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Trips & Travel
20100727-r98t2pa17c69xxmx2w29e44bny

You don't have to go far to really get away. Find out where to go for day trips, weekends or for as long as you've got.

Answers
  • What is directly across the Pacific Ocean from Seattle?
    Qlandav2ex_small

    Using 47°36' N Latitude and Google Earth to find the appropriate landing point on the Asian continent you appear to arrive on the coast of Sakhalin Island, part of Sakhalin Oblast, a federal subject of Russia. It appears to be a mainly rural area of the curved coast that is NNW of Dolinsk (because of the shape of the lower part of the island).

  • What electrical service (volts) does England use? 110 AC? 220 AC?
    12849517g_small

    The plugs/sockets are different, so you'll need a travel adapter so you can just plug things in. You can often find these in drugstores - this is what a UK plug looks like: http://www.cellphoneshop.net/ukplug.html?CAWELAID=993626248&gclid=CLC0h9Ci3q8CFQJdhwodYG54Ag

    Voltage is 240V AC in the UK (while continental Europe is 220V - they're both close enough to be essentially the same). For most electronic goods that have separate power units (camera charger, cell phone charger, laptop adapter and so on), the adapter or charger will have a note somewhere on it indicating the voltage range it can take; this is nearly always 100...240v or similar for most modern electronics. If that's the case with yours, then you can just plug it into the adapter as in the picture above, and it will work just fine on UK voltage.

    If you have some item that is only rated for 110, then you'd need to buy a more expensive voltage converter unit. (It's somewhat rare to actually need this for casual travel, though; most personal electronics work fine on 110 or 240, and the things that are voltage-specific tend to be appliances that one generally doesn't bring on vacation.)

    Not sure about the hair dryer, though; most hotels have these anyhow, so you may be better off leaving yours at home. (Not an expert, but I'd be wary of pluging a heating device rated at 110v into a 220v source for fear of it overheating.)

  • Where are all the road maps?
    Gold-head_small

    Wide World Books and Maps in Wallingford has everything you need.

  • Are there any good road maps of Vancouver Island?
    Gold-head_small

    Wide World Books and Maps in Wallingford should have copies of the British Columbia Recreational Atlas, a large format book covering the entire province. Or maybe one of the other equivalent atlases; there's one for just SW BC. None of them are as good as the DeLorme atlases for US states. Tear out the pages with the island on it. It's not going to be a whole lot better than the International Travel one, though -- I think it's 1:200,000, while the IT is 1:250,000.

    I've looked at the IT maps, and I would think they'd suffice for cycling. Once you get out of Victoria, Vancouver Island is pretty simple. Alternately, you could print screens of Google Maps of the tricky parts to supplement the atlas or IT maps.

    Best of all would be to buy the 1:50,000 topographical sheet maps from the Canada Map Office (the equivalent of our USGS sheets), but that's going to be expensive. It looks like Vancouver Island is covered by parts of seven different sheets, at $12 a pop, ouch. Wide World can order them for you, though. A cheaper way is to print them yourself, for free, but you'll have to figure out how to navigate the remarkably obtuse system here:

    http://geogratis.gc.ca/geogratis/en/product/search.do?id=08F1CB77-F351-0F8A-EF30-CA081CA0CE61

  • Do you remember Hughes Airwest? What city did they serve that sounds like "Guimes?"
    Botero100_small

    Could it be Guaymas? That's a town in Mexico, on the Gulf of California. There were a few other Mexican destinations on that list. Guaymas isn't a big tourist destination that I'm aware of--at least not these days--but some of the Mexican resort towns that are popular now weren't as developed pre-1980 (when Hughes Airwest was bought out by Republic), so maybe it was more so back then.

  • places to stay in Seaside & Canon Beach?
    Img_5852_small

    The Hallmark in Cannon Beach is fantastic and super dogfriendly. Gorgeous views and a nice location. (They're more on a cliff, so there are many stairs down to the beach, in case anyone has knee issues. One childhood summer an uncle was on crutches. eep!). http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g51790-d95946-Reviews-Hallmark_Resort_Cannon_Beach-Cannon_Beach_Oregon.html

    The Surfsand Inn in Cannon Beach is also really nice and dog friendly, too. It's on the same level as the beach, so no stairs (if that's a concern). I've only stayed here sans dog, but I see lots of pups around. http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g51790-d95948-Reviews-Surfsand_Resort-Cannon_Beach_Oregon.html

    Both of these properties are at the south end of town. The whole town is cute popular seaside village. Lots of little knickknack stores and candy/taffy places, ice cream, variety of retail and restaurants. The Bakery is tasty. There are several ice cream scoop shops. There's even an adorable community playhouse.

    The Lumber Yard is my favorite dog-friendly restaurant. http://www.thelumberyardgrill.com/ They've ample outdoor seating and a nice menu.

    My sister's favorite place is The Driftwood Inn http://www.driftwoodcannonbeach.com/ She thinks their french dip sandwiches are the best in the world. I'm not that impressed, but we always end up eating here at least once. They only have 2 or maybe 3 outdoor tables, so dining with the dog can be harder to accommadate.

    The beach is gorgeous and Haystack Rock is beautiful. Fun tide pools to examine. Lots of room to run around. Great for kite flying, too. There are lots of nearby state parks and beaches worth exploring. There's a lighthouse you can go visit.

  • What are the driving conditions in New Mexico like by mid-March
    Qlandav2ex_small

    This year, with so many strange weather patterns going against the normal conditions that 'should' exist, your best bet is to consult the official road conditions database maintained by the State of New Mexico.

    This site will give you lots of links to various information sources:
    http://www.highwayconditions.com/nm/

    One link in the list termed New Mexico Department of Transportation Road Conditions will get you to this site:
    http://m.nmroads.com/
    It is a simplistic interface but is a hugely useable listing of current conditions especially useful if you know where and on what particular roads you want to travel on.

    I picked a few roads listed on the warnings page to test it out and found detailed mention of ice on the road between certain mile markers.

    I would strongly suggest you look over this extensive list of scenic roadways if you are going there specifically to see the terrain, views and small communities of this amazingly beautiful state.

    http://www.newmexico.org/scenicbyways/index.php

    J and I drove the Turquoise Trail one winter when there over December Break and never were surprised by any adverse road conditions (if there were problems they were prominently signed to warn motorists to reduce speed over certain sections, etc.) and had a great time stopping in the various small towns and poking around the shops and such.

    Get a good map of the state road system, pick out some routes you are interested in and start watching the conditions on them. When you get there you can update just before driving and if you have some alternative routes selected you can pick those that are most free of adverse road issues.

  • What are some of the best campgrounds within 3 hours of Seattle. Lakes, mountains, ocean beaches?
    Wa_usa_small

    Hoo boy, ok lets start North and work around clockwise.

    Moran State Park on Orcas Island is very cool, Mt. Constitution is the highest point in the islands and you can see forever. http://www.parks.wa.gov/parks/?selectedpark=Moran Moran is pretty well known, however, so it might be booked.

    The San Juan County Park on San Juan Island is kind of a "hidden gem." It's on the shore of Haro Strait and not a lot of people know about it. http://sanjuanco.com/Parks/sanjuan.aspx

    If you have a boat or are willing to hire a water taxi, there are dozens of wonderful boat-in campgrounds in the San Juans. I won't go into too much detail on that because I'm thinking maybe you are looking for a car-camping opportunity, but Stuart, Jones, Clark and Sucia would be high on my list of recommended boat-in campsites in the SJIs.

    On the mainland, Larabee State Park up in Bellingham is a great one. It's at the foot of the Chuckanut Hills on the shore of Puget Sound, some people say it's the only place where the Cascades touch saltwater. http://www.parks.wa.gov/parks/?selectedpark=Larrabee&subject=all

    Also to the North, my cousin swears by the Burlington KOA. I hear Burlington, I think strip malls, but this is out on the Eastern edge by the Skagit River. Apparently it's quite nice. http://www.koa.com/campgrounds/burlington/

    Silver Lake is another "hidden gem" off Mt. Baker Highway in Eastern Whatcom County. One of the few places you can rent a boat for cheap, and the trout fishing is top-notch. http://www.co.whatcom.wa.us/parks/silverlake/silverlake.jsp

    To the East, if you're willing to cross the North Cascades, the KOA in Winthrop is actually pretty nice. I spent last 4th of July there and enjoyed myself. The trout fishing on nearby Peregrine Lake just might be the best in the entire state. That's pushing past your three hour mark however.

    Another great spot in that direction is Lake Osyoos. This is bigtime "hidden gem," I know I am overusing that phrase, but this one is for sure. It's a five hour drive from Seattle, but nobody from Seattle goes there, so it often has reservations available when all the closer campgrounds are booked http://www.parks.wa.gov/parks/?selectedpark=osoyoos%20lake

    Closer to Seattle, Lake Kachess is a fun spot not too far past Snoqualmie Pass. I had a lot of fun summer weekends up there as a teenager, and managed to stay out of the Kittitas County Jail. http://www.reserveamerica.com/campgroundDetails.do?subTabIndex=0&&contractCode=nrso&parkCode=kach

    On the other side of Puget Sound, check out Kitsap Memorial State Park. This is a great park that I just discovered, they have yerts and cabins, and a nice waterfront on Hood Canal. It is also one of the few public places where you can harvest oysters with a WA fishing license in most years, although it is currently closed. http://www.parks.wa.gov/yurtsandcabins/kitsapmemorial/

    On the coast, the "numbered beaches" in Olympic National Park are a lot of fun too. They are just identified as "beach 1, beach 2" etc. You can camp right on the beach, no reservations, just find a spot and plop a tent, but be prepared to hike a few miles in to camp, and no dogs allowed. I got kicked out of there last time for having a dog (I didn't know). http://wikitravel.org/en/Olympic_National_Park

    Hope this is useful. Washington is a beautiful place, get out there and enjoy it! Sorry for my un-embedded links. The last several times I have tried embedding links on Qland it hasn't worked.

    And remember if you do cross the mountains or take a ferry, pack your patience. Passes close, ferries run late, shit happens. Remember that half the fun is getting there!

  • Have you ever been on the Amtrak Empire Builder train when it splits at Spokane?
    Botero100_small

    They make it really clear, if you're up and out of your seat. They also direct people into cars according to their destinations when they board, so you won't have to move when the train splits--so if you're in your assigned seat, you'll end up where you should be.

  • Where is the best place to exchange euros downtown?
    Ozomahtli_small

    There is a Travelex currency exchange on the top level of Westlake Center. I believe that is your ONLY local option other than at SeaTac Airport.

  • How do you pronounce "Padilla Bay" in Skagit County?
    Avatar_default

    Another source, the Associated Press:

    http://www.ap.org/washington/pron.html

  • Can you still buy beer from the nuns on Shaw Island?
    Crazy_small

    There is no mention of a store on the Our Lady of the Rock web site.

    I visited Lopez Island late spring 2011 and remembering reading in a brochure on the ferry that the nuns had retired from running the store. Agree that it would have been very cool to buy beer from a nun, but alas, no longer possible, it seems.

    Perhaps staying in the monastery and joining them in prayer would be an acceptable substitute for a cold beer -- check with the boyfriend.

  • What's the smartest least-snowy route home from Palm Springs to Seattle in a 2WD Truck with a trailer?
    Rex_racer_small

    Yes, I'd say the 101 is the NSA answer to your question -- it IS the least snowy route -and easiest for a truck and trailer with no traction- if all other considerations are secondary.
    But it'll eat up time - becomes a 3 to 3 and a half day trip instead of 2. The lower speed works to your advantage with a trailer, depending on how unweildy it is. 101's almost always clear as far as snow goes -part of it being oceanside-- though mudslides and overturned logging trucks have the potential to ruin your whole damn week since it's so narrow. The key is to time your trip so you don't hit LA or SF at any rush hour times.

    Jack's right that anything east is effectively in the rockies and therefor at altitude and a snow risk.

    If speed of travel is a factor at all, I-5 is worth the gamble. Do you have an iPhone or mobile internet or GPS with traffic maps? You can always head up 5 and then make your call as you go, using googlemaps with the traffic filter on.

  • anyone an expert on Tucson, AZ?
    Tomato_small

    My mother-in-law lived there, so we visited a few times. Tucson has awesome thrift shopping, because old people move there with all their finery and winter clothes and then just live in Tommy Bahama. Seriously, minks and cashmere and good mens suits. I can't recall the name of the neighborhood with all the vintage shops, but if you ask around and find it, there are fun bars and restaurants around there. I don't recall any microbrews, but Google says there are some, so there you go.

    The Arizona Desert Interpretive Museum is fun, and an medium/easy walk for seniors/olds. A great way to see and learn about the flora and fauna of the desert. You may just see a javelina - they smell terrible. The folks here would be good people to ask about hikes - where to go and what to bring with you.

    Mission San Xavier de Bac is a 200+ year old Spanish mission church out on the 19. It's in the process of being restored, so check to see if it's open the public. We went one year at Christmas and it was very beautiful and with an interesting (colonial, troubling) history. It is an active mission for the Tohono O'odham people, so be respectful. You can buy frybread and Indian crafts in the parking lot.
    http://www.sanxaviermission.org/

  • Does it snow on the Cajon Pass?
    Rex_racer_small

    I've experienced enough snow and ice down there that it closed the Cajon and Soledad -and Tejon too -- that was one February. I had to take the 1 and then 101. So yes, that pass does get snow - though it's rare. Any reason not to take the 5 instead?

    This week? Ouch -bad timing. For Cajon Ranger District -San Bern. National Forest-, there's a winter storm warning in effect right NOW and for the next day or two: day time is in the 40's and 50's but lows are in the 20s, so the rain that falls in daytime may turn it to an icerink. Snow levels are at 3500-4000' for monday night, and Cajon pass is 3700 or so.

    Jack's Yucca valley plan isn't a bad idea, except that Lucerne Valley is expected to get snow, so you'd have a short stretch of shit there. If you can wait a week, might be better off.

  • My friend needs a passport now. And he is in New Jersey. Is he SOL?
    Wa_usa_small

    Nothing is fucked, as long as he is flying into SeaTac and not Vancouver International Airport.

    Passports are required to enter Canada by air, no ifs ands or buts. The rules for entering Canada by land or sea are a little looser.

    Your friend should assemble everything he can to prove he is who he says he is. Driver's license, birth certificate, social security card, high school yearbook, draft card, voter registration card, etc etc and just go to the border.

    The Canadian border guards will probably let him into Canada. Bear in mind that they have the discretion to refuse him or admit him, so he needs to be on good behavior (lots of "yes sir, yes ma'am's).

    According to the law, he will need a passport to get BACK into the United States. Here's what will probably happen. You'll go the border. The US Customs & Border Protection Officer will scream bloody murder at him and read the riot act. You'll be pulled into a little room and interrogated with him. He'll be told to never, ever, ever do this again. And then, they'll probably let him back into the United States.

    Absolute worst case scenario at this point, and this is highly unlikely, they will refuse him entry back into the United States and he will be referred to the United States Consulate in Vancouver. There, he will have immigration officials from the State Department view all those documents he brought with him to prove his identity, whereupon they will bark at him and tell him that he's a moron and he should never ever do this again... then they will charge him a steep fee $100 or $150 and print a passport while he waits.

    American Embassies and Consulates abroad can print passports on the same day to get American citizens back home. The service is intended for people who lost their passport, they don't like it when people "game the system" like this, but at the end of the day, they're going to get you back to the United States.

    Bottom line, just try it. The Canadians will probably let him in. If not, there's some cool bars in Bellingham he can hang out at. If he does get in to Canada, the US will probably let him come back, but if not, he can get an instant passport at the Consulate.

  • "First Class" Virgin. How do I make the most out of this flight?
    Hey_girl_hey_small

    If you are on a domestic flight the most you can expect is free drinks and some sort of complimentary meal. You may also get free access to any in-flight entertainment system that is installed in the seats, if they have that installed. You might also get free Wi-Fi if the plane has inflight Wi-Fi.

    In my opinion the best thing about first class is:

    1. More room, the seats are comfortable and you don't leave the plane feeling like you have clots in your legs.

    2. Closets for hanging up your jacket.

    3. More attentive flight attendants (although this can be very hit or miss depending on the airline)

    4. A bathroom dedicated to the first class cabin.

    5. Express security line, you get to hop to the front!

    6. You also get to board the plane after the pre-boarding types.

    7. Free booze is fun but I put this last because I think it's the least important perk.

    If you are flying international you can expect a much more plush experience but I have only flown first-class on domestic flights and will let others detail internal flight perks.

    You should still check-in online and then use the first-class line to check your bags.

  • Tuscan Cedar trees are so graceful and pretty; Why can't we grow them here?
    Kendo_20dog_small

    Is this the sort of tree you're talking about? I think they can grow in the northwest region: http://www.nurserytrees.com/Italian%20Cypress.htm

    I bet you could introduce an Italian Cypress to the area if you want one. King 5 even did a report on adding one to your garden: http://www.king5.com/archive/60068182.html

    If I had to guess, I would say they're not common in the northwest because there are so many types of evergreen to choose from. There are other types of cedar that are native to the NW region. I've seen those tall, skinny cypresses elsewhere in the country, so they do grow just fine in the US.

  • How long does an American have to be out of Canada before he/she can re-enter beginning a new 6-month legal stay period?
    Wa_usa_small

    I don't know the answer to your question, but I know an expert who does. If you want to apply for resident alien status you should hire Greg Boos at Cascadia Cross Border Law. He is the best Canada/USA Immigration attorney around.

    http://www.cascadiaimmigrationlaw.com/

  • Should you attempt to tour Italy if you don't speak Italian?
    Img_5852_small

    Absolutely! Provided you are polite and friendly, and willing to butcher the language in your attempts to use a phrasebook, you should be fine. Honestly, your attitude is what will matter most. English is spoken, at least partially, by many folks. And everyone in the service industry is used to dealing with tourists...and dependent upon you for their wages, right...so even if they don't know english, most hostel, hotel, restaurant staff will be helpful.

    I spent 2 weeks backpacking around Italy in 2003. On many occasions, I watched pushy/rude american tourists yelling "do you speak english?" This question will be MUCH BETTER received if you learn how to say "Parla Inglese?" I just found this site that lets you hear how to pronounce a few basic phrases. http://italian.about.com/library/children/blconversation01.htm In fact, on two occasions, I witnessed folks just begin speaking in English (to the train ticket station, and to a museum front desk) and the person responded in Italian that they didn't understand. So I didn't even bother asking "Parla inglese?" as I had just seen the answer, instead, in my terribly pronounced Italian, using the guidebook I tried to get two reservations for tomorrow's train. The ticket seller responded in beautiful english. Ha!!

    Really, don't let the language scare you off. Bring a bit of politeness, a bit of patience, and a willingness to mime to help get your meaning across. Tour guides and tourist industry folks are used to this, and you'll get along just fine.

    ESPECIALLY if you're looking to do a package tour, there should be a system to help guide you. But even without that, common sense and basic manners, and you'll be fine. Don't let the language scare you away from a great opportunity.

    And now, depending on what you're looking for in Italy, a high school friend and her NYC-chef sweetie are running what looks to be an amazing farm and cooking school in Italy, if interested. http://www.latavolamarche.com/html/

  • Escaping Seattle: Thailand ... Power?
    Nedward_small

    Pretty much any modern laptop's power cord includes an AC adapter that should work most anywhere in the world. Check that your adapter says it is good for 110 V - 240 V and 50-60 hz (pretty typical). All you need is an adapter for the plug itself so that it'll fit into a Thai outlet. I traveled around there a little this past year with an American-plugged laptop and used a Euro two-pin converter and did not have any difficulty with getting electric power into the laptop. I agree that surge protection is a good idea.

  • Flying during the holidays
    Bierce1_small

    It's usually the day OF the holiday, and not any time before or after.

    For example, Christmas day is supposed to be really cheap.

  • When and where can I see the western larches turn?
    Nwtripfinder_logo2_small

    The peak window for larches varies year to year depending on weather / moisture, but is usually mid-October.

    The best way to track the progress of larches is to keep an eye on hikers' trip reports at Washington Trails Association's website, wta.org: http://www.wta.org/go-hiking/trip-reports

    There aren't any reports that I can see of larches yet; it's too early.

    Larches are pretty high in elevation, so the best viewing is done by hiking up to them. The Enchantment Lakes Basin is one of the best hikes in the state for larches if you time it right. Carne Mountain st Stevens Pass has a big stand of larches. Lake Ann / Maple Pass Loop off the North Cascades Highway is one of the easier hikes to see larches.

    See this piece on Fall Color Hikes at wta.org: http://www.wta.org/go-hiking/seasonal-hikes/fall-destinations/copy_of_fall-hikes

  • What should I do for a three day stay in Boston?
    Gold-head_small

    Be sure and walk up and down Newbury Street in the Back Bay. Lots of shops, and it's its own little architectural tour -- about a decade per block, starting at the Gardens end.

    Another great place to walk around is Beacon Hill. Here's what you do: get off the T at Park St -- oldest subway station in America. Walk up Tremont Street toward the State House, then left onto Beacon Street between the gorgeous bow-front houses -- many with original panes of purplish glass -- and Boston Common. Don't miss the memorial to Robert Shaw and the all-black 54th Regiment in the Civil War; it's an impressive work by Saint-Gaudens. Continue as far as Spruce Street and turn into Beacon Hill proper. Right on Chestnut, Left on Walnut, left again on Mt. Vernon. Go down the hill to Louisburg Square, where the REALLY rich people live. Right through the square, right on Pinckney, left on Anderson, left on Myrtle, which curves into Revere Street after a couple of blocks. Revere will take you to Charles Street, the main shopping drag; go left, and you'll end up back at Beacon Street at the dividing point between Boston Common and the Public Gardens. If you're pressed for time, just continue down Mt. Vernon to Charles -- downhill always takes you there if you get lost (bring a map).

    If you go to the North End, which you should, make sure you start at the Blackstone Block near City Hall. It's not much -- a couple of tiny blocks behind the Union Oyster House, Scott Alley and Salt Lane, but it's the real old Boston street layout. You come out on Hanover Street, which is the main drag of the North End; turn right and cross the stupid wasteland where the elevated freeway used to be (and shiver at the prospect of doing this to Seattle, as many hope for), until you get to the North End proper on the other side. Be sure to check out some of the side streets. Here: up Hanover to Richmond, turn right and proceed to North Street, turn left and go past Paul Revere's House (1680), left onto Prince Street, then a short and a long block to Salem Street. Turn right on Salem to Hull Street, admire the Old North Church (lovely and plain inside), then left onto Hull Street up the hill to the Copp's Hill Burying Ground. Revolutionary War-era bulletholes in some of the gravestones. Note the 10-foot wide "narrowest house in Boston" across the street from the entrance at #44. Cruise back down Snow Hill Street, left onto Prince again but only for a second, then left onto Thacher Street, left on Cooper Street, which will take you to Salem Street again. Right on Salem past many shops to Cross Street and the former freeway again, where you can cross back into downtown Boston.

    Another fascinating corner that few people ever see is Bay Village, a tiny little slice of Beacon Hill that drifted off south of Boston Common. Just a few streets -- Piedmont, Winchester, Melrose, Fayette -- the last two are the prettiest. Go south from Boylston Street Station (also the oldest in the US -- what's a subway without at least two stations?) on Tremont, left onto Stuart, past Charles, left again onto Church Street into Bay Village.

    You can combine these walks easily; downtown Boston is really small.

  • How/where is the best way to get a passport in this town?
    Cateyes_small

    You need to go to a passport issuing office, usually located in a federal facility of some sort (like a courthouse or post office).

    From the state department: http://iafdb.travel.state.gov/DefaultForm.aspx

  • How miserable is riding coach on a transcontinental Amtrak run?
    05-01-06_1814_small

    Yah, what everyone else said. I did it many years ago and my experience was the same. An advantage is that you are free to move about the train as much as you want (and the Empire Builder is pretty big). The seats are very roomy, much unlike any airline coach class seat. If the observation car is empty at night you can cat-nap there.

    One disadvantage is the odd stops/slowdowns. Every train I've been on experienced odd stops or slowdowns (like slowing to a crawl), for up to an hour at a time, sometimes more. The crew did not inform us ever as to what was going on. Do not plan on arriving in Chicago anywhere near on time.

    You will not regret it. Seeing so much of the Rockies at ground level is amazing.

  • Why am I allergic to Portland?
    Finn3goof_small

    Two words: Sod Farms. Oregon is the sod capitol of the world. If you are allergic to grass you shall be miserable periodically.

    Is there a seasonal variation?

  • which Amtrak stations in the greater Seattle/Tacoma/Everett area have free parking?
    Avatar_default

    I know Everett has free parking, though you have to check in with security if you're going to leave a car there for longer than 72 hours. Edmonds also has free parking, but I think whether you can park there long-term is ambiguous. We always used to leave a car there for up to a week when we went hiking on the Olympic Peninsula, but that was back before the Sounder and Cascades services had really taken off.

    I'm not familiar with the Tukwila station, but the website says it has free parking too.

  • I'm taking the train to Portland. What's the best bar near King Street Station for a pre-train Bloody Mary?
    Card_small

    Richard McIver recommends the Four Seas. Although I don't know if he is much of a Bloody Mary man.

  • you know what would be cool? To have a pilot as a guest expert. Can anybody hook that up?
    Messy_hair_small

    Hrmmmm. I happen to know of a couple.

  • more answers in Trips & Travel »
Questions
Recent Comments
  • Comment on Fnarf's answer…
    Gold-head_small

    Oh come on, Russ, I'm just funnin' with ya.

  • Comment on Fnarf's answer…
    Qlandav2ex_small

    No one is trying to defeat you and your examination of minutia, although impressive, doesn't negate the accuracy of my answer.

    I felt my level of exactitude was in keeping with the basic premise in the original question of whether or not it was Hokkaido or further north and if so where. Soundslikepuget seems to be satisfied with my answer and that is what counts for me.

  • Comment on Fnarf's answer…
    Gold-head_small

    For the uninitiated, you can plug very precise decimalized Lat. and Long. numbers into Google Maps, Latitude first, separated by a comma. Plug 47.6825976,152.969 in and you get Rasshua.

    Shilshole is at approximately longitude -122.40434, depending on what slip you're in.

  • Comment on Fnarf's answer…
    Gold-head_small

    Ah, but our friend has left not from downtown but from Shilshole Marina, with a latitude of 47.6825976, which at a longitude of 152.969 has him running aground on the very southern tip of Rasshua.

    I cannot be defeated, Mistah Campbell.

  • Comment on Fnarf's answer…
    Qlandav2ex_small

    I didn't report the number of seconds of latitude that I followed but I did find that none of those islands appeared right on the line of travel as I scanned the route, although the path did thread through them and they might even be visible in good weather to the traveler following that course.

  • Comment on Russ Campbell, NWEBS's answer…
    Wa_usa_small

    Brilliant. As always, you're a scholar and a gentleman Russ. Thanks!

  • Comment on Russ Campbell, NWEBS's answer…
    Qlandav2ex_small

    The most southern part of the Aleutian Islands are just a few minutes north of 51° N. Latitude. So they would be some ~235 miles to the north of your line of travel.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aleutian_Islands

  • Comment on Musely's answer…
    12849517g_small

    Indeed - the tube (pronounced in UK as "chewbe", not US-style "toob") is awesome - well, at least as a tourist, when you don't have to ride when it's crowded at rush hour to get to work, and aren't affected by the always ongoing maintenance, elevator outages, and the like. Any resident will tell you it's by no means perfect; but as a tourist, you can certainly appreciate the good parts. Next time you visit, be sure to check out the London Transport Museum at Covent Garden, which features the history of the London Underground prominently. And in the meantime, check out this on YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrhslXjN5xE - there's also much other tube-related content to be found there.

  • Comment on soundslikepuget's answer…
    Spaceship_small

    I found though the trans-atlantic flight was virtually packed, and that I had to settle for what I was assigned, the return flight was open enough that many people put up the armrests and stretched out across four seats and slept like on a couch. However, I asked for an exit row seat and was denied, but they offered to check on a bulkhead seat after they determined how many infants were on the flight (none) and so, the wife and I enjoyed extra leg room, just for asking. We dozed, but it wasn't as good as I dream first class might be. Still, those who ask, get...

  • Comment on Russ Campbell, NWEBS's answer…
    Spaceship_small

    I would guess that it would be clear and dry, low humidity, an arid desert climate.

  • Comment on Musely's answer…
    Spaceship_small

    Have I told you how much I love the London Underground tube system? Yahoo!
    I can't wait to go back again!

  • Comment on Russ Campbell, NWEBS's answer…
    Spaceship_small

    Doesn't the alutian island chain of Alaska hang down into this path? (I don't have a globe right at hand...)

  • Comment on Musely's answer…
    12849517g_small

    Awesome!

  • Comment on Musely's answer…
    Spaceship_small

    Musely, I tried to do all your suggestions and got most of them. We bought a power adaptor, and used it, but also found the Park Place Hotel had a US power plug in a power strip along the desk top. So then we had TWO power sources and used them both to great advantage. Also SKYPE to the kids back home and posted photos and emails back to coworkers. AND we saw "Chicago" on impulse for half price and great seats while there. Wanted to do Phantom of the Opera but it started too soon and we were too far away, walking through Soho. (Yes, it's that wild off the main "drag"...) LOL!

  • Comment on Musely's answer…
    Spaceship_small

    Thank you for all the suggestions. I'll try to fit them all in the six days we have there.

  • Comment on Musely's answer…
    12849517g_small

    There's so much to do in London that it really depends on what your interests are, and how much time you have, and what time of day that free time is.

    The museums are phenomenal, but can soak up time like there's no tomorrow: The British Museum and V&A are both stellar. The British Museum is notable for having the Rosetta Stone, the Elgin Marbles (from the Parthenon in Greece), and a wonderful glazed interior courtyard. The V&A also has a gorgeous Museum Cafe (the first in the world, apparently), three rooms covered in glazed tiles with stained glass.

    One blue police box that I know of is right outside Earl's Court tube station on the Earl's Court Road side - you can see it on Google Maps Street View.

    St Paul's may also be worth a look; you can take an elevator+stairs up to the top of the dome for good views nearby. Or you can climb the Monument nearby for almost comparable views. There's also the London Eye.

    Strolling around the West End is also fun; be sure to visit Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Sq and Covent Garden somewhere along the trip. If you have an evening free, head to the "Tkts" half-price ticket booth in Leicester Sq in the morning/afternoon and see if there's any shows you're interested in later that evening. (There's a ton of 'discount ticket' operators in that general area, but Tkts is the official one. More details on their site - http://www.tkts.co.uk/)

    And grab a copy of Time Out London as soon as you get in, as it has very comprehensive theater, music, gallery and other event listings.

  • Comment on Musely's answer…
    Spaceship_small

    Thank you. The era of big hair is over. So perhaps we will leave the drier at home.

    Got any suggestions on what to see on our free time in London? Keep in mind we're on a guided tour that will include Bath, Stonehenge, and many/most of the big attractions (Buckingham Palace, Tower, etc.) I intend on seeking out the one remaining blue phone box for a Dr. Who photo, order a Coke or CherryCola in SOHO (Lola by the Kinks), and the Abby Road crossroad walk from the Beatles LP

  • Comment on Sacrelicious's answer…
    Subcultureoftwo_small

    They went on a 3-week road trip and Nogales was a convenient day trip from Tucson. My Dad's grandparents used to take him there when he was a kid in the fifties. Evidently it's, uh, changed.

    But they brought back some tasty Mexican vanilla!

  • Comment on Sacrelicious's answer…
    Bierce1_small

    So why did your parents go there, anyway?

  • Comment on Sacrelicious's answer…
    Subcultureoftwo_small

    They're back. They didn't get robbed or anything, but they said it was kind of a dump and the whole place seemed really sleazy.

    Maybe it gets better as you get away from the border area. Maybe not. Good luck!

  • Comment on Russ Campbell, NWEBS's answer…
    Wa_usa_small

    I'm not sure if the OP meant a visa issued by Vietnam for travel to Vietnam or a visa issued by the USA for a person from Vietnam to visit the USA. Your State Department link will certainly help if the question was the latter, I've added some Vietnamese info in case the OP was inquiring about the former.

  • Comment on Fnarf's answer…
    Subcultureoftwo_small

    Yeah, I regretted being in a hurry today, the shop looked really interesting and I would have liked to explore more.

  • Comment on Fnarf's answer…
    Gold-head_small

    Believe it or not, I don't get paid to pimp them. They don't even know who I am (I leave the gold mask at home when I visit). But it's a great shop. I buy a lot of books there, non-travel ones too -- very small selection but a very good one.

  • Comment on Fnarf's answer…
    Subcultureoftwo_small

    This ended up being the solution. AND they were really nice. Thanks, Fnarf!

  • Comment on Russ Campbell, NWEBS's answer…
    4912312656_2c8408ec72_small

    Wow, those look perfect! Thanks!

  • Comment on Fnarf's answer…
    4912312656_2c8408ec72_small

    That looks like a good resource. The interface is absolutely horrifying, though. Almost hilariously so -- obviously not for general public use. But they're just what I wanted!

    I can use the crappy 250,000 scale maps for most of the ride, just not the tricky logging road route over the Seymour Range.

    Thanks Fnarf!

  • Comment on Russ Campbell, NWEBS's answer…
    Qlandav2ex_small

    Davenport Maps produces a wide variety of map books, folded maps and digital map files that appear to show the level of detail you desire.
    http://davenportmaps.com/index.html

    Their mapbooks are spiral bound which would make selecting just the parts you need to take easier without having to cut apart a stapled or glue bound book.

    Perhaps this particular one would be appropriate:
    http://davenportmaps.com/mussio/view_mussio.html#vol2

  • Comment on Fnarf's answer…
    Gold-head_small

    So, I tried it out, and you're going to have to download a ton of gigantic zipped TIF files (not just seven), extract them, and then view them in a TIF viewer like Photoshop. You need datasets from sector 92 and a couple from 102 covering the very tip. 92B (92B5, 92B6, 92B11, 92B12, 92B13, maybe 92B14); 92C (maybe 92C8, 92C9, 92C10, maybe 92C11, maybe 92C13, maybe 92C14, 92C15, 92C16); 92E (maybe 92E7, 92E8 through 92E10, 92E14 through 92E16); 92F (92F1 through 92F8, maybe 92F10, 92F11 through 92F14, maybe 92F15); 92K (92K3, 92K4, 92K5), 92L (92L1 through 92L8, 92L10 through 92L13) and 102I9 and 102I16. That's 52 sheets! Big island.

    If you can get by with the 1:250,000 topo sheets, that's just the seven downloads (92B, 92C, etc.) The detail should be pretty good on those, enough to cycle by I would think. They certainly show all the paved roads except the streets within the towns.

    Let me know if you need more help downloading these.

  • Comment on Russ Campbell, NWEBS's answer…
    Subcultureoftwo_small

    Nono, they don't need anything for the trip. My dad's pretty ADD and has spent the last month planning every destination and attraction they want to see, and they bought those big beautiful Gazetteer map books for each state. I want a basic, folding, flat map that I can use to pinpoint where they are each day and draw their route and dates, so I can give it to them when they come back.

    Those map books are awesome, though. This is the only situation in which I'd pick a folding map over a Gazetteer.

  • Comment on internet_jen's answer…
    Subcultureoftwo_small

    Oo, and there's a B&N nearby, too. Yessssssssss.

    Good idea, thanks!