Frommer's^® Washington State , 3rd Edition

by Karl Samson

• ISBN13: 9780764565533
• ISBN10: 0764565532
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-04-01
• Publisher: Frommers

Summary

You2ll never fall into the tourist traps when you travel with Frommer2s. It2s like having a friend show you around, taking you to the places locals like best. Our expert authors have already gone everywhere you might go--they2ve done the legwork for you, and they2re not afraid to tell it like it is, saving you time and money. No other series offers candid reviews of so many hotels and restaurants in all price ranges. Every Frommer2s Travel Guide is up-to-date, with exact prices for everything, dozens of color maps, and exciting coverage of sports, shopping, and nightlife. You2d be lost without us! Meticulously researched, with every recommendation based on personal experience, Frommer2s Washington State is the only guide you2ll need to experience all the adventure and natural wonders of this amazing corner of the Pacific Northwest. In this detailed and completely up-to-date guide, you2ll find great places to stay in every price range: sleek Seattle business hotels, romantic coastal inns, historic B&Bs, family-friendly motels, rustic cabins, and more. We2ll make sure that you don2t miss any of Washington2s top experiences: checking out Seattle2s galleries and coffee bars, sampling the vintages at up-and-coming wineries, whale watching in the San Juan Islands, biking on bucolic Whidbey Island, hiking Mount Rainier, marveling at Mount St. Helens, and exploring the wondrous temperate rain forest in Olympic National Park. Whether you2re looking for family fun or daredevil thrills, Frommer2s Washington State will help you design the adventure that2s right for you.

Table of Contents

List of Maps	viii
What's New in Washington	1	(5)
The Best of Washington	6	(14)
The Best Natural Attractions	6	(4)
Site Seeing: The Best of Washington on the Web	7	(3)
The Best Outdoor Activities	10	(1)
The Best Beaches	11	(1)
The Best Hikes	12	(1)
The Best Scenic Drives	12	(1)
The Best Bed-and-Breakfast Inns	13	(1)
The Best Mountain Lodges/Resorts/Retreats	14	(1)
The Best Island & Beach Resorts & Lodges	15	(1)
The Best Dining Experiences	16	(1)
The Best Brewpubs	17	(1)
The Best Museums	18	(1)
The Best Family Attractions	19	(1)
The Best Small Towns	19	(1)
Planning Your Trip to Washington	20	(25)
The Regions in Brief	20	(2)
Visitor Information & Money	22	(1)
What Things Cost in Seattle	23	(4)
When to Go	23	(2)
Washington Calendar of Events	25	(2)
The Active Vacation Planner	27	(5)
Educational & Volunteer Vacations	32	(1)
Insurance	32	(1)
Tips for Travelers with Special Needs	33	(4)
Fly for Less: Tips for Getting the Best Airfares	36	(1)
Getting There	37	(4)
What You Can Carry On---And What You Can't	38	(3)
Getting Around	41	(2)
Cruises	43	(2)
Fast Facts: Washington	43	(2)
For International Visitors	45	(11)
Preparing for Your Trip	45	(4)
Getting to the United States	49	(1)
Getting Around the United States	50	(6)
Fast Facts: For the International Traveler	51	(5)
Seattle	56	(89)
Orientation	57	(6)
Neighborhoods in Brief	59	(4)
Getting Around	63	(5)
Fast Facts: Seattle	66	(2)
Where to Stay in Seattle	68	(19)
Family-Friendly Hotels	84	(3)
Dining	87	(17)
Family-Friendly Restaurants	89	(15)
What to See & Do in Seattle	104	(14)
Good Times in Bad Taste	108	(3)
Space Needle Alternatives	111	(5)
Fish Gotta Swim	116	(2)
Organized Tours	118	(4)
Outdoor Pursuits	122	(2)
Spectator Sports	124	(1)
Shopping	125	(9)
Seattle After Dark	134	(9)
Easy Excursions: Seattle's Wine Country & an Island Getaway	143	(2)
The San Juan Islands, Whidbey Island & the Emerald Coast	145	(46)
Whidbey Island	146	(8)
Anacortes	154	(3)
The Name Game	154	(3)
The San Juan Islands	157	(22)
Did You Know?	160	(5)
The Truth About Killer Whales	165	(10)
The Lopez Wave	175	(4)
La Conner & the Skagit Valley	179	(5)
Bellingham & Environs	184	(7)
South Puget Sound & West Sound	191	(24)
Bainbridge Island	191	(4)
Poulsbo & the Kitsap Peninsula	195	(4)
Gig Harbor	199	(2)
Tacoma	201	(9)
Tacoma After Dark	209	(1)
Olympia	210	(5)
The Olympic Peninsula	215	(32)
Port Townsend: A Restored Victorian Seaport	218	(9)
Sequim & Dungeness Valley	227	(3)
Olympic National Park North & the Northern Olympic Peninsula	230	(11)
Look Out: Banana Slugs Crossing	237	(4)
Olympic National Park West	241	(6)
Southwest Washington	247	(19)
Grays Harbor & the Central Coast	248	(6)
The Long Beach Peninsula	254	(8)
Vancouver & Vicinity	262	(4)
The Cascades	266	(55)
Mount Baker & the North Cascades Scenic Highway	266	(8)
Natural History Seminars	270	(4)
Winthrop & the Methow Valley	274	(6)
Lake Chelan	280	(6)
Wenatchee: Apple Capital of the World	286	(2)
Leavenworth: Washington's Own Bavarian Village	288	(8)
The Snoqualmie Pass Route	296	(4)
Mount Rainier National Park & Environs	300	(9)
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument	309	(6)
Bigfoot: Lost Primate or Tabloid Hoax?	312	(3)
The Columbia Gorge & the Mount Adams Area	315	(6)
Eastern Washington	321	(33)
Ellensburg: A Glimpse of the Wild West	321	(4)
The Gorge at George	324	(1)
Yakima & the Wine Country	325	(11)
Of Apples & Birdies	332	(4)
Walla Walla	336	(5)
The Palouse: A Slice of Small-Town Rural Washington	341	(2)
Spokane	343	(8)
The Grand Coulee Dam Area	351	(3)
Appendix: Washington in Depth	354	(11)
1 The Natural Environment	354	(3)
2 Washington Today	357	(1)
3 Washington History 101	358	(7)
Dateline	358	(7)
Index	365