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rosesandpiglets t1_j3s43ep wrote

You’re going to have to be more specific about what you’re looking for lmfao, Washington is larger than most European countries and a lot more geographically diverse…

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FleeceItIn t1_j3s5fcc wrote

While in Seattle, check out the big ones like the Zoo, Science Museum, Aquarium, Pop Culture Museum, Space Needle, take the monorail around, check out Pike Place Market for some good seafood or get your wifey some fresh flowers. Take a drive up to Snowqualmie Pass and see the mountains. Take the Amtrak from Seattle to Leavenworth (which is like a bavarian tourist town in the mountains). Take a cruise on Lake Chelan and visit the tiny town of Stehekin (a good substitute for an Alaskan cruise!). Check out Mt. Rainier National Park. Take a drive over the Olympic National Park, or Bellingham and North Cascades National Park. Go check out the San Juan Islands. Drive over to Port Angeles and take the ferry to Victoria BC, Canada.

I'm sure a cruise up to Alaska would be breathtaking but there is totally plenty of gorgeous landscapes around Seattle to see that would save you 15K.

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erantsingularity t1_j3s5mfl wrote

There is a lot to do in Washington. We have three National Parks: Mt Rainier, Olympic, and North Cascades. Olympic has many easy trails in the rainforest and on the wilderness coast that are beautiful, accessible in June, and mostly flat. In addition to the natural parks, there is a huge amount of wilderness protected land and national forest that have gorgeous features. There is whale watching as well in the Salish Sea. Washington is home to many exceptional viticultural regions if you're into wine. Seattle itself has a great variety of museums, restaurants, and markets. Eastern Washington has beautiful state parks, dry rivers, scablands, recreational lakes, and more. It really depends on what you like doing.

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DeaditeMessiah t1_j3s738e wrote

I wouldn't plan on driving to another state. Portland is the closest big city, and it's 3-4 hours away.

Check out the Olympic national park.

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TopRevenue2 t1_j3s7myt wrote

If you are day tripping with a toddler Mt St. Helens may be a good option with a toddler depending on how well they take car rides.

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fordry t1_j3s8w84 wrote

Mt Rainier and Mt St Helens are both totally spectacular and end of June or early July might be perfect time for wildflowers, depends how snowpack fares this spring.

The air and space museum is cool. I haven't been but people really like the San Juan islands.

Right in Seattle the Hiram Chittendon locks (Ballard locks) are actually interesting.

As others have said, Space Needle of course. Last time I was there I went up in the evening before sunset and so got to see everything in daylight and then the transition to night with the lights, was really cool. Super busy though, might be a bit problematic with a 2 year old. If you go, check out reserving ahead of time.

If you wanted to come towards Portland check out the Gorge. Could make a loop and go to Timberline Lodge as well. Nice view up there and an overall scenic drive.

Oregon coast is overall better than the Washington coast if you wanted to wind up out there.

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cft4nh t1_j3sg0xt wrote

Replying to FleeceItIn (#1,326,859)

Yeah there are literally dozens of ferry routes through the beautiful Puget Sound and Straight of Georgia at a fraction of the cost of a week long cruise. Even with gas and hotels you’d spend way less than $15k.

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Zhenja92 t1_j3shz3k wrote

Go to the coast - your 2 year old will love running and playing in the sand (it can be cool, but it is also very uncrowded.) You can easily do day trips into Olympic National Park and enjoy the rain forest. If you are on a tight-ish budget, see if you can get one of the camping cabins at the state parks on the coast, if your budget is higher - I love to stay at the Seabrook resort. There are lots of great things to do in the mountains - but I found beaches were easier when my kids were little. My personal favorite stretch is from Ocean shores to Pacific Beach - as it gives easy access to the park: https://mapswa.com/discoverwa/#9.58/47.252422/-124.013591

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shaggy908 t1_j3si335 wrote

Leavenworth is always a safe bet especially with kids

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ColorTheSkyTieDye t1_j3si793 wrote

Seattle itself is SO fun for 2 year olds!! I am a nanny for kids around that age in seattle and there is just so so much to do! Bring your kiddo to the pacific science center, the moPOP, the children’s museum, the SAM, the asian art museum (and volunteer park cause volunteer park is SO fun!), the waterfront, the aquarium, the beaches, the burke museum, the arboretum and the japanese botanical garden, you can even find some great lists for toddler-friendly hikes near seattle if you google it! Have fun!

Don’t bother with the cruise. It won’t be worth the money and you’ll probably get sick and be bored while on the boat. Your toddler will also probably be super fussy on a cruise.

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ElTardoDente t1_j3sinty wrote

Use some of that 15 grand to pay for a babysitter, come down to Washington and get a two week vacation from the child. Then you can actually enjoy all the beautiful geography that this state has to offer. Go to the beach, go to ape caves, go to beacon rock, go to the tree of life, go to mount rainier, check out pikes place while you’re in seattle, go to the air museum, head up to snoqualmie and marvel at the cascade mountain range, fuck you could even try skiing out if you wanted to. Washington has got it all my friend.

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mangeeky3 t1_j3sl46i wrote

Go to the san juan islands, olympic national park

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AmericanNW t1_j3so1tv wrote

You might look at Point Defiance zoo and aquarium https://www.pdza.org or you might take a drive up the Olympic peninsula. Not sure without knowing specifics. There's a lot to see in the state.

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ZimofZord t1_j3ss7jc wrote

For $15k you can go to Hawaii for a month lol definitely not worth

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kR4in t1_j3t0qh5 wrote

If you're going to be in Seattle, hit the Seattle science center. Your kid will love it

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Brief_Lecture3850 t1_j3urepn wrote

Cruise to Alaska on an Alaska state ferry? Much more affordable than a cruise ship.

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Maize_Frequent t1_j3utgtx wrote

Definitely go to the reflection Lakes in Mt. Rainier. Just a drive up to the parking spots and enjoy the beauty. Catch it on a sunrise too!

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duuuh t1_j3uwuj5 wrote

First of all, there's no way an Alaska cruise should be anywhere near $15K.

The San Juan Islands are fun.

Victoria Clipper.

Drive to Astoria, down the Oregon coast and back up to Seattle through the Willamette Valley and Portland.

Driving vacation out through Spokane through the Going to the Sun Road, back down through Bozeman, Yellowstone, Jackson Hole and back through Boise (not missing Craters of the Moon) and back to Seattle. Lot of driving but cool stuff.

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