Well, it looks like we’re not going to Orcas Island after all. The Southwest tickets I’ve earned are not valid for the days we want to leave. Since we’d be renting a house we wouldn’t be able to coordinate flights with rental times.
Up next is picking another destination known for cooler weather, or bagging the vacation plans altogether. We’re hoping we can make something work but we’re really sad the San Juan Islands won’t be it.
All the places I could recommend are in the same area: Tofino BC, Mt Rainier Nat’l Park, WA. That’s one reason we are staying home this summer.
We went to Maine and the maritime provinces of Canada a few years ago hoping to get out of the heat but it followed us up there. The locals had no AC and were really suffering.
Same thing happened when we went to VT and NH. No matter where we go it seems to be record heat.
We went to Yellowstone in June and even tho there was still snow on the ground it was a record heat wave. (Most of the snow was gone by the time we left.)
Even Orcas is not immune. Our last trip it hit a record 87 one day tho I noticed when Seattle hit a record 91 a few days ago it only went up to 80.
Can you get to Denver? I notice being a mile high seems to help quite a bit. Rocky Mtn Nat’l Park is one I haven’t tagged yet.
Glacier is also on the list but it’s hard to get to from here.
I know. You can go to Mammoth Cave KY and spend the whole week underground. Nice and cool there. 😉
Ron
Thanks for the tips, Ron. Yes, we’re looking at New England and upstate NY. Maybe even Canada.
The only thing is we don’t want to take an “urban” vacation. You can’t “get away” if you’re not getting away, y’know? 🙂
Oh, and I prefer my vacations above ground. Heh.
If you get anywhere near VT try and visit the Shelbourne Museum. http://www.shelburnemuseum.org/buildings_and_grounds/index.php Their website is very boring but the museum is incredible. It was started by a very rich lady who bought whatever she liked. She bought old carriages, circus stuff, dolls, buildings (lighthouse, saw mill, covered bridge, jail, docotor’s office, barn etc), train cars and locomotive, art, americana, and just whatever she thought was fun. The best thing tho is an enormous paddle wheel steam boat. Tho they are 20 miles or more from the water she bought the thing and had it brought over land to the farm where she kept her collection. We got there as the place opened and spent the whole day. Absolutely fascinating place and the kids should love it too. For us computer types she even has a Jacquard loom (first device to use punch cards).
There is a big state park in the center of the state so there should be cabin reantals available. We were just driving around and stumbled on the museum.
Everybody will also like a tour of Ben & Jerry ice cream factory which is a few hours north of Shelbourne.
Ron