RE: NSA SEATTLE

[P3D Grant Campos <gc6094@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> We are starting to plan our trip this June/July to the NSA.  Since we have
> never been in that part of the country before, we would like travel tips,
> locations, small inns, etc.  We would like to add a few days either before,
> after or both to the convention.  We would like to see a part of Canada
> also.  

One of the standard excursions from Seattle is a ferry trip up through the
San Juan Islands to Victoria.  In Victoria the Buchart Gardens is a must see.
                             
See: http://204.236.9.1:80/clipper/

As far as weather is concerned, it should be pretty warm (thats upper 70s to
low 80s),  However, there is always a possibility of rain.  It seems like it
has been overcast and drizzly on the fourth these past few years.

Within two hours of Seattle there is Mt. Ranier National Park, many Mountain
passes, hundreds, if not thousands of trails to hike in the cascades, a
quaint but touristy bavarian town of Leavenworth, a native-american 
experience salmon bake and show on Blake Island, the Spirit of Washington 
Dinner train (206-626-5208)(a 3.5 hour excursion in train cars built from 
1937 to 1953, including a 45 mile round trip with scenery of Lake Washington,
the Seattle skyline, and Mount Ranier, fancy dinner, and wine tasting at 
the Columbia Winery in Woodinville).  

In Seattle, there is the Space needle, the science center, the Pike place 
market (an open air and indoor market selling fresh food, and all kinds of,
jewelry, spices, old clothing, with many examples of Seattle's diverse 
culture and peoples), Pioneer square, the beautiful Campus of the University 
of Washington.
See http://www.l5.com/pioneersquare/Welcome.shtml
    http://www.washington.edu/home/welcome.html

Check out the Seattle Tourism web page:

 http://www.seattleonline.com/travel/tourism.html

I suggest Paradise on Mount Ranier as a good day trip, no matter what you do.

As far as lodging, I don't know since I live here:)

But if you're into B&Bs:

http://www.nwlink.com/~holihedg/ssbba.html

Oh, There is always a tour of Boeing!

Hope this helps

Grant


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