrow the car and take the short beautiful drive to Leavenworth.

Reading this thread make me feel so lucky to live in Washington!

Mountain Doctor wrote:Reading this thread make me feel so lucky to live in Washington!

Yeah, makes me want to come visit. We have some real nice brown grass and sage brush here. Dust with occasional mud....... no tourist lines.

UtahMaule wrote:

Mountain Doctor wrote:Reading this thread make me feel so lucky to live in Washington!

Yeah, makes me want to come visit. We have some real nice brown grass and sage brush here. Dust with occasional mud....... no tourist lines.

No tourists...count me in!

Railchummer wrote:.... best way to see Seattle is in the air on the way over or around it.

THat's my take on it too.
Although the Aquarian at otter-feeding time sounds pretty cool.

SkylaneSam wrote:You might want to message Redbaron180. He owns a B&B on Lopez Island.
Super great guy. Lives on Airport Road, which is really convenient when flying there........

I didnt know Ron owns a B&B.
Is it there by the airport?
I think it would be cool to rent a little cottage on one of the many little coves on Lopez

It borders the NE corner of the airport Eric. A pleasant 800' walk.

I was up at Lopez yesterday, hoping to maybe run into Ron and ask him about it but didn't see him.
Sure was a nice day for flying the island though!

My experience with the Islands is limited to boating--I took my 20' Sea Ray through there back in 2001, and then I've chartered trawlers 3 times since, a 34' Nordic Tug twice and the last time, a 37' Grand Banks. Each time, I've been at Roche Harbor at least once. If you plan to stay at the hotel, make reservations right away--I was told once that many make their reservations a year in advance.

There are other places in the Islands that are delightful, with less of the glitz of the high rollers that come into Roche Harbor. Deer Harbor on Orcas Island was one of the most picturesque, with really fine food at the restaurant above the marina. Watch out for the blackberry bushes--they attacked me unmercifully! Friday Harbor is a really cute little town, also with a good restaurant right at the marina.

You don't have to go into the Islands to enjoy the charm of the area, though. When I took my seaplane training, one of the days my instructor and I flew to Poulsbo, landed on the water there, taxied in and ate at the restaurant above the marina--charming, and good food. It's on the Kitsap Peninsula--almost an island, but attached to the land.

It's beautiful in the Islands, and in that whole area. If I were to move from Fort Collins, that area of the PNW would be a likely place to alight.

Cary

Roche Harbor is the only place I've been in the islands and I highly recommend it. I found it touristy compared to what I'm used to but that sort of added to the enjoyment of our short visit. I can handle a lot of people for a little time.

If you fly into Renton, consider Woodinville instead of Seattle. Outstanding restaurants and wineries. Almost nobody grows grapes there but the excellent wineries in SE WA realized they were too far from Seattle for rubber tire traffic so many of them opened up tasting facilities in Woodinville. If I lived any closer I'd weight 400 lbs.

I don't know your dates, but if you want to stay at Friday Harbor give Air B&B a look. There is a really nice little place right on the strip. Owned by a local aviation author. I don't know if he is still offering it on AB&B still but worth a try.

There is a landing fee but worth it for the location and condition of the strip.

Pt. Roberts is a great strip but a buddy told me last week that they are asking a $5 USD landing fee. Again cheap for keeping the strip open.

If you are here late in July, check this site http://vintageaircraftmuseum.org/concre ... ft-fly-in/ great Vintage plane fly in at Concrete, WA.

If you are into aviation museums, Seattle is your place. Museum of Flight on Boeing field (world's largest private aviation museum), two museums on Paine Field directly across the runway from each other and the Boeing factory tour is also at Paine.

Have fun.

tom

There is no landing fee at Friday harbor. There is a fee at Roche harbor.

cdgarg wrote:There is no landing fee at Friday harbor. There is a fee at Roche harbor.

KInda stiff overnight fee at KFHR though.
FWIW both Orcas & Lopez offer camping on the field.
In fact, Lopez just put in some picnic tables & BBQ grills last year,
as well as a picnic shelter.

FYI- fees at Orcas just went up, though still reasonable.