OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK (Memorable Day weekend:)
Our Trip to the Olympic was quite a "memorable" one :)
Alaaaaaaaaarm!Banggggg! 6:30am pheww!Toooo early shut the bugger :)
Finally sprang up at 7am and got ready by 8 all set to go..
Reached the seattle ferry late for the 8:45 ferry and too early for 9:35 but we made it .
We enjoyed the short ferry ride to Brainbridge island , Seattle skyline on one end and snowy mountains , lush green island on the other.
Then began our long drive through Brainbridge to Olympic admist yellow flowers (my fav) ,loud music and munching chips... views on the way at discovery bay were quite a treat.
There comess our point Welcome to Olympic national Park visitor center , took the map and refilled ourselves and started up to the "Hurricane Ridge" . Breathtaking views, loved every turn and twist of the ride up. very much nauseatic like Tirupati - Tirumala ride. Valley view on one side , Mountains in the front uppppp we went 5000feet . A place your surely shouldnt miss in your trip. It was the best sight , and would surely revisit :) Spectular view as the name suggests mountains as ridges and snow just added beauty to it . Though there was lot of snow it was quite sunny and pleasent to walk the hikes and enjoy all angles of it.
More eager to see other sightseeing spots in olympic we slided down the hill way in our car enjoying the valley views . "Lake Crescent" next spot on our list , the road to it is quite a disneyland ride.Once we were at the lake i felt it very much like our Lake sammamish or Washington lake , but suma ,the nature lover was just admiring it as refreshing as ever :) It was amusing to watch a lot of telugu ppl playing cricket lakeside, though they were way above being youth. Once the sun showed on our head the colour of the lake turned blueeee ( Caribbean blue , reminded me of cancun ).
It was almost evening , we started for "Sol Duc falls" . A short hike up to the falls in the forest , the falls werent our height even. a small waterflow through the forest it was. But,best part about them is the falls are photogenic, took as many pics we could :) . Quite many indians up there , they stared at us as though we were some jungle men. Phew! It was 7pm, a bit exhausted twisting around decided to go to our hotel "Red Lion" . A good nights sleeeeep.
We started to "Rialto Beach " , the famous beach of olympic. There was nothing famous in it :P
Dirty black sand and fallen trees. Signs of "Tsunami Area" everywhere. The beach was not for fun , just took a walk and few snaps and started to other olympic beaches alongside "first","second","third" beaches. Nothing exciting about any of them.
Finally entered the city of Twilight "folks" much publicised area of olympic. The only place we found some food,"Subway of Twilight" lol. Fueled , refilled and geared up we started for the
"Hoh Rain Forest" a long journey in the real forest area but dint see any wildlife. It was a different world of green altogther. Huge tall trees like the twlight reaching the sky. Upon reaching the visitor center, there were several hikes in the forest. we took the smallest of the lot 1 hr Hall of Mosses hike . It was beautiful green walk bustling with people , a true photographers delight. Had a wonderful time admist the trees mosses , felt like a movie. It began raining to remind us its a rain forest wear ur rain suit :P .
After all the major tourist spots were done, we had enough time to take a glimpse of Quinalt lake ( Nothing special) except the Lake quinault lodge which looked real classy unlike the lake :).
we argued over going to "Ocean shores" or heading back home , and finally he won it .
No regrets. It was the best beach we visited in washington , u can ride ur car along the beach , fly with seahawks. I wish we had time to ride a horse along the beach. Surely was a fun ending visit of our trip.
Headed back home , we stopped at Olympia (capitol city of WA) for some indian food at the "great cuisine of india" in the downtown. The look of the restraunt made me loose my appetite, but still desperate for a change after a full day of subs, went in and ordered chicken biryani , the worst ever i have eaten. still it was hot so we hogged and filled our tummies and finished our beautiful memorial day weekend :).
Our Trip to the Olympic was quite a "memorable" one :)
Alaaaaaaaaarm!Banggggg! 6:30am pheww!Toooo early shut the bugger :)
Finally sprang up at 7am and got ready by 8 all set to go..
Reached the seattle ferry late for the 8:45 ferry and too early for 9:35 but we made it .
We enjoyed the short ferry ride to Brainbridge island , Seattle skyline on one end and snowy mountains , lush green island on the other.
Then began our long drive through Brainbridge to Olympic admist yellow flowers (my fav) ,loud music and munching chips... views on the way at discovery bay were quite a treat.
There comess our point Welcome to Olympic national Park visitor center , took the map and refilled ourselves and started up to the "Hurricane Ridge" . Breathtaking views, loved every turn and twist of the ride up. very much nauseatic like Tirupati - Tirumala ride. Valley view on one side , Mountains in the front uppppp we went 5000feet . A place your surely shouldnt miss in your trip. It was the best sight , and would surely revisit :) Spectular view as the name suggests mountains as ridges and snow just added beauty to it . Though there was lot of snow it was quite sunny and pleasent to walk the hikes and enjoy all angles of it.
More eager to see other sightseeing spots in olympic we slided down the hill way in our car enjoying the valley views . "Lake Crescent" next spot on our list , the road to it is quite a disneyland ride.Once we were at the lake i felt it very much like our Lake sammamish or Washington lake , but suma ,the nature lover was just admiring it as refreshing as ever :) It was amusing to watch a lot of telugu ppl playing cricket lakeside, though they were way above being youth. Once the sun showed on our head the colour of the lake turned blueeee ( Caribbean blue , reminded me of cancun ).
It was almost evening , we started for "Sol Duc falls" . A short hike up to the falls in the forest , the falls werent our height even. a small waterflow through the forest it was. But,best part about them is the falls are photogenic, took as many pics we could :) . Quite many indians up there , they stared at us as though we were some jungle men. Phew! It was 7pm, a bit exhausted twisting around decided to go to our hotel "Red Lion" . A good nights sleeeeep.
We started to "Rialto Beach " , the famous beach of olympic. There was nothing famous in it :P
Dirty black sand and fallen trees. Signs of "Tsunami Area" everywhere. The beach was not for fun , just took a walk and few snaps and started to other olympic beaches alongside "first","second","third" beaches. Nothing exciting about any of them.
Finally entered the city of Twilight "folks" much publicised area of olympic. The only place we found some food,"Subway of Twilight" lol. Fueled , refilled and geared up we started for the
"Hoh Rain Forest" a long journey in the real forest area but dint see any wildlife. It was a different world of green altogther. Huge tall trees like the twlight reaching the sky. Upon reaching the visitor center, there were several hikes in the forest. we took the smallest of the lot 1 hr Hall of Mosses hike . It was beautiful green walk bustling with people , a true photographers delight. Had a wonderful time admist the trees mosses , felt like a movie. It began raining to remind us its a rain forest wear ur rain suit :P .
After all the major tourist spots were done, we had enough time to take a glimpse of Quinalt lake ( Nothing special) except the Lake quinault lodge which looked real classy unlike the lake :).
we argued over going to "Ocean shores" or heading back home , and finally he won it .
No regrets. It was the best beach we visited in washington , u can ride ur car along the beach , fly with seahawks. I wish we had time to ride a horse along the beach. Surely was a fun ending visit of our trip.
Headed back home , we stopped at Olympia (capitol city of WA) for some indian food at the "great cuisine of india" in the downtown. The look of the restraunt made me loose my appetite, but still desperate for a change after a full day of subs, went in and ordered chicken biryani , the worst ever i have eaten. still it was hot so we hogged and filled our tummies and finished our beautiful memorial day weekend :).
