Day 1: Fly into Sea-Tac | Drive to Port Angeles
For those of you from out-of-state or too far to drive, fly into Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. I recommend booking your rental car in advance. There are a number of rental car agencies to choose from. I typically put in the dates of my trip with each company to get estimates for a price comparison to get the best value.
Coming from Olympia: Take I-5 to Hwy 101
Coming from Tacoma: Take State Route 16 to Bremerton; take State Route 3 north from Bremerton to State Route 104; There may be some delays across the Hood Canal Bridge if the bridge has to close due to boat traffic.
Coming from the Washington or Oregon Coast: Connect to Hwy 101 in Aberdeen
To make the most of your day, I always recommend flying in earlier in the day so you can hit the road as soon as you get your luggage and rental car. It takes about 2 hours and 45 minutes to get from the Sea-Tac airport to Port Angeles.
Olympic National Park encompasses nearly a million acres. The diversity within the park's ecosystems make for awe-inspiring experiences for visitors and views that one can only dream of. From dramatic peaks of the Olympic Mountains to the lush green rainforests and even sandy beaches on the Pacific coastline, there is something for everyone.
Accommodations:
There are many lodging options available in Port Angeles. Depending on the number of people traveling with you and the types of amenities and activities you're looking for, you can choose from a variety of hotels, house rentals through Airbnb and VRBO, and camping sites.
Olympic Lodge and Lake Crescent Lodge are great hotel options in the Port Angeles area. We traveled as a group of 8 and found vacation rentals to be a better option. We stayed at an Airbnb rental called the "Happy Place" for the first three days. This beautiful lakefront property with a big tri-level deck, a fire pit, grill, hot tub, kayaks, and more.
Food:
Sabai Thai Cuisine - Due to COVID-19, a lot of restaurants were carry-out only, so we ordered food to go and they did an amazing job. The staff were so kind.
Graysons - A great place to grab a quick bite to eat. They have tacos, sandwiches, and burgers.
Sapor (fancier) - For a nice evening out, Sapor offers a diverse menu bringing you the fresh tastes of the Pacific Northwest. The decor and ambience of this restaurant makes for a great date night or more intimate dining experience.
Safeway offers more varieties and options in terms of grocery items compared to smaller general stores, likes Shadow Mountain General Store, throughout the town. You can find pretty much anything you'll need here, so we made sure to stop here to pick up breakfast food, snacks, items to pack lunch for hikes, and other toiletry essentials.
Day 2: Lake Crescent & Rialto Beach
Today, you'll get to experience the beauty of Lake Crescent and some waterfalls and the rugged Pacific Coast.
Hikes:
Marymere Falls - 1.8 miles roundtrip. You can start from either the Storm King Ranger Station or Lake Crescent Lodge. This easy, well-maintained and relatively flat trail leads you to a beautiful, unique 90-foot waterfall.
Sol Duc Falls - Want some fairytale vibes? Hike through old-growth forest to Sol Duc Falls and watch as it cascades 48 feet into a narrow, rocky canyon. This 1.6-mile round trip hike is surreal.
Hurricane Hill - A 3.2 miles hike roundtrip with 650 ft. elevation gain. You can take a sunset hike to Hurricane Hill which leads you to expansive, sweeping views of the interior Olympic Mountains and stunning subalpine terrain or do it during the daytime after seeing the waterfalls. Remember to bring headlamps so you can safely make it back to the trailhead post-sunset! The trail itself is mostly paved.
Day 3: Hoh Rainforest & La Push Beaches
A day to explore more of the coastal beaches and rainforests. Get an early start in Hoh Rainforest for better ambiance and solitary experience without the crowds. This also gives you the opportunity to experience the beautiful rays of sunlight streaming in through the dense forest canopy.
Hikes:
The Hall of Mosses - A short 0.8 mile loop through lush rainforests and moss-covered trees.
Spruce Nature Trail - A 1.2 mile roundtrip trail that takes you through ancient groves.
Hoh River Trail - This 37-mile backpacking trail is a longer hike option if you're looking for something more. Of course, you can always turn around at any point.
First Beach - The small coastal village of La Push is the gateway to First Beach. Being one of the only two La Push beaches with drive-up access (Rialto Beach being the other), this beach can be busier and more crowded.
Second Beach - This gem has two miles of sprawling sandy beach, tide pools, driftwood, sea stacks, and tons of sea life. There's less people here, making it more peaceful and is only a short hike from the parking lot.
Third Beach - There is significantly less people here because it requires a 2.8 mile hike (round-trip) in order to access this beach.
Day 4: Drive to Mt. Rainier
Today, you will be driving a little over three hours to Mount Rainier National Park. At 14,410 feet above sea level, Mount Rainier, an active volcano, stands as the highest peak in the state of Washington and the Cascade Range.
Hikes:
Naches Peak Loop Trail - A great trail to see fall foliage that is not too long is Naches Peak Loop. This 3.3 mile hike is moderate in intensity with little elevation gain. I recommend hiking the loop clockwise so you'll have a view of Mount Rainer ahead of you.
Grove of the Patriarchs Trail - An easy 1.5 mile walking trail that leads you to some of the largest and oldest trees in Mount Rainier National Park. The boardwalks and suspension bridges just add to the fun. Wander through the bustling forest floor and discover the grandeur of this magical place yourself.
Narada Falls Trail - This 2.4 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail that leads you to a beautiful 170-foot waterfall. If you find yourself short on time and cannot make the hike, the waterfall is also accessible by car. There is a parking lot located about 150 feet from a short (0.2 miles one-way) but steep trail down to the bottom of the falls. The path can be slippery when wet so take caution!
Day 5: Mount Rainier
Hikes:
Skyline Trail Loop - A 6.2 mile trail with 1,788 feet elevation gain near Paradise Inn. This is one of the best hikes in Mount Rainier and my personal favorite in the whole park. The difficult trail leads to rewarding panoramic views, waterfalls, lush vegetation, glaciers, and more. I recommend going in a clockwise direction. We started this hike later in the afternoon to catch the sunset on our way back. If you choose to do this, bring a light source, such as a headlamp or flashlight, in case you don't make it back to the trailhead before dark.
Day 6: Drive to Seattle
This drive will take a little over two hours depending on the city traffic.
If you plan on hitting up multiple attractions in the city, I recommend getting the CityPASS. It includes admission to 5 attractions, the Space Needle and Seattle Aquarium, and 3 out of the 4 other attractions, Argosy Cruises Harbor Tour, Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP), Woodland Park Zoo, and Chihuly Garden and Glass. We stayed at The State Hotel, a contemporary boutique hotel located conveniently downtown steps away from Pike Place Market.
Breakfast at Bacco Cafe - Open for breakfast, brunch, and lunch, Bacco uses fresh, local ingredients with a Pacific Northwest flair. The have a bar that serves up delicious cocktails, if you're a mimosa or Bloody Mary enthusiast, and fresh juices made to order.
Space Needle - The Space Needle stands 605 feet tall and offers 360° views of the city and waterfront. If you feel like conquering your acrophobia, like I did, they ahve a revolving glass floor located 500 feet above ground. My knees were shaking, but I did it!
Chihuly Garden and Glass - A one minute walk from Space Needle, Chihuly Garden and Glass showcases the studio glass of Dale Chihuly. Many of his work and pieces have been displayed in exhibitions all over the world. Get ready to have your breath taken away with each display as you walk through the exhibit. We stayed after to watch a live glass blowing demonstration and it was so intriguing.
Dinner at The Crab Pot Restaurant and Bar - Located inside Miner's Landing Pier 57, this place made for the perfect dinner spot after a day of travel and adventures. They're known for their famous seafeasts, a mix of fresh seafood, cooked with delicious mouth-watering spices, poured out on the table lined with butcher paper. With a mallet in hand and a bib to protect your clothes, you'll be ready for a real feast!
Day 7: Seattle
Get an early start today because you will be hitting up a lot of popular spots and landmarks. Seattle is a bustling city, but weekends in Pike Place Market is BUSY. I recommend going in the morning, between 9AM-noon, before the crowds start forming.
Breakfast at Lowell's - This classic restaurant located inside Pike Place Market has three floors overlooking the Seattle waterfront. They're open everyday from 8AM-5PM. This is a great place to get some breakfast and coffee and enjoy the beautiful waterfront views while waiting for the market to open. The Dungeness Crab Benedict served over grilled rosemary bread was so delicious and to die for.
The First Starbucks - One of the top things to do on my list was to visit the popular Seattle-based coffeehouse chain. The original or first Starbucks opened in 1971 along the cobblestone streets of Seattle in Pike Place Market. Many things in the store, such as the floor, fixtures, counters, and logo, stayed the same since it opened its doors. There is almost always going to be a line to get inside, but it is so worth it. They offer limited time menu items that you can only get at the original Starbucks. When I was there, I got the chocolate covered strawberry nitro cold brew. It was so good.
Pike Place Market - Seattle's original farmer's market and a defining icon of the city. This market brings together farmers, artists, crafters, and small businesses, each bringing something different and unique. Pike Place Fish Market is an open-air fish market, and if you're lucky, you might catch some live action fish throwing by fishmongers. This usually happens when someone buys a fish.
The Gum Wall - How can this trip be complete without a visit to another iconic landmark in Seattle? The Gum Wall. As you can already imagine, it's a wall plastered with wads of gum. It all started in the early 1990s when people, waiting in line for shows at Post Alley's Market Theater (now Unexpected Productions), would stick gum to the walls to pass time. I'm not going to lie, the whole experience is a little gross if you think about it, but I just had to do it. Bring plenty of hand sanitizer!
MoPOP - The Museum of Pop Culture Seattle had the Heroes and Villains: The Art of the Disney Costume exhibition open when we visited, so we decided to check that out. The immersive exhibition displays over 70 original pieces, from ball gowns to glass slippers to capes.
Rachel's Ginger Beer - If you're a fan of ginger beer or Moscow mules, you have to stop by Rachel's Ginger Beer. This place serves up locally brewed ginger beer in a variety of flavors with some being seasonal. I tried the original and blood orange ginger beer and they were both delicious!
Pike Place Chowder - Known as "America's #1 Chowder". I, a self-proclaimed clam chowder lover, felt compelled to give this place a try. Pike Place Chowder has two locations serving up a variety of fresh, aromatic chowder daily. I got a chowder sampler so I could taste a few other flavors. My favorite happens to be a perennial favorite as well, the New England Clam Chowder. I love a creamy, hearty clam chowder any day! The vegan Lime & Coconut Chowder was surprisingly very good. They also serve up some delicious lobster rolls and crab rolls that are to die for. This is definitely worth the wait in line.
Haidilao - Hot pot is one of my all-time favorite meals to have together with a group of friends or family. It's an interactive meal in which everyone sits around a simmering pot of soup, or soups if you have a divider pot for multiple broths, at the center of the table with various fixings, such as raw, thinly sliced cuts of meat, fish balls (similar to meatballs but made with fish, shrimp, or shellfish), mushrooms, vegetables, tofu, and more. Each person can make their own dipping sauce at the sauce bar. Hot pot restaurants have been popping up around major cities and towns in the US for sometime now, but Haidilao has been a major global hot pot chain since its founding in 1994. From iPad menus to robot servers to heated bidet toilets, the whole experience is a one-of-a-kind. My friends who have never had hot pot before were in for a real treat! We even ordered the famous "dancing noodle" performance.
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