Just kinda curious, how many of you guys from other states have ever visited Washington (state, not DC)

I've lived here my whole life and love it. But then again, I was raised on the rain and grey skies So, if you've visited, what did you think? For those who haven't, would you ever want to?


-Jameson

 

My dad was stationed at Whidbey Island just after WWII. Always talked about how beautiful Washington state was and how he would like to see it again. He got his wish about 15 years ago, just before he passed on, with a trip out west to see even more of the state. I've been to Seattle once but realize I didn't get to see much of anything of Washington state. Located in NC so it's about as far from here as you can get.

 

I lived in the Auburn/Kent/Pacific area for about 6-years. Been as far north as Marysville and have been as far south as Centralia/Chehalis. Met my wife while working for an aerospace company in Kent (not Boeing.)

When Boeing pulled out of Seattle in the early 90's, my wife and I moved to eastern Idaho where I got a 2-year degree at ISU. We'd been trying to find a way to move back to the Pacific northwest ever since as we both loved it there.

The opportunity to have me move over here to the Oregon coast presented itself, so I took it - the rest of the family will follow later after the kid finishes her first year at ISU where she will be working on her generals.

 

I suppose it would have seemed different last time if I wasn't stationed on the Nimitz - it left a bad taste being around Bremerton and PSNS.

If it had been the Carl Vinson - I'd have enjoyed the last time I was there.

I have memories of tree slugs climbing the sides of any can of beer I set down at the state parks I ran away to when I was off duty - you had to find a place to go on a ship like that at the time. The town reminded me of places in Pennsylvania, but not nearly as "GOTHIC" in feel. More "WOODY" and back to nature. I could have enjoyed it a lot more I suppose had I not needed to maintain myself as an "OFFICIAL" person who wore a uniform.

Still, long before that I was there with my family when I was very young, next to Renton field where my Poppa kept his Taylorcraft. Going back to the place where I used to catch gartersnakes and pick blackberries was a trip into the past - but the place had changed like everything does over the years. The house we lived in was plowed under, and there was a restaurant where the old seaplane landing was...

I came away feeling kind of sad and melancholy

And yet..

I met some of the most friendly people with wonderful stories while sitting around campfires at night talking and swapping ideas, learned about the life of rangers in training (because of course - I was curious about that too) and riding the ferries across the sound to Seattle was another unique experience that I will treasure all of my life.

I guess I have mixed feelings about the whole adventure

 

I'm glad to be back here. I lived in Kitsap County for six years, moved to eastern Idaho, then moved back last year. Now once the garden is all taken in I'll be moving to the Arlington area, as I'm working in north Marysville. Until then I'm taking a boat ride and riding a Chinese scooter 30 miles up I-5. .

 

i visit anytime i leave my state i have to fly through...i cant count all my Seattle layovers...ugh

i spent a week for work in December '12 in the seattle/kent area and was able to visit some friends who live there and my uncle moved to issaquah in the late 80s he loves it there. in 2011 i spent week and did the space needle thing and really enjoyed my time there.

i like WA, i would like to spend more time there. planning a vacation some time..i would love to drive down and spend a week or two.


and god do i miss Krispy Kreme!!!

 

As a submarine sailor I've been to the sub base in Bangor on numerous occasions. I thoroughly enjoyed liberty in Seattle and the surrounding areas.

Being from the Maine coast, our weather is pretty close to Coastal Washington State except Maine is colder on the water.

After leaving Bangor the last time, we went to Vancouver, B.C. for a week of rest.

 

I'm in a band that performs in Bonny Lake every summer for the first three weekends of August. We'll be going up for our third summer in a row this year, and it's one of the high points of the year for us. We spend one week between gig weekends staying up there and touring around to see the sights, camping etc. Several of us have family in the area so it's a nice chance to reconnect with them as well.

 

It's interesting to hear from out of staters.

I've had many a tourist come into the NAPA I work at. I'm on Whidbey Island, which is a popular summer tourist destination. I hear all sorts of opinions people have of the state. Ranges everywhere from "I love the weather" to "Don't these mountians make you feel claustrophobic?" and "I hate how I can't see very far". The latter being from a couple from the midwest


-Jameson

 

We went to Whidbey Island summer before last and it was one of our favorite parts of the trip. Definitely on the to-do list again. Love the comments you get though...city folks and flatlanders can be so funny!

 

The other one I get a lot is "how can you stand being surrounded by water all the time?" Sure it can be a drag because there really isn't anywhere to go, but I've gotten used to it.

 

The thing I noticed was that you have to take the long way around to go pretty much anywhere since your route is always blocked by water. I have a cousin on Harstine island and the drive to her place from Bonny Lake would be a lot shorter if I could go in a straight line...but there's quite a bit of water in the way!

 

For the most part I take the ferry on the south end. Don't go off island that much anyway.

 

North Marysville? Our old farm/methlab is there, on 51st AVE NE. Lots of changes since I moved away in '75.

 

I was stationed on Whidbey from 1966-1975. Loved it out out there. Took an RV trip around the US with 2 of the grandkids and stopped at the Campground at the north end of the island for about a week in the summer of 2006. Showed the boys where their Mom and Uncle went to school and lived (Capeheart Housing)in Oak Harbor and visited with a lot of old friends while there.... Oak Harbor, Mt Vernon and Sedro. It was a great trip.