Washington State questions

[sfwilshire]

I have a once in a lifetime Southwest Companion Pass for my husband this year, so we are trying to squeeze in a couple of trips we might otherwise not be able to swing. Unfortunately, I waited later than I should have to start planning and I also have a lot of business travel to work around.

Being a die-hard flower lover, I thought of going to Washington State to try to catch some of the flower festivals in the Spring. Southwest flies into Seattle and will soon also fly into Everett. It looks like my only options along the coast are in Ocean Shores WA, which I know are about 3 1/2 hours below the Skagit Valley where a lot of the flowers are.

Would we freeze in coastal Washington in April? I checked the historic weather and it doesn't sound too bad, but I know the wind can make a big difference.

Is anyone familiar with the Pacific Avenue Condominium Resort? No TUG reviews and I haven't found any review anywhere else except the 4 in RCI, which are favorable. The only other choice that works is Windjammer Condos, which gets good reviews but isn't on the water. The Windjammer also only has a 1 br, which would work for us if necessary, but Pacific Ave has 2br and appears to have water views. The dates I could use at Pacific Ave are about three weeks earlier in April, which might make it colder.

Any suggestions relating to these ideas or any others on the Pacific Coast appreciated. My husband has vowed he doesn't want to be in California, so trying to avoid that. We have already explored a lot of California, so it would be nice to do something new.

Another thought if this doesn't work out is the Lake Tahoe area or to try to see Yosemite, which we have never visited. I have fixed plans in June and October, and am thinking of Hawaii in September or December, so I am running out of time to figure something out.

Thanks for reading to the bottom of my rambles.

Sheila

 

[JohnPaul]

We got the SW Companion Pass through their CC promotion for California residents so I understand your desire to maximize it.

I'm guessing you are trying to book via RCI or II which will give you some limited options.

If you know anyone that you give you access to Worldmark (sell you a reservation or trade you for something) I have a few suggestions. Worldmark Birch Bay and Worldmark Blaine are next door to each other at nearly the Canadian border. Mt Vernon is about a 50 minute drive south.

Worldmark The Camlin in Seattle is one of our favorite resorts but can be a little hard to get into, although the waitlist works very well. It a renovated 1920's hotel right downtown. Lots to see and do in Seattle proper.

Although we've been in California for 20 years I lived in western Washington for 40 years and grew up on the coast (Westport). Weather is pretty unpredictable at any time. You could have a beautiful sunny day (but probably not especially warm in spring) to pouring down rain. Most likely is cloudy gray and drizzly.

We have stayed in the penthouse of Vacation Internationale Point Brown in Ocean Shores in May with a terrific deck. We were never able to go out because it was so windy and cold. People in the Northwest learn to dress in layers because weather conditions can change rapidly.

Another coastal option in Washington with timeshare is the Worldmark Long Beach. That's in southern Washington nearly at the Columbia River.

There are several timeshares on Lake Chelan in Eastern Washington. You would probably fly to Spokane and rent a car.

If you want to fly into Portland there are a ton of Oregon coast timeshares, especially again with Worldmark but also others.

Lake Tahoe is wonderful and full of timeshares (although several are converted motels). I think it's beautiful there at any time of year. Skiing makes winter popular but summer is busiest.

Whatever you decide I'm sure you will have a good time.

 

[vacationhopeful]

My opinion of Portland ... Flew into Portland, OR just a few weeks ago. OK place. Seemed like an OLD city and I worked for almost 10 years in center city Philadelphia. Building sort of remnded me of there. Ended up on the coast .. I just was along for the ride & wedding. I flew SWA in & out.

I was sort of surprised at the 'oldness' or wornout nature of the Portland area. The motel where us wedding guests stayed was a BIG 4 story and long building with 1 elevator ..having one & only (but not working) elevator. Only 2 floors were open for guests with stairs to the 2nd floor ONLY. Seem to be many "construction & out of the area" workers staying there (based on the free breakfast room guests we ate with) and the large number of pickup trucks in the parking lot. Other than the free breakfast, no other food or drink beyond that .. unless from vending machine or two.

Wedding was on Mt Hood ... so we packed out for a 1 night stay there after the wedding. And then back to the motel for another couple of nights.

PS This was NOT my first 20 choices or even on my bucket list of 100 places to go to. If my niece moves away from the area, it won't hurt my feelings. I might think about a late Spring visit in future years for a visit... after she has a baby.

 

[DaveNV]

My two cents:

Ocean Shores can be windy at any time of year. It can also rain, and DOES rain, a lot. Up here, people tend to dress in layers, and if the weather is better, take off a layer or two. Plan for the worst, and hope for the best. You're several hours from Seattle, with traffic, so commuting back and forth from Ocean Shores into the city to see stuff will get to be a drag. Better to stay out there. But it's a small enough area, that in Ocean Shores itself, you're moments from an AMAZING wide sandy beach, so even if the weather is stormy, it should still be marvelous, if very quiet. Once you've seen the town, there isn't much more to see. Here's what Google Maps shows about this condo place: https://www.google.com/maps/place/P...ef3e05aa6fb4b9!8m2!3d47.017605!4d-124.1617659

The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival is (arguably) the first few weeks of April every year. It all depends on the weather. If it's warm and the flowers are open, it's incredible. But if the weather is cooler, and the flowers open later, your trip could easily be wasted. If the flowers open much before you get here, they'll have all been harvested, so there may not be anything left to see. The flowers are grown by dealers who sell the flowers, then later dig up the bulbs. The trick is seeing them after they're open, but before they're harvested - and the window is very short, normally only a few weeks. Take strong note that traffic during the Tulip Festival can be terrible. (Locals call it the Traffic Festival, for good reason.). People from all over the state, and also from Canada, converge on the area to see the flowers. It can be a huge cluster. But even if everything lines up, and it's a perfect experience, you can easily see the Skagit flowers in less than one day. Having done that, there is still a lot to see in the area, in each of the four directions from the Skagit Valley.

The Everett airport area is still under construction, and may not be available until this Fall sometime. And Everett is only about 30 miles from Sea-Tac Airport anyway, so you aren't saving very much. The Skagit Valley is only ~90 minutes from Sea-Tac, so it's not all that bad to drive, unless traffic is a mess.

If it were me, I'd look at Long Beach, Washington. You can stay in a number of different hotels, condos, B&Bs, and so forth, see an even more amazing beach area, experience everything the Washington Coast has to offer, and then work your way south a bit. Cape Disappointment is where Lewis & Clark wintered over that year. Very historical area. Drive a tad further south, and go across the bridge on the Columbia River to explore Astoria, Oregon. The northern Oregon Coast is right there, and there is a lot to see along there. All of it is easily driven from Long Beach. You can still have a nice beach experience, but you'd have more in the area to see. https://www.google.com/maps/place/L...06ff04da86900!8m2!3d46.3523219!4d-124.0543234

Unless you're already in the area and the flowers are open, planning a vacation just to see the Skagit Tulips is a crapshoot of dates, and could turn out to be a big bust. I'd say plan your trip, then after you arrive, see whether the flowers are open. If so, make a one-night trip up and stay overnight someplace. Skagit Valley is still only maybe 3 hours from Ocean Shores, maybe even less.

Dave

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

If you want to do Skagit Valley, your best timeshare option by far is Birch Bay. Also a good base for trips to Vancouver, or to visit the San Juan islands. There's also a resort in Glacier, WA, that isn't too far from the Skagit Valley.

Staying strictly with timeshares as possibilities, you should also consider Vancouver, Canada. It's closer than Ocean Shores, and of course it's a wonderful destination in its own right.

 

[sue1947]

You state that your objective is the flowers. Go to Ocean Shores or Long Beach for the ocean. Go elsewhere for the flowers.
Of the 2 timeshares you mention, go with Pacific Avenue. It's right on the water within a short distance from the end of the Ocean Shores peninsula and the jetty. I haven't stayed there, but stay frequently at the WM which is a short distance up the street and have looked at it from the beach and street. It's a small complex in a good location. If you are into birding, that is a prime spot at a prime time.

If you want flowers: for the Skagit tulip festival, either try timeshares in Birch Bay/Blaine or the one in Glacier (which is frequently an easy trade in non-ski/summer months). However, Glacier is a bit out of the way and won't offer much to do if you aren't into snow sports. Best suggestion: Victoria and go to the Butchart gardens. You could fly into Seattle/Everett and spend 2 nights in the Skagit (Mt Vernon/Burlington) area or in Anacortes. You can spend the extra day touring the tulip fields. Then catch the ferry from Anacortes to Victoria (Sydney, BC). In addition to the Butchart gardens, Victoria Beacon Hill Park which should be blooming nicely.

Sue

 

[sfwilshire]

Thanks for the great information. I understand the difficulty of hitting the flower fields at the right time. It's sort of like trying to hit peak leaf peeping in the Smoky Mountains. I live here and can't ever hit it just right because it can vary so much from hollow to hollow.

I AM, as suggested above, trying to utilize my over abundance of banked weeks in both RCI and II, so other than maybe a single hotel night, I'd like to stick to timeshare exchanges. I'm also probably going to be limited to a week on this trip, due to work obligations for the next few months.

The suggestions for the Vancouver area are great, but we spent a nice leisurely vacation up that way a few years ago. Especially due to trying to travel in the Spring, we'll save a return visit for another time.

After some back and forth with the management company, the only Pacific Ave unit that is available is a third floor unit. None of us are up to that many stairs, so that's out. Still looking at options and very much appreciate all the responses.

Sheila

 

[DaveNV]

Thanks for the great information. I understand the difficulty of hitting the flower fields at the right time. It's sort of like trying to hit peak leaf peeping in the Smoky Mountains. I live here and can't ever hit it just right because it can vary so much from hollow to hollow.

I AM, as suggested above, trying to utilize my over abundance of banked weeks in both RCI and II, so other than maybe a single hotel night, I'd like to stick to timeshare exchanges. I'm also probably going to be limited to a week on this trip, due to work obligations for the next few months.

The suggestions for the Vancouver area are great, but we spent a nice leisurely vacation up that way a few years ago. Especially due to trying to travel in the Spring, we'll save a return visit for another time.

After some back and forth with the management company, the only Pacific Ave unit that is available is a third floor unit. None of us are up to that many stairs, so that's out. Still looking at options and very much appreciate all the responses.

Sheila

Hi Sheila. The problem you'll have is the timeshares in Washington state aren't located right in the heart of the action. They're kind of spread out, and are on the edges of things. Driving distances to/from can impact what you want to see on a given day. There are only so many roads, and Puget Sound kind of cuts through the middle of everything.

What about the San Juan Islands? They're a ferry ride away from Anacortes, and offer a special kind of amazing getaway all by themselves. You could see the islands, make the trip to Anacortes and drive to the Skagit tulip fields if the flowers are open (it's ~30 minutes from the Anacortes ferry dock to the tulip fields.) The drive down Whidbey Island shows a lot of great scenery, and you can even hop a ferry from Coupeville to Port Townsend. All in, it won't be as convenient as staying on the mainland, but it's amazing scenery everywhere you look.

I agree with Steve and Sue that Birch Bay/Blaine may be your best bet in the northwestern corner of the state, in terms of closest access and fastest driving. The timeshares are located about five miles west of Exit 270 off of I-5. The Skagit Tulip fields are a few miles west of Exit 230 on I-5, so ~40 miles south. The Glacier timeshare (Snowater) is east of I-5 about an hour on Highway 542, a two-lane highway into the hills heading toward Mt. Baker. It's pretty in that area, but is very isolated.

Dave

 

[Karen G]

Another area you might want to consider is Victoria, BC, if your goal is to see flowers. Check out Butchart Gardens http://www.butchartgardens.com. I'm not sure if Southwest flies to Vancouver, BC, but you could fly into Seattle and
take a ferry. https://www.clippervacations.com

 

[easyrider]

I have a once in a lifetime Southwest Companion Pass for my husband this year, so we are trying to squeeze in a couple of trips we might otherwise not be able to swing. Unfortunately, I waited later than I should have to start planning and I also have a lot of business travel to work around.

Being a die-hard flower lover, I thought of going to Washington State to try to catch some of the flower festivals in the Spring. Southwest flies into Seattle and will soon also fly into Everett. It looks like my only options along the coast are in Ocean Shores WA, which I know are about 3 1/2 hours below the Skagit Valley where a lot of the flowers are.

Would we freeze in coastal Washington in April? I checked the historic weather and it doesn't sound too bad, but I know the wind can make a big difference.

Is anyone familiar with the Pacific Avenue Condominium Resort? No TUG reviews and I haven't found any review anywhere else except the 4 in RCI, which are favorable. The only other choice that works is Windjammer Condos, which gets good reviews but isn't on the water. The Windjammer also only has a 1 br, which would work for us if necessary, but Pacific Ave has 2br and appears to have water views. The dates I could use at Pacific Ave are about three weeks earlier in April, which might make it colder.

Any suggestions relating to these ideas or any others on the Pacific Coast appreciated. My husband has vowed he doesn't want to be in California, so trying to avoid that. We have already explored a lot of California, so it would be nice to do something new.

Another thought if this doesn't work out is the Lake Tahoe area or to try to see Yosemite, which we have never visited. I have fixed plans in June and October, and am thinking of Hawaii in September or December, so I am running out of time to figure something out.

Thanks for reading to the bottom of my rambles.

Sheila

If you are considering Lynden WA there is the VI Homestead with inventory available this April 2018. There is also the Worldmark at Birch Bay with inventory available for April 2018. Depending on what you have to trade maybe some one like me could help.

While I haven't stayed at the Pacific Ave Condo Resort I have stayed in Ocean Shores in January, February, March, April and May for outdoor activities. It is low season with not too much going on. There is the Casino. The drive north from Ocean Shores is beautiful.

Bill

 

[sfwilshire]

Another area you might want to consider is Victoria, BC, if your goal is to see flowers. Check out Butchart Gardens http://www.butchartgardens.com. I'm not sure if Southwest flies to Vancouver, BC, but you could fly into Seattle and
take a ferry. https://www.clippervacations.com

Butchart Gardens is an excellent example of how you can miss the flowers if your timing is off. We visiting there in June a while back and were very disappointed in the display. I know from pictures that it is glorious at other times of the year, but it was a major fail for us that trip. I'm afraid April would be pretty early for them, but maybe not.

Sheila

 

[Luanne]

Butchart Gardens is an excellent example of how you can miss the flowers if your timing is off. We visiting there in June a while back and were very disappointed in the display. I know from pictures that it is glorious at other times of the year, but it was a major fail for us that trip. I'm afraid April would be pretty early for them, but maybe not.

Sheila

We were there in June (Victoria and Butchart Gardens) in June a few years back. It was glorious. So I guess you can never tell.

 

[DaveNV]

Butchart Gardens is an excellent example of how you can miss the flowers if your timing is off. We visiting there in June a while back and were very disappointed in the display. I know from pictures that it is glorious at other times of the year, but it was a major fail for us that trip. I'm afraid April would be pretty early for them, but maybe not.

Sheila

April is quite early for fancier flowers around here. Daffodils and Tulips are about it, for the "showy" stuff. Beautiful gardens like Butchart rely on a wide variety of flower species, and the weather has to cooperate for them to be on full display. In April, we're barely out of wintery weather, and a lot of things may not have bloomed yet.

Dave

 

[vacationhopeful]

Thanks for mentioning the Butchart Gardens. Did an Alaska cruise in early August with the extended family (again with my nephew as my cabinmate) and upon returned did several days of wandering around Seattle area with my sister & her family. Lovely gardens .. and yes, many flowers (beds) and rows of growing stock were in bloom. Even had a maze - feet shorter in height than a corn field maze but - still fustrating to eacape from.

 

[sue1947]

If the focus is a nice place to spend some time, how about Lake Chelan or Leavenworth east of the Cascades. Especially if you can go late April. The countryside will be ablaze with balsam root and other desert spring blooming flowers. There are a lot of timeshares in either place. If you are up for some hiking, some of the low elevation areas start opening up. There are lots of birds migrating through if you are into birding. You could spend a nice week using the timeshare as a base for roaming around and exploring new areas.

Sue

 

[easyrider]

Lake Chelan is a very pretty place in spring. March and April are fishing months at Lake Chelan but there are many other activities. We take a boat to Manson Bay for Kokanee in April. Sometimes we fish for lake king salmon and macs but the kokes are the main target.

Leavenworth in April is a fishing trip and a stop at the breweries.

Bill