Seattle Plans!

While it would seem that I've been planning this trip in secret, the truth is: I've just been busy with this guy :)

I've been on maternity leave for the past 10 weeks, and so admittedly, our little Cashel has taken priority over trip planning. But we're still pretty stoked!

The main reason for this trip is to spend some time with Mark's older brother and his wife and daughter, who live in Oak Harbor, where Daniel is stationed. He has been on deployment since September and just got back home a few weeks ago.

Our basic itinerary is as follows:

Friday, April 6:

2:40pm - Flight leaves out of Sioux Falls
7:11pm - Arrive in Seattle

• pick up rental car from Enterprise
• drive to Fairfield Inn in Bellevue
• Find dinner

Saturday, April 7:

9:30am - Check out of Fairfield Inn and find breakfast
11:00am - Explore Seattle, options including:

• Pike Place Market
• Seattle Center
  
  • Space Needle
  • Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame
• Waterfront
  
  • Seattle Aquarium
• Seattle Art Museum
• Volunteer Park Conservatory
• Burke Museum
• Hiram M. Chittenden (Ballard) Locks
• Carl S. English, Jr. Botanical Gardens
• Museum of Flight

Drive to Renton and check into Springhill Suites
Find Supper

Sunday, April 8:

9:30am - Check out of Springhill Suites and find breakfast
11:00am - Drive to Pacific Beach with stops along the way including:

• Puget Sound
• Tacoma
• Aberdeen Gardens

Monday, April 9:

• Check out of Pacific Beach accommodations
• Find breakfast
• Drive to Port Angeles via:
  
  Lake Quinalt (rainforests N. of lake; south of lake: one of world's largest red cedar trees, largest Sitka Spruce in the world)
  Queets (rainforests)
  Ruby Beach (Pink sand)
  La Push and walking trails to two of the prettiest beaches on the peninsula:
  

  Second Beach (1/2 mile from trailhead)
  Third Beach (1 1/2 mile walk)
  

  Rialto Beach
  Forks (Twilight stuff)
  

Tuesday, April 10:

Explore Port Angeles, Olympic National Park, Port Townsend and take ferry to Whidbey Island to Oak Harbor to Daniel and Iryna's house.

• Marymere Falls

Wednesday, April 11:

Rest up and visit

Thursday, April 12:

Explore Whidbey Island

• Fort Casey State Park
• Ebey's Landing
• Lavendar Wind Farm
• South Whidbey Island State Park
• Island Coffeehouse and Books (Langley)
• Deception Pass

Friday, April 13:

Rest up and visit
Pack up and drive to SeaTac area to Courtyard Marriott (16038 WEST VALLEY HWY Tukwila, WA 98188) to drop off luggage
Drop off rental car at Enterprise
Check into hotel and find supper

Saturday, April 14:

8:00am - Check out of Courtyard Marriott, take shuttle to airport
10:52am - Flight out of Seattle
6:48pm - Arrive in Sioux Falls