littlesheep

I'm looking for somewhere on the water, where in the worst case scenario you can sit in your room for a week, have a magnificent view, surf the Net, nibble, talk, and enjoy yourself.

Also, would be good to have a paved promenade by the water.

Needs to be easy to get to, so no getting on and off multiple ferries, only one, only if it's EASY for an older and fragile person.

I'm not familiar with Washington state (only been there once) and don't know much about the islands. For example, in the Seattle area, is it better to stay in Seattle, or is there some wonderful location nearby on an island that meets these criteria?

Downside to Seattle itself is that big city driving terrifies me, and I'm the driver.
Upside is a nice, organized hotel with an elevator and I guess you could find things to do and take a cab.

Downside to being out of town on the coast is less polished hotels, not sure about accessibility.
Upside would be: easier to drive places.

I don't know anything about being on an island.

I don't like B&Bs, I don't like 'quaint' and 'old fashioned'. I invariably stay in Hilton Garden Inns (for work and the occasional night) but would be nice to find something different, though that's always a safe default.

Also, nothing stuffy, snooty. Not sure there are such places in the area but that wouldn't be good.

The bottom line is where to go with older people who can walk but just a little, and not on dunes, and they get tired, and so on.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Gardyloo

You don't say when this will be, but be advised that there are only a couple of waterfront hotels in Seattle itself, and both are very expensive during cruise season (when the town becomes seriously congested.)

A couple of possibilities come to mind, one in the Seattle metro area and the other not.

1. The Silver Cloud hotel in Mukilteo sits on pilings over the beach. http://www.silvercloud.com/mukilteo/ Mukilteo is around 40 min. north of SEA. Silver Cloud is a very highly regarded regional chain.

It's next door to a very nice waterfront seafood restaurant, Ivar's, and next to Ivar's is the dock for a ferry (15 min.) to Whidbey Island. On Whidbey there are numerous easy-to-visit places, like the artsy communities of Langley and Coupeville, pretty drives, etc. You could drive onto the ferry and just stay on the car deck for the short crossing; most locals do.

Just past the ferry dock is Mukilteo's cute little lighthouse and a driftwood-strewn beach (with paved paths to picnic tables etc.) with views of the Olympic Mountains. Across the street from the lighthouse is a terrific brewpub.

The Silver Cloud has a free shuttle that will take you (if you want) to the Future of Flight/Boeing Tour Center at the Boeing Everett plant, biggest building in the world. A tour of the 747/777/787 factory and flight line is a blast. http://www.futureofflight.org/

Lighthouse -



2. My second idea isn't in Washington State, but you can see it from your room. Look at the Best Western Hood River Inn in Hood River, Oregon. http://www.hoodriverinn.com/index.html

Now why Hood River? Because it's a beautiful little town, self-proclaimed wind-surfing capital of the world, and it's smack in the middle of some of the most beautiful country in, well, the country.

To the west you've got the Columbia River Gorge, with waterfalls, vista points... amazing. To the north you've got White Salmon and the Trout Lake Valley, leading toward Mount Adams. To the east the Gorge turns into red-rock and sagebrush cowboy country, but with the quirky Maryhill Museum and Stonehenge replica to visit, and ponder Rodin among the tumbleweeds.

And to the south is the stunning Hood River Valley, with its "fruit loop" through orchards and vineyards, with Mount Hood looming over all. You can drive up to Timberline Lodge on the side of the mountain for amazing views of Mt. Hood and surrounding peaks.

The Best Western is modern, clean, with a paved riverfront path, the food is good, and Hood River is a major center for craft brewing and wineries. Plus it's barely an hour on I-84 from Portland airport (PDX), there's no sales tax in Oregon, and traffic/city driving simply won't be a factor.

View from our room on a previous visit -



Columbia Gorge -



Hood River Valley (spring) -



http://hoodriverfruitloop.com/
http://www.maryhillmuseum.org/


Anyway, a couple of thoughts.

littlesheep

Thank you!

This is for August - so too hot in the gorge, IMO. I don't really like the gorge though I've never driven in the Hood river valley so maybe I'm being unfair. I feel the gorge pretty to drive through but not enough there to sit and stare at the water for days on end.

Your Washington suggestion, OTOH, sounds great. Sounds quiet, convenient, and the fact that you can drive onto the ferry solves the problem of getting on and off boats.

I hope to get a few more suggestions so that I can compare and research more, but that's exactly the kind of thing I was looking for.

cblaisd

The Hampton Inn and Suites in Bremerton has exactly what you are looking for.

Stayed there several times. Always great.

Gardyloo

Okay, some more -

Red Lion in Port Angeles - http://www.redlion.com/port-angeles - Day trips to Hurricane Ridge, Hoh rain forest, Victoria BC...

Alderbrook, on Hood Canal - http://www.alderbrookresort.com/

Semiahmoo, on the US side of the border at Blaine - http://www.semiahmoo.com

Bellweather Hotel, Bellingham - http://hotelbellwether.com/

(You could fly into either BLI or YVR for those two; obviously everybody will need passports.)

There are also a number of places on Vancouver Island (you could fly into YYJ to avoid ferries) that might suit; the weak Loonie might help on the budget front.

And I'll just throw out a knuckleball - what about a week's cruise? The ships are VERY well suited to people with limited mobility, you unpack once, and the scenery comes to you. Look at a round-trip itinerary sailing from Vancouver to SE Alaska and back. The price is pretty reasonable, too, considering they're all-inclusive, and the majority of rooms are waterfront.

Wanted to add - all the ferries are ADA compatible and have elevators from the car decks up to the passenger decks and cafes.

littlesheep

Cruises are a no-go.

The rest - I'm waiting to see what the family wants. Very good suggestions.

I'm leaning towards the first one upthread because it seems so simple, and you can go explore both an island and Seattle, but we'll see.

djp98374

look in Bellingham area down to Burlington/Anacrtes

Lost

What about Port Townsend? I'd add that to the list.

Lots of good suggestions in this thread ^