THE US WASHINGTON STATE NATIONAL PARKS DESTINATIONS FAR LEFT: Mount Rainier
LEFT: Grove of the Patriarchs
BELOW: Lake Crescent Lodge
SAMPLE PRODUCT
North America Travel Service offers a 15-night Washington
Wonders self- drive itinerary that includes
Seattle, Olympic and Mount Rainier parks. Room-only prices from
£2,165, including Delta flights
from Heathrow and car hire. northamerica travelservice.
co.uk
the streets, is one of only three Victorian seaports in the US. Elegant buildings in the downtown area have been converted into attractive shops, including Pippa’s Real Tea, which may appeal to Brits pining for a proper cuppa. Nearby Fort Worden, built in 1897 to protect Puget Sound, will look familiar to fans of An Officer and a Gentleman as it was used as a location for the 1982 film.
Another extraordinary spot is Hoh
Rainforest, the largest temperate rainforest in the US with emerald green canopies created by moss and ferns. And from late June to the end of August the fields of Sequim create a dazzling spectacle when lavender comes into bloom. A coastal highlight is Ruby Beach,
a dramatic seascape of rugged sea stacks and piles of bleached driftwood that attract bird colonies such as puffins. John Anderson’s quirky new beachcombing museum at Forks is a marine treasure trove on the Pacific shoreline. Port Townsend, where deer roam
w WHERE TO STAY Lodges inside national parks allow clients to really immerse themselves in the sights and sounds of the great outdoors. Comfortable rather than luxurious, and with meals that are hearty as opposed to gourmet, they’re filled with rustic charm and often have a resident ghost thrown in for free! Lake Crescent Lodge occupies a spectacular spot alongside the namesake lake in Olympic National Park. Built in 1915, there are 55 rooms divided between the original lodge (which have shared bathrooms) and ensuite cabins and motel-style rooms dotted around the grounds. For the best views book a Roosevelt cabin,
complete with a cosy fireplace. Also in Olympic is the 91-room Lake Quinault Lodge, visited by President Franklin Roosevelt in 1937 and with spacious, recently renovated lakeside rooms. The Crystal Hotel complex in the heart of Washington State’s largest ski resort is a good family option that includes spacious rooms for four. Facilities are adequate but basic, and geared towards time spent outdoors, which isn’t hard to do as the resort is at the foot of Mount Rainier and a 10-minute gondola ride to Summit House, the state’s highest restaurant, serving good grub and great views at 2,094m. Smaller family-run options include the 23-suite Alta Crystal Resort, with a charming log honeymoon cabin. Owners Vivian and Steven Cadematori host convivial get-togethers for guests, with wine, snacks and films about Mount Rainier. Near Mount Rainier is the pretty 12-room Alexander’s Country Inn, where guests can fish for their supper in a trout lake, or indulge in imaginative and beautifully presented dishes that include excellent vegetarian and vegan options.
Ranch Riders has a seven-night all- inclusive riding and activity holiday at the K-Diamond-K Ranch, bordered by Colville
National Forest, plus a week’s
room-only self- drive in Olympic and Mount Rainier parks. Prices start at £1,470 including car hire but not flights.
ranchrider.com
Funway Holidays’ eight-night
Washington State fly-drive includes a night in Seattle and seven nights in a motorhome. From £1,059, including Delta flights and unlimited mileage.
funway4agents.
co.uk
5 November 2015
travelweekly.co.uk 57
TOP TIP
Send Twilight fans to Forks, the setting for Stephenie Meyer’s vampire-themed novels
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80