Snow in the summer caps-off trip of “firsts” out west

Ten days and nearly six thousand miles later, we have returned from our most active vacation since our three kids came along.  While we don’t mind traveling long distances, we had become accustomed to staying put once we arrived at our vacation spot – usually on the beach. This year, we were on the go on a different sort of holiday – a three-state trek through Idaho, Oregon and Washington.  Over the past two weeks, I have written of our travels through Idaho and Oregon. This week is the third and final installment – the state of Washington.

PART THREE – WASHINGTON

After many days of travel through Idaho and Oregon, we had come full circle. We were back in Seattle, where we first took our bags off the airport carousel and loaded them into a rented minivan for the long drive to Boise.

For our children, this vacation was about “firsts” every step of the way: first sighting of the Pacific Ocean, first glimpse of the Rocky Mountains and first time in a high desert climate. Washington was no different. Being from the east coast and from a family that has spent much time in our nation’s capital, they were excited to be in the “other Washington” — the one of apples, cherries and Space Needle fame.

In Washington, the girls’ biggest “first” had to have been their trip up to the snow line on Mount Rainier. Snow of any amount is a big deal to three kids from Georgia, but snow in July truly amazed them.

I still remember the first time I saw snow in the summer. I was 15 years old and on a trip to the Alps in Grindelwald, Switzerland.  It was June 17, 1987. I know, because I spent a ridiculous amount of time writing the date in snow (which came up to my knees) and taking pictures of it.

Our children reacted to July snow at Mount Rainier’s Visitor Center with similar glee and awe. They had seen snow-capped mountains in the distance throughout our travels, but it still didn’t seem real until these Georgia girls could throw balls of the cold, white stuff at each other.

The family also enjoyed the stop we made at Northwest Trek, a wildlife park in Eatonville, Wash., on the way up to Rainier. The park featured predators like grizzly bears, mountain lions and grey wolves in natural habitats; but it was the tram through the free-range preserve that was most exciting. Caribou, moose, bison and huge elk bulls passed by so closely that we could literally reach out and touch them (though they really don’t want you to do so).  We even spotted a bald eagle perched on a tree branch.

We spent our last day as tourists in Seattle, riding the monorail and shopping in Pike Place Market.  We drove through Seattle’s neighborhoods, checked out the University of Washington, learned about the city’s network of ferries, and saw Seattle’s famous coffee shops.

Finally, we dined at the top of the Space Needle at Seattle Center. A meal for five at the Space Needle restaurant is no cheap affair, but it was a tourist “do” worth the splurge.  If you want to go to the observation deck at the top of the needle, you’re going to have to pay anyway. You will also have to wait in a long line. 

A reservation for lunch or dinner at the Sky City restaurant allows you to go straight up, spend as much time on the observation deck as you like and watch the city revolve around as you eat a leisurely meal. Our waiter acted as part server and part Seattle concierge, answering our questions about the city and tracking down addresses and information to help us enjoy our limited time there.

With so many “firsts” and so much travel crammed into one excursion, I doubt any of us will forget this trip. The kids continue to talk of things we saw and did; and each day, at least one of them wants to know when we can go back.  

If you’re a Seattle native or a seasoned Seattle traveler, tell us what we missed seeing in that beautiful city. Where are your must-see spots in the state of Washington?

What’s your most memorable family trip? Do you still remember some of your travel “firsts” from trips you took as a child?