Flying from Chicago to Seattle
On July 29, 2023, I took an early morning flight out of Chicago O’Hare to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, arriving in Seattle around 10:00am. I hate checking a bag when I fly. Luckily, I managed to pack everything for the trip into my Gregory Jade 28 Daypack and Maxlite® 5 International Carry-On Spinner.
I kept my hiking essentials, camera, portable charger, and other necessities in my daypack. My suitcase held both my hiking clothes and the regular clothes I planned to wear when I wasn’t hiking. I also packed my Peak Design 3L sling bag inside my suitcase to use on sightseeing days, when I only needed my camera and a few essentials while exploring.
Getting from Seattle to Port Angeles
After landing, I took the rental car shuttle to Enterprise to pick up my mid-size SUV. I prefer to rent mid-size SUVs for hiking trips because they typically offer additional ground clearance for rough access roads, ample cargo space for dirty or bulky gear, and the option of all-wheel drive (AWD) for changing weather and road conditions.
Once I picked up my rental car, I began making my way toward Port Angeles, where I would be staying for the first portion of my trip to Olympic National Park.
Rather than driving the entire way, I decided to take the Seattle–Bainbridge Island Ferry across Puget Sound to Bainbridge Island, then drive the rest of the way to Port Angeles. The ferry cost $21.40 in July 2023. I had never been on a ferry before, so it was such a fun experience!
Where I Stayed in Port Angeles
Once back on the road, I continued to Port Angeles and checked into the Super 8 by Wyndham Port Angeles at Olympic National Park. I chose to stay in Port Angeles for the first portion of my trip because it was a convenient home base for exploring Hurricane Ridge, Madison Falls, and Mount Storm King, near Lake Crescent.
My stay cost $512.33 for two nights, which I found to be relatively affordable compared to some of the other options in the area. It was still a little more than I would have liked to spend, but I recognized that I was also paying for the convenience of being within easy driving distance of Hurricane Ridge and the Lake Crescent area.
After settling in at the hotel, I headed back out to Safeway to pick up some groceries and supplies for the week. Once I was done, I headed to bed early to get some rest before a full day of hiking!
