Western Washington offers plenty of sights within driving distance of the 2006 NASFAA Conference in Seattle July 5 to 8 - in fact, the countryside is so beautiful that getting there is half the fun!
South
Volcano:
To the south, there is our resident active
Volcano in just a few hours drive. The Mount St. Helens Johnson
Observatory and Interpretive Center is both educational and
awe-inspiring. If the volcano is not erupting, enjoy good hikes and surprising wildlife.
Mount Rainier: The "granddaddy" of all day trips is, of course,
Mount Rainier and the encompassing National Park. Be reminded that all those
pictures you see of Mount Rainier with the snow on it are true, so dress accordingly. Mount Rainier is huge
and dominates the vistas from up to 150 miles away. The low trails are great
for most of the year, but the high trails at Paradise and Sunrise are best in
July.
Tacoma: There is plenty of opportunity for recreation
and entertainment in the Tacoma area, less than an hour south of Seattle. Whether you want to spend a peaceful afternoon in a museum, have lunch at a
sidewalk cafe, watch an exciting game of baseball, or take in a concert or
exhibition at the Tacoma Dome -- if you're in Tacoma, you've got choices,
including:
- Over 20 art galleries show everything from glass sculpture and classic art to neon and grunge.
Internationally acclaimed glass artist Dale Chihuly, a Tacoma native,
is featured almost everywhere, including the International Glass Museum, the Washington State History Museum and the Tacoma Art Museum. A unique Chihuly Bridge of Glass connects the museums over the freeway, and serves as a gateway to Tacoma.
- Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium: From Aardvarks Argus to Laughing Kookaburra to
Tigers, the Point Defiance Zoo and
Aquarium features hundreds of Pacific Rim animals in real life
habitats such as Arctic Tundra, Rocky Shores, the Asian Forest Sanctuary and
The Farm.
- Stadium High School: "The Castle" was built in
1889 as a luxury hotel.
Gig Harbor: Forty minutes south of Seattle and across the Tacoma Narrows Bridge is the quiet waterfront village of Gig Harbor. The awesome view of Mount Rainier is the one you see on the cover of calendars and travel books.
East
Water Falls: Enjoy a day in what Seattle refers to as the "Eastside" and "Foothills." Drive 45 minutes east out to Snoqualmie Falls (three times higher than Niagara Falls) with its viewing deck and the "Twin Peaks Lodge." If you like hiking, there are many choices in the area and nearby.
Snoqualmie Pass: Just an hour from Seattle is the summit pass of the Cascade Mountains, which
separate the western and eastern parts of the state. A half hour past the summit is
the quaint mining town of Roslyn, the true home of Cicely, Alaska from the TV series "Northern Exposure."
Wineries I: The nation's next "Napa Valley" is about three hours from Seattle in Yakima, which is home to more than 40 Washington wineries.
North
Wineries II: The Local Arrangements Committee suggests visiting the wineries in the
Snoqualmie Valley just 30 minutes north of Seattle, most notably Chateau Ste.
Michelle and Columbia Winery, both next to the Redhook Brewery between Redmond
and Woodinville. (A romantic dinner train can take you there.)
Islands: North of the city, we believe that Whidbey Island is a great day trip. Drive north about 30 minutes to the Mukilteo Ferry dock for the short ride to the southern tip of Whidbey Island. Deception Pass at the top of the island is a great site for pictures. You
can be back in the city for dinner.
Seaplane Excursion: Flying in a seaplane off the water from Seattle is a Northwest must-do. We recommend a day trip to Victoria or the San Juan Islands on Kenmore Air, the leader in the seaplane world. Flight times are about 45 minutes. You can enjoy a full day away, without long lines
or wasting time enroute. Return to Seattle in time for dinner. Alternatively, try the 20-minute flight over downtown Seattle.
Whale Watching: If you have your heart set on visiting the San Juan Islands and going on a whale watching tour, the best way to do it on a day trip is to drive about 90
minutes to Anacortes and take the Ferry to Friday Harbor on San Juan Island. Enjoy a beautiful ferry ride, whale watching tours and sea kayaking, and then catch the early evening ferry back to your car in Anacortes. The Victoria Clipper runs a high-speed catamaran to Friday Harbor from downtown Seattle.
LaConner: Also north is the town of LaConner, about 75 minutes by car. It is best known as the center of the Tulip Festival each April, but is worth a visit all year for antiquing and strolling.
Bavarian Charm: For a little longer drive, Leavenworth, a
quaint Bavarian theme town, is less than a two and a half-hour drive through the mountains past the Stevens Pass Ski area.
Victoria, British Columbia: Victoria is a great city that can be seen in one day if you take the Victoria Clipper in the morning, take the bus to the Buchart Gardens first thing, then come back to Victoria and spend the afternoon and early evening having high tea, visit the BC Museum or Craigdarroch Castle and stroll around the town. The Clipper will have you back in Seattle by 9 PM. (Information on documents required for crossing the border is available on-line.)
Vancouver, British Columbia: Vancouver, about a three-hour drive North of Seattle, is a beautiful cosmopolitan city with a diversity of people and experiences. Vancouver's 2 million residents exploit their spectacular natural setting to the hilt, and should they ever tire of the immediate region they can travel a short distance to the unimaginably vast wilderness of the BC interior.
West
Tillicum Village: An exciting adventure option is to go to Tillicum Village on Blake Island. This includes a boat cruise, a delicious buffet featuring traditional Indian-style baked
salmon, and a spectacular stage show.
Casinos: There are many Indian and private casinos in Washington State. One, the Clearwater in Suquamish, offers free ferry service from Seattle and a choice of dining at three excellent restaurants.
Olympic Mountains: For those wishing to see the Olympic Mountains to the west of Seattle, you can take a ferry across Puget Sound and take a 90-minute drive up north to Hurricane Ridge, which is near Port Angeles.
The hike to the top affords some spectacular views or the range and across the Strait of Juan de Fuca to Vancouver Island. The Hoh and Quinault rain forests on the west side of Olympic National Park are at least a 3-hour drive each way and are great. Another great spot is the Lake Quinault Lodge.
Pacific Ocean: A favorite Pacific Ocean spot is Ruby Beach. Consider stopping at nearby Kalaloch Lodge. Remember, though, that this area is rain forest so it rains often and a lot.
Across the Sound: For a shorter day trip across the sound, we recommend taking a ferry from downtown to Bainbridge Island. The Bloedel Botanical Gardens are the best in the area but require a reservation. Poulsbo is a
sleepy little Scandinavian town just off the north end of the Island with a fabulous
bakery and antique shops.
By the NASFAA 2006 National Conference Local Arrangements Committee
Posted April 11, 2006 on www.NASFAA.org, the Web Site of the
National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA).
Copyright 2006. Redistribution to non-NASFAA institutions is prohibited
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