DH and I are headed that way to visit with his dad...I am wondering if there are any things that we just shouldnt miss...Good Photo op areas are even a bigger plus:> On our way up we will stop at the Japanese gardens in Portland, on the way back we will be spending 3 nights in Florence. There is a City pass that lets you into 6 attractions for a pretty good price..Any thoughts would be appreciated.

" life isnt about waiting for the storms to pass, its about learning to dance in the rain."

is pretty fun! If you take a ferry ride, you can can some great shots of the city.

The pinochle pals are planning an overnight trip to Seattle (we live 4-1/2 to 5 hours away). We're planning to go over one day, see a Mariners game that night, have breakfast/coffee at Pike's Place market in the morning, and stop at Ikea on the way home. Now if LindaW would just hurry up and get married, we could go!!

I love the ferries (if you have time) and I've also been to the Woodland Park Zoo with my kids when they were younger. I don't know if it's any better than Portland's, but--as you know--Portland's is great.

A few things:

If you want to take a ferry boat trip, don't pay for a touristy boat. Take the Washington State (public transpo) Ferry over to Bainbridge Island. Ferries leave every 1/2 hour - 45 minutes and the boat ride is about 1/2 hour as I recall. I'm thinking it cost seven or eight dollars total.....you only pay for the outbound trip, and get on the return boat whenever you like. Bainbridge doesn't have a lot to do but the boat ride is pretty, and a steal for eight bucks!

Pike Place Market -- just wander around and look at stuff. A HUGE farmer's market.

There is a Museum of Scandinavian History in one of the Seattle suburbs that I liked.....but probably wouldn't mean much to a non-Scandinavian

Seattle Art Museum is wonderful if you're into art.

There is a museum by the Space Needle that's a combination Science Fiction and Grunge Music. Overpriced for what you get, IMHO, but something to do if that's an interest.