Washington Babies

Summer vacations in PNW

Where's your favorite place to visit in the summer? I'm dreaming of 80+ degrees and sunny. I hate pools, love beaches. Kid friendly is a must. Give me everything you've got. We are not from the area, so I have no clue what are the "must see's".

PS: Hubby has put the kibosh on trips that require air travel (we're renovating our house -- need to keep travel budget on the low end), so it must be in the PNW (B.C Canada okay).

Thanks! :)

Re: Summer vacations in PNW

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  • imagepinktulips:
    Lake Chelan

    Oh looks pretty! Any hotel recs? 

  • I second Lake Chelan! There's a Best Western, or you could stay at Campbell's. You can also check Craigslist for something at Wapato Point or check this site for other options (sorry, I don't know how to make it clicky):

     

    https://www.chelanvacationproperties.com/

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  • I've heard great things about Lake Chelan, Leavenworth is fun but no beach. The San Juan islands are great, fun to ride the ferry and lots of beautiful beaches.
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  • Thanks guys! The San Juan Islands were on our list. My husband wants to go whale watching. Woohoo, can't wait for summer :)
  • imageMike&Care:
    Thanks guys! The San Juan Islands were on our list. My husband wants to go whale watching. Woohoo, can't wait for summer :)

    Great choice!  My ILs have a house up there, so let me know if you end up going and need some recs.

  • My favorite place is Gearhart Oregon, right on the beach, not touristy, but close to Seaside.  I have some hotel recs, if your interested.  We go every year with my family, so fun. You can drive on to the beach, parkyour car and set up camp, which is great with kids.
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  • I was going to say San Juans too. We went to San Juan Island for our anniversary and it was soooo hard to come home again. Its beautiful there. We stayed at the Lakedale Resort, in the hotel part, but they also have "cabins" for families that look really fun. 

    If you want to drive, I have heard the Oregon Coast is really nice too! I think we might try it this summer. I am dying for a vacation in the sun!

    Also, we did a really fun thing last summer where we went to the Portland Zoo, but I'm sure there are other places that do this too.. and got a deal with discounted passes and a hotel together. We just drove down and stayed one night, but it was really nice. If I hadnt been 8 months pregnant, I'm sure we would have stayed longer and checked out the city too.  

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  • imagecmcmillan:
    My favorite place is Gearhart Oregon, right on the beach, not touristy, but close to Seaside.  I have some hotel recs, if your interested.  We go every year with my family, so fun. You can drive on to the beach, parkyour car and set up camp, which is great with kids.

    C- I would love your recs! That sounds exactly like what we want to do this summer.  

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  • I definitely agree with the San Juans and the Oregon coast!  I never get enough of either one.

    You can also look into VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner) for places to stay.  I've rented through there a couple times now.

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  • I've been "vacationing" in Sunland Estates since I was a kid. My parents live there now but there a lot of rental homes over there in the Summer.  It's a nice little community right on the Columbia river, beaches, a pool and nice park.  It's right by the Gorge amphitheater.  I've never been to Lake Chelan but I've heard it's pretty fun.  There is also Cresent Bar which is more vacation friendly than Sunland which is also on the Columbia. 
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  • In addition to everything PP's have said, I also love Westport, WA and love love love Victoria, BC (my ex lives there so I used to half live there, sooooooo pretty)
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  • Just be warned that the PNW coast temps are often cooler than inland... so even when it's 80 here it's often cooler along the water... so you might not have California lay out on the beach type weather.  

    I've been wanting to go to Lake Chelan sometime!  Now I really want to look into it!  :) 

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  • This is a great place that rents condos/duplex's right on the beach. I believe you also have a community pool. 

    This is a little hotel, not on the beach, but a super quick drive or nice walk.

    This hotel is in Seaside, we were supposed to stay there last summer but rented a house in Gearhart instead.  Great for families, as they are large apartment style with kitchen. But have a pool, and is 1 block from main street.

    I swore after doing Seaside 2 years ago, we will never again do a basic hotel room.  Too hard with kids and different sleep/nap schedules. 

    Where ever you decide, have fun! 

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  • Here are my favorites (in no particular order):

    *Lake Chelan (book now, lots of families do annual trips there and book their hotel/timeshares a year in advance).

    *Crescent Bar (do NOT go during a holiday weekend - it's usually a 20-25 year old binge drinking weekend).

    *Sunland Estates

    *Cannon Beach (bring your kite, I have SO many fun childhood memories of kite flying here, P would LOVE it).

    *Seaside

    I am no help with "where" to stay, usually I stay with friends or book the vacation with a group of people through www.vrbo.com. I would say the most kid friendly is Lake Chelan and Cannon Beach.

    Now you are making me think about a summer getaway....hmmm :)

  • Thanks everyone! I haven't heard of Sunland Estates or Crescent Bar. I think we will do one beach weekend and one lake weekend (for the warm weather). Have to squeeze whale watching in as well :).

    We drove down to Seaside and Cannon Beach last summer and then stayed in Portland. I love the Oregon Coast and definitely want to go back. Thanks for the recs! I really appreciate it. 

     


  • imageSeattle_JiLLn:

    Just be warned that the PNW coast temps are often cooler than inland... so even when it's 80 here it's often cooler along the water... so you might not have California lay out on the beach type weather.  

    I've been wanting to go to Lake Chelan sometime!  Now I really want to look into it!  :) 

    Hehe, we moved here from Orange County, surprisingly the water is pretty cold down there too and the evenings are cool, so its not too different. I'll bring sweatshirts. Thanks for the reminder! :)

  • In addition to all the awesome recs you have already gotten, the Olympic Peninsula has some wonderful spots. Port Townshend is one of my favorites. It's a sleepy beach town, similar to Seaside or Canon, but closer to home.

    Lake Quinault is another great spot!

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  • If you actually want the really nice weather and are ok with lakes and a decent drive, I recommend Osoyoos, B.C. It's in the middle of BC essentially, drive to Wenatchee, Wa and drive 2 1/2-3hours north, go across the border, and you are in Osoyoos. It is being hailed as the Palm Springs of Canada. It has beautiful Summer weather and people from all over are flocking to it now. It is a quaint little town and I've watched it grow over the years.

    There is a mini golf place that also has bumper boats (this was a big deal when it first was put in, and still is), there are now wineries all over the place, many public beaches, and cute little shops. My mother currently lives there and helps plan the activities that occur throughout the summer.

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  • Ooh yes. Osoyoos is fantastic! We went one summer and it was a lot of fun :) Friends of ours have their family reunion there every Memorial Day weekend and the weather is just gorgeous.

     

     

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  • Okay, thanks everyone! I booked a camping site at Lake Chelan. That's all that was available. Hotels are pretty much booked. That will be fun though. I am intrigued by Osoyoos lake. I think we will go there for two nights in July. Just need to pick a hotel. Both those places fit my really hot criteria and the water should be good for the kids.

    We went to Cannon Beach last summer and loved it. I think we will head down there one weekend in June. I am trying to plan one weekend trip each summer month. 

    Thanks again!

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