What to Do and See For a Fall Weekend in Puget Sound
Wondering why you’ve never been to the crown jewel of the Pacific Northwest? Curious what a “Puget Sound” even is? Contemplating how it’s even possible that North Cascades National Park is on the list for top 5 least visited National Parks of the last year? You’ve found your perfect guide, so look no further!
We had never been to Seattle or the Puget Sound region together, though Molly had experienced a bit of the downtown Seattle life during her trips for previous AVP Tour stops. There’s a reason she held those tournaments as the top tournament experiences she’d had in her young career. We both agreed, especially after our most recent time in Washington, that it’s squarely on the top of the list for places we’d like to settle down when we’re old and gray (and not able to carry our legs onto a professional volleyball court anymore). Let’s dive into why, by way of breaking down our two and a half days bopping around the region.
We started by driving up Highway 5, stocking up on Trader Joe’s snacks in Olympia, and booking it straight to the westernmost point of the U.S. of A. - the western side of Olympic National Park. There waiting, sparkling for us in the bright sunshine - a rarity for the Northwest this time of year - was Ruby Beach. It’s the perfect stretch of dark sand and surf-softened pebbles for a midday picnic and a little pepper session, seeing as we are pro volleyballers, always on the job. Up next on our route around Olympus was the venerable, spooky Hoh Rainforest. If you haven’t been to Olympic NP but have done your research, you’ve probably come across this particular spot as high on the list of to-do’s. It absolutely lived up to the hype, especially when our walk came to the banks of the Hoh River.
Because the sun was setting on our first day in Washington as we made our way out of the National Park, we decided to drive a bit further along 101 toward Port Angeles and spend the night in a sleepy fishing town called Sequim, at a first-come-first-serve campground in Sequim Bay State Park. The night was peaceful and drizzly, and just what we needed after a long day of sun filled skies and driving. Upon waking, we drove briskly over to Kingston, where we took a traditional Puget Sound ferry over to Edmonds, where we could then take our car the rest of the way to Seattle proper. We highly recommend this method of getting around the waterways of the area. A scenic boat ride, with your car and your lover, for only $14 one way?! That’s one of the best deals on the planet.
After the glow from our romantic ferry ride wore off, it was time for a big, homestyle breakfast in the Capitol Hill neighborhood. We headed straight for Skillet. And so did everyone else, this Sunday, apparently! Make sure to call ahead and reserve your table or get there an hour before you plan to eat, as the wait times are a bit long on Sunday mornings, understandably. James had Mike’s Scramble and Molly went for the Avocado Breakfast Burrito - we’d definitely have both again. Before we even got our table, though, we did a bit of exploring around the neighborhood and found one of our top-5 overall donuts at Mighty-O Donuts. If you like cake donuts and seasonal flavors, this is your dream. We nommed on our dough rings and grabbed a couple of fantastic lattes at Caffe Vita, then perused the stacks of the massive Elliot Bay Book Company. Paradise for the bookworms that we are. With appetites whetted, it was time to take on “downtown” Seattle briefly, where we took one look at the crowds at Pike Place Market, grabbed a map inside a cool antique maps store, another latte at Storyville ($9 for a latte is way too expensive. To be fair, it tasted like one, too.), and hightailed it out of the area to meet our friends, Connor and Makaela, in Ballard.
We made it to Ballard just in time for the Ballard Farmer’s Market, and to meet them inside Sabine Cafe & Market for a quick snack. They walked us around the beautiful and happening streets, full of trick-or-treaters on this Halloween Sunday, then checked out two of Makaela’s favorite clothing and miscallenous goods shops, September and Woodland Mod. Tasteful, minimalist, natural, earthly feelings inside both.
From Ballard, we took a trip into the mountains with our Washington buds. If the seasons allow, taking the loop up above North Cascades National Park, we’ve heard, is a must. The Park itself is on many ‘Least Visited’ national parks lists yearly. We didn’t come North in the right season, as the highway loop was shut down for the Winter already, but we did get away to Connor’s family cabin on Lake Wenatchee. Wenatchee is a beautiful summertime retreat, nestled up in the Cascade Mountains, while nearby Bavarian-themed Leavenworth is the perfect town for a charming, alpen winter evening. We adored our time in both.
In the morning, we made one more stop before heading south, through Phinney Ridge and Greenlake, where you’ll find cozy suburban streets with lots of charm and much to be experienced in the way of gourmet foods and new-age coffee shops. In Greenlake, particularly, you can grab a latte and quinoa bowl at Retreat, then take a stroll around the lake to watch the ducks float in pairs. Once we finally got our Seattle rain in the last few hours we spent in the area, we hopped in the Subaru and headed for home. It was an epic five day road trip.
