Part 1: Driving the Pacific Coast: A Bucket List Trip from Seattle to Los Angeles - Washington

Before we took the plunge and moved from the Northeast to Washington, we embarked on a fact finding trip. Even though it was deep covid, it ended up being one of our favorite adventures of all time.

If you're not keen on roadtrips, you can always pick a portion of the route and fly in, although seeing all the varied landscapes in the course of 7-10 days is an experience like no other. Come along with us for the wild beauty that is the Pacific Coast. This post details the first part of our trip, (stops 1-4) from Seattle to Gig Harbor. Stay tuned for posts 2 and 3, which will give you all you need to know to continue your trip onward to Oregon and California.

W A S H I N G T O N

Highlights: staying in a picture-perfect vineyard, hiking high over the otherworldly twists and turns of the Puget Sound, adorable fishing villages, a Practical Magic fan moment, and a Victorian seaport.

First stop: Seattle, WA

There's so much to see and do in Seattle, but we only spent a few hours in the city on this trip since (1) we weren't very confident about being in crowds given the pandemic and (2) we weren't considering moving to the city. We grabbed (gluten-free!) pizza with friends (check out Razzi's), took a quick stroll through Pike Place, stopped at Salt & Straw for some phenomenal traditional and vegan ice cream, and then moved on to Whidbey Island.

Other Seattle favorites: seeing the city from the water. Our dear friend, and regular co-adventurer, Ben, took us out on his sailboat, which is one of the best ways to see anything and provides some stellar vantage points you won't see walking; Monorail Espresso (our favorite coffee spot in the state so far, thanks to Ben); vintage Pearl Jam posters on exhibit; and Emerald City Guitars. If you're a guitar enthusiast, you may be hard pressed to pull yourself away from playing and daydreaming, so plan on extra time here.

Second stop: Whidbey Island, WA

To get to Whidbey, we took our first ferry ride of this trip and our first ever in Washington. Bella and I were fascinated by the whole ferry experience and spent the whole 20 minutes gazing out at the Sound (see above).

We had a marvelous time staying at Dancing Fish Vineyards in Freeland. The property is so gorgeous and welcoming (and dog friendly!) we wished we could stay forever. It was also a great jumping off point to visit Deception Pass for a hike with epic views from just about every turn, and Coupeville, the adorable little fishing village where one my all-time favorite movies, Practical Magic, was filmed. If you go, check out Little Red Hen bakery for delicious treats and coffee (you can even order ahead for Saturday pickup). The Little Red Hen is in the same space where Sally's shop, Verbena Botanicals, was located in the movie. If you visit close to Halloween, be sure to check out the town's website to see what Practical Magic-themed celebrations are in store that year.

Third stop: Port Townsend, WA

Port Townsend is in the Olympic Rain Shadow, meaning it tends to be significantly direr and sunnier than neighboring towns (Coupeville, mentioned above, is also in the rain shadow). Every time we've visited, even when it's been gray and rainy everywhere else, we've found sun in the Victorian Seaport. From the adorable boutiques, candy shops, restaurants, and wineries along Water Street, to the moody hiking trails and beaches of Fort Worden, there are nearly endless options. Gunther, the 42" gray whale on the wharf (see above, bottom right) is now also a must-visit on our trips to Port Townsend.

A few of our favorite places: Better Living through Coffee (fair trade coffee with the loveliest water views), World's End (a little shop with free gems for kids and steampunk pirate vibes), Phoenix Rising (for all things metaphysical), Vintage (a fabulously cozy tasting room on a chilly day, which also offers a gorgeous waterfront patio for warm evenings), and La Cocina (authentic Mexican food and cooking classes ranging from mole to tortillas, horchata, and more).

Fourth stop: Gig Harbor, WA

Gig Harbor aka "the maritime city," is a postcard of a town. In summer, the quintessential fishing village offers festivals, parades, and free weekly concerts in the parks. Gig Harbor is full of adorable little restaurants, boutiques stocked with locally-made goods, and some of the friendliest people we've met. Walking the harbor (about 30 minutes one way at an easy pace) is a favorite activity, and if you're lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of Mt. Rainier in the distance. Skansie Park, along the waterfront, is a wonderful spot for picnics, festivals, and concerts, and even has a splashpad for the littles in the warm months. Skansie is also home to the Skansie Brothers Net Shed, which brings local history alive, and is complemented by Harbor Wild Watch, right next door. Wild Watch is staffed by some of the kindest people, who will teach you all about local underwater critters, and how to protect them.

Other favorite Harborside spots and activities: stop for brunch at Devoted Kiss (family friendly); dine al fresco and with a view a Morso (21 and over only); rent a kayak or paddleboard from Lee's SUP ($30 for 2 hours), with a picnic in tow, and paddle to the little lighthouse/beach at the mouth to the harbor; stop at the gorgeous newly remodeled 7 Seas for a pint (family friendly); swing by Brimstone and Iscreamery (both family friendly) for barbecue and deliciously creative local ice cream and sorbet, respectively; head over to Heritage (also family friendly) to sit in the open-air windows with a seasonal drink.

So there you have it: the first leg of our three-state, 1,200 mile road trip of a lifetime.

Stay tuned for part 2 and part 3 of "Driving the Pacific Coast: A Bucket List Trip from Seattle to Los Angeles" (Oregon and California).

Happy journeying!