What to do in Washington

shortgun · Mar 22, 2007

It looks like I'm going to be in the Seattle area the end of March and have a couple of days with nothing to do. Is there anything going on that time of year? The only thing I could come up with in looking on the Internet was steelhead fishing. I would be thankful for any recomendations.

polarbear · Mar 22, 2007

There are lots of places to go and view elk. They are a little ways away from Seattle, but only a couple of hours. There is blackmouth (resedent chinook) fishing in the sound. Take a drive around the Olympic Peninsula and see tons of perdy scenery, lots of great rivers to fish, the ocean, Forks, and probably some Roosevelt elk. If all fails, there are a ton of titt!e bars around!!!!
Eric

Ultra liberal, wolf loving, illiterate, gay, hippie midgets on crack piss me off!!!!

JACKELOPE · Mar 23, 2007

are you a fisherman?? lots of fishing. steelhead will be limited because the north sound rivers will be closed except for the skagit and sauk. you could go south to the lewis or cowlitz. springer chinook in the rivers, blackmouth in the sound, sturgeon maybe?? not sure of thats open or not, trout fishing will be heating up too.
you could go turkey hunting if you want to drive a little ways. we have real good turkey hunting(don't tell anybody)
or, like polarbear said, you could go to the bar. go anyway...we have real good beer here.
definitely some good hiking within an hour or 2 of seattle, but i'm not sure how the snow would come into play.
let us know specifically what you're interested in and i'm sure you'll get lots of stuff to do. it's a great state for outdoors stuff.

shortgun · Mar 25, 2007

I like to fish, but will not have my gear with me. I plan to rent an suv at the airport and was planning to cover some country as have never been in washington. Im from Mn so a little snow and cool weather is not a problem. Looking at the weather, looks like yours is about the same as ours this time of year. will be coming in about 2pm on the 28th and don't have any definate plans until later on the 30th. If I was to look for elk, where would I go. The bulls in the captive heards here have dropped about half their antlers. thanks

elkhuntingcouple · Mar 25, 2007

If you want to drive and see senery, do the loop, takes you up around the furthest tip of washington. You can circle around through the rainforest, and the national park, should see elk just about anywhere along those routes. The beach is the best at this end of the state as you have lots of tide pools, and big rocks, beautiful pictures, infact I think it is beach #2 near Quilute that is one of the most photographed beaches.
Or you could go to Lake Ozette! you will see elk up that road we just put in a ranger station there. You could take the 9 mile walk, bring rain gear, you go through 3 differet regions on one hike. From old growth to beach to rain forest. The views are just awesome. We had several bucks visiting our work site, and saw lots of elk while there. The town called Sequim you would pass through on your way there has radio collars on their elk because so many of them were getting hit. It makes signs flash on the road so you know to slow down. It also has a wild life park with animals in it. You could go the windy ridge ( I think that is the name) it is a beautiful drive and you see a lot of animals there (more traveled than Ozette) Have fun

Bob D. · Mar 25, 2007

The Olympic Peninsula is really nice, but you might also want to drive east of the mountains, maybe go over Snoqualmie Pass, go down to Yakima through the Yakima River Canyon, then take White Pass back over to I-5, and north back to Seattle. I'd suggest either the North Cascades Highway, or Chinook Pass, but they are closed in winter and I don't believe either one has been reopened yet. I suppose another way to go would be over Snoqualmie Pass, and then north over Blewett Pass to Wenatchee. From Wenatchee go north to Chelan and if you have time all the way up to Winthrop. You should see lots of mule deer up that way, but no elk. Lots of elk down in the Yakima area, you could even stop by the elk feeding station at Oak Crek, on the way up to White Pass.

JACKELOPE · Mar 26, 2007

both of the loop drives are great. that said, the bulls were dropping their horns 2 weeks ago at oak creek. not sure how many will be left. its too bad the north cascades hwy isn't open yet, thats an awesome drive.

polarbear · Mar 26, 2007

WADOT says with the huge amount of snow in the N. Cascades this year that it will take another 6-8 weeks to clear out the roads.

Eric

Ultra liberal, wolf loving, illiterate, gay, hippie midgets on crack piss me off!!!!

turdherder · Mar 26, 2007

Hunt hippies, try watering holes like starbucks they tend to congregate there, use a dart gun and then bring along an elasticator, its great fun. Wait until the dart wears off and watch the dirty tree huggers try to get that band of their sack. It's priceless.

kilowatt · Mar 26, 2007

Take a ride down to Wenatchee and then go to Leavenworth, WA. You can spend a day there in its self, real great sights, smell of fresh roasted coffee and German/Swiss pasteries along with the re-modeled town to look like a Swiss Alps village.
Just love that town, been there twice.
Too bad the old Olympia Beer Plant is shut down, been there a few times too. MY favorite been as a teenager waayy back in the 50's. LOL

Brian

polarbear · Mar 26, 2007

I can get you a tour of the old Oly plant. I worked there until it closed and know most of the guys that are tearing it down. It aint pretty inside anymore but there is still a few cool things around.

Eric

Ultra liberal, wolf loving, illiterate, gay, hippie midgets on crack piss me off!!!!

shortgun · Mar 26, 2007

Thanks for all the info. I will do some sightseeing and then will be in the Yakima area for a couple of days so will take in some more sights there. I hear there are some wineries there but have always been more of a beer guy myself.

WAmuleyHunter · Mar 26, 2007

if your in yakima area, you must drive the "canyon" between yakima and ellensburg, the road follows throught the steep canyon walls along the yakima river, the yakima in this part is full of huge rainbow and cutthroats. its a blue ribbon river. awesome fishing, fished it all the time when i was in school there, and then bring your bino's and check otu all teh deer adn Big Horn Sheep that are all over the ridges, then go to ellensburg and go to Wing Central and try one of there 101 diff. beers. Im a beer 101 graduate of this fine establishment LOL!!! enjoy.

scottyboy · Mar 26, 2007

You could go and climb Mt Rainier!! We're climbing that bad boy come June 1st... gonna be AWESOME!! It'll be my 4th state high point thus far and my highest one as well.

JACKELOPE · Mar 26, 2007

my little brother did it last year. he said it was unreal...

slider · Mar 26, 2007

While in the Seattle Area(on the Pier or the food Fair in the malls)go to Ivars and get fish and chips and white clam chowder!!! Take the Space Needle to the Top and go to R.E.I. its by the Freeway(I-5)close to the Space Needle. Thats one day!!! Good Luck

WAcoueshunter · Mar 27, 2007

Here's a second vote for the Yakima canyon. If you're already in Yakima, the canyon is a must stop to check out the big horns. Bring the binos and camera. Without trying too hard, you could easily see 100 sheep just driving through.