Washington area information

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Christine B on October 16, 2008 at 9:24pm

Barbara,
My husband and I are planning to visit our son as soon as he gives us the ok. We are totally unfamiliar with the area around the Naval base or anywhere for that matter. Any suggestions as to where to stay, activities? We would like to make it a mini vacation. Thank you Christine

Permalink Reply by Barbara (Derek's Mom) on October 16, 2008 at 11:50pm

I just looked at a couple other of your posts and found that the base you are coming to is Bangor, right? (We have several in Western Washington.) You will be near the town of Poulsbo, WA and there is a big Casino Resort there called Suquamish, it's beautiful. I'll put together a list of things to do and more options. We have a great ferry system here so you can come to Seattle very easily. It won't be the nicest weather but it's still a fun place to visit. Where are you coming from? What kind of interests do you have? Museums, art, outdoors, sports, ...?

Permalink Reply by Christine B on October 17, 2008 at 12:45pm

Barbara, thanks so much for getting back to me. We are coming from Calif. I guess we will have to get used to some colder weather!! My husband and I usually hit the ground running when we get to some place we have never been. We'd love to explore the area. Not really into museums unless it has to do with trains-planes-or race cars (you can guess which one of us likes those things) I love to photograph and see as many sights as I can. Seattle sounds interesting and I can't wait to go on the ferry.

Permalink Reply by Peggy F on October 23, 2008 at 5:07pm

Christine, There is lots to see and do depending on how long you are staying. To get around you will really need a car unless you are very adventurous. Bangor is on the Kitsap Pennisula - a ferry ride away from downtown Seattle (goes to Bremerton) or from Edmonds (just north of Seattle) to Kingston. You probably won't want to stay in Seattle unless it is for a day or so to see the area. You'd be better off staying on the Pennisula as the ferry gets expensive if you take it often.
If you can, use the internet to look at the visitors information for Kitsap Pennisula so you can get an idea of the area as it is pretty spread out. (http://www.visitkitsap.com/)
There are lots of little cities & towns in the area - a few are Poulsbo, Port Gamble, Hansville and Port Townsend (to the north). Your husband might enjoy the Naval shipyards and museums in Bremerton.
Peggy

Permalink Reply by Spokane Renae on October 23, 2008 at 5:43pm

And don't forget to check out the Naval Undersea Museum at Keyport. It's fantastic. Well worth 2-3 hours of your time. It gave me a really good idea of what my son and daughter-in-law would be facing as a Navy family, even though my son is not currently attached to a submarine. It was fascinating.
Here is its link

Permalink Reply by Cammy, Dale's Mom on October 27, 2008 at 10:17am

Don't forget all of the tourist stops - Space Needle, Pike Street Market, underground Seattle, Olympic Peninsula or Mt St Helens if you have enough time, etc. Look for any festivals going on in the area too. Bring your bumbershoot!

Permalink Reply by Barbara (Derek's Mom) on November 6, 2008 at 7:37pm

I am sorry this has taken so long!! Christine, here are some suggestions for places to stay near Bangor. If you look online you'll find a ton of B&B's in that area.
Holiday Inn Express
800-465-4329 / 360-697-4400
Poulsbo Inn & Suites
800-597-5151 / 360-779-3921
Suquamish Clearwater Resort/Spa/Casino (been to this one, it's beautiful, almost brand new!)
800-375-6073 / 360-598-8700

Now as far as what to do:
Can't miss list:
The Space Needle
Pike Place Market
UNDERGROUND SEATTLE TOUR, this is fun, funny and interesting. Imagine the script that they use on the Jungle Cruise at Disneyland.
Museum of Flight (you don't have to like museums to enjoy this. the concord is even there now and the original red barn that Boeing started in.)
More ideas:
EMP (Experience Music Project) at Seattle Center (same location as Space Needle), they also have a Sci-Fi museum there which has all kinds of stuff from the movies. This was started by Paul Allen, cofounder of MicroSoft.
The waterfront, where you'll get off the ferry in Seattle from Bremerton, good food, you can take a tour by water on Argosy Cruises. Some tours will take you through the Ballard locks and by Bill Gates' house along with some other really cool places.
If you drive around from Bremerton through Tacoma to Seattle you will go across the Tacoma Narrows Bridge which is always featured in shows showing disasters because many, many years ago the wind got to whipping the old bridge around until it broke apart and crashed. Can't happen anymore, don't worry.
There's also the two floating bridges across Lake Washington, yes they do float!
This time of year is pretty dismal as far as weather goes but you never know when we're going to get a beautiful clear cold day!
Don't forget all our mountains, you have Mt. Rainier and Mt. St. Helens south and Mt. Baker north. There's Snoqualmie Pass (I-90) and Stevens Pass but you'll definitely need to check the weather first.

That's all I can think of right off the top of my head. How about everyone else, what did I leave out?

Permalink Reply by Barbara (Derek's Mom) on November 6, 2008 at 11:54pm

But don't forget your passport, it's required now to cross the border.

Permalink Reply by Vickie - Rooney's mom on November 10, 2008 at 11:54am

We'll be visiting Bremerton in December and were thinking of driving up from CA. How is the weather that time of year, should we fly instead?

Permalink Reply by Vickie - Rooney's mom on November 12, 2008 at 5:24pm

Thanks Barb. The Siskiyous are my concern. I've heard they can get white out conditions. I have made flight reservations just in case.

Permalink Reply by Vickie - Rooney's mom on November 29, 2008 at 9:05pm

Is the Navy Lodge anywhere near Bremerton? We're going up in December.

Permalink Reply by CarlyRae (ship12div034) on April 21, 2011 at 12:39am

Hello!

My husband just got his orders for Everett! I have lived in Arizona my whole life and couldnt be more excited to get out of the heat and live with my sailor again!

Where can I find a good website to find rental homes? We are not interested in living on base nor do we want to live in another cramped apartment. I have been searching craigslist.org but Im sure there are better places to search on the internet....

 

Also, we got married at the courthouse in Great Lakes and at some point I'd like to have a "wedding"...

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