If you have lived in the Northwest for a while it is probably no surprise to you that local areas have made the New York Times, top 41 places to visit in 2011. I wouldn’t be surprised if they had wanted to include Mt. Rainier and Seattle, WA, but that just wouldn’t be fair to the rest of the world, would it?
Time and again I can’t help myself but to write about how diverse and often breathtaking the Northwest is. This winter the mornings have been cold on the water front. On my way into the Clipper office there are mornings when the sky is so clear that when I gaze across the Puget Sound I get to see snow covered peaks of the Olympic mountain range. It never fails to make me appreciate where I live and work.
What did make the top 41 you ask? The San Juan Islands, the Olympic National Park & Whistler.
San Juan Islands
The great thing about San Juan Islands is that you don’t have to go very far to feel like you are really getting away. Starting in May 2011 you can depart directly from Seattle aboard the Clipper to Friday Harbor, San Juan Island. You can take advantage of an all inclusive package to stay in Friday Harbor. If you want more time to explore the islands it is easy to add additional nights before heading back to Seattle. Check availability
Inclusions:
- Souvenir Explorer Guidebook to the San Juan Islands
- San Juan Islands Hotel/pier transfers
- Round trip Victoria Clipper cruise between Seattle and Friday Harbor
- Overnight hotel on San Juan Island
- 2 1/2 Hour Whale Watching & Sealife Search
Photo by, Lea Brookes
Olympic National Forest
So much to see, so little time. I have spent days and days hiking, camping and staying at hotels in the Olympic National Forest and I have still not seen all that there is to see. I am an avid skier and I just learned that you can ski at Hurricane Ridge for $27/day. It is an aggressive slope, mostly black and double black diamond, but even if you would rather chill in the lodge the view has to be breathtaking on a clear day. If you are new to the area or just want an easy way to travel the area you should view travel options.
Inclusions:
- 1 night stay at Red Lion Port Angeles
- 1 night stay at Kalaloch Lodge
- 1 night stay at Lake Quinault Lodge
Whistler
Whistler is a skiers, snowboarders, and mountain bikers heaven on earth. We make it incredibly easy for you to get up to Whistler for a ski vacation. You can choose from five of Whistler’s fabulous hotels, including The Fairmont Château Whistler, The Whistler Pinnacle hotel, The Listel Hotel Whistler, Delta Whistler Village Suites and Nita Lake Lodge. Check rates and availability
Inclusions:
- Two nights’ accommodation in Whistler
- Round trip motorcoach between Vancouver and Whistler
- Round trip Amtrak Cascades between Seattle and Vancouver
- All applicable taxes
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