<p>My daughter continues to be a Whitman enthusiast, and the school is by far #1 on her list of schools to apply to in a couple of months. This despite some drawbacks for us, such as taking longer to commute there than to, say, Paris.</p>
<p>For those of you who are not from the PNW, just how problematic has it been to travel to/from Walla Walla? I believe there are school shuttles to Portland and Seattle; is this only around major breaks? Are they expensive? Are students more likely to use them than to fly to Seattle or Portland?</p>
<p>When I went to visit Whitman, I flew into Seattle and took a little "puddle jumper" to the Walla Walla airport, which was about a 45 min - 1 hr flight. The Walla Walla airport is about a five minute car ride from campus, and if you're going to be staying in a hotel, some (like the Marcus Whitman, which was great) offer free airport transportation (as well as a Whitman discount). This is probably what I'll continue to do when I go to Whitman next year, it was really hassle-free and worth the extra airfare.</p>
<p>I don't think that it is that bad to fly to Walla Walla. There are usually three flights a day on Horizon to Walla Walla from Seattle. </p>
<p>As an alternate, you can use the Pasco/Tri-Cities Airport and drive/shuttle to Walla Walla (less than one hour). The Pasco/Tri-Cities Airport has many more flights, including Horizon, United Express, and Delta Connection. If you google "Pasco Walla Walla shuttle", you will find info on shuttle services between these two cities.</p>
<p>Had two kids at Whitman. One generally flew Walla Walla to Seattle and then home. Other preferred to get a ride to Portland or Seattle and then fly; reversed it on return. Rides to those cities seemed easy to come by, as a lot of Whitman students are from those areas. While not as simple getting to as a large city, it is not all that difficult. Neither of my kids - one of whom does not like the "travel" part of travel - found it that problematic. I think part of Whitman's appeal in terms of its very close community is due to its location, which fosters students (faculty and administration) staying on campus on weekends and a wealth of on-campus cultural, social, athletic and other extracurricular activities. I can only say that both my kids loved their Whitman experience and felt like it was living at Disneyland! Good luck on the college search and applications process!</p>
<p>My D had problems getting back at Christmas due to weather/flight cancellations, but it worked out. It does take a long time to get there from just about anywhere.<br>
The school shuttle (aka Hogworts Express) only runs for major vacations. Portland would be the preferred destination because the Seattle shuttle goes not to SeaTac airport, but to a high school parking lot in the eponymous town of Seatac.
Alaska/Horizon Air does do some things right - you can book one way tickets at a reasonable price, or even use miles for one-way trips at half the round-trip "cost". We got an AlaskaAir credit card and got some breebies with that, too.</p>
<p>Freshman year my D used the Saturday morning shuttles to Portland, where she caught a plane home. Now she rides to Portland or Boise with friends on Friday nights, spends the night at someone's house, then flies home Saturday morning. When we go up there we fly to Portland and drive the 4 hours to Walla Walla. Flying to/from Walla Walla works also but can be expensive; we save that for the trip home at the end of the year when she's got lots of baggage.</p>
<p>It's a somewhat lengthy trip but no worse than flying across the country with a layover. And it's worth it -- Whitman is a great school.</p>
<p>Seattle only, but if you are flying all the way then you won't be dealing with all the road/train construction around the Seattle airport anyway.
Here's the current schedule: Walla</a> Walla Regional Airport & Industrial Park</p>
<p>Thanks, dragonmom. Clicking around the airport link, it's so doggone ... cute!</p>
<p>Then again, I was stuck on a people mover in my airport 2 days ago, having taken it to avoid the 3/4 mile walk from the gate. I suppose that is not a hazard in Walla Walla!</p>
<p>I was just looking at the Amtrak website, and it shows a train going through Pasco, which (at least on Google maps) is close to Walla Walla. Does anyone have any experience taking Amtrak to Whitman? (and getting to Whitman from Pasco?)</p>
<p>I think there is a daily train (don't think there is more than one) that goes between Pasco and Portland. I'm remembering that it leaves Pasco at 5 am, can't remember the Portland to Pasco departure time. There is daily bus service between Walla Walla and Pasco on something called the Grapeline (<a href="http://www.grapeline.us)%5B/url%5D">http://www.grapeline.us)</a>, which stops at the Pasco airport, and I think Amtrak as well. I don't think there is one early enough to catch that 5 am train! The Grapeline page about connections to Amtrak indicates there are two trains to Portland daily (<a href="http://www.grapeline.us/greyhound.htm)%5B/url%5D">http://www.grapeline.us/greyhound.htm)</a>. My daughter has flown to and from school to both Pasco and Walla Walla, and has had friends with cars pick her up/drop her off at Pasco. It takes less than an hour.</p>
<p>I just took the bus to/from Pasco this week, on the way to Spokane. The Grapeline bus gets you there in about 90 min, with a couple quick pit stops at places where no one got on or off. Downside is there's only three buses a day. I saw Amtrak trains pull up while I was waiting for my connection, but I have no idea how to get to Pasco by train from anywhere.</p>
<p>earlier you asked about flights from Portland to Walla Walla. If you want to connect from Portland you fly Portland to Pasco and then take the shuttle to Walla Walla (about 45 minutes and easy).
Also, once your student is there, the campus has a student ride exchange through student e-mail and it seems like a ride to Portland, Seattle, or Pasco is easily available. Btw - as a parent I'd like to second (and highlight) the post above about the bus run by Whitman for holidays. It is a great deal & easy, but doesn't allow "big" things - large musical instruments, skis, etc.
ALSO - it is good for the Portland airport, but not SEATAC - as it doesn't get you to the actual airport in Seattle - I know this was already stated, but you received alot of posts, and I didn't want that tidbit to get lost. Portland really is an easy airport, too. Good luck!</p>
<p>Spokane is only 2-3 hour drive to Walla Walla. Much closer than Seattle. A bit shorter than Portland. Check flight options. We can get non-stops to Spokane from San Francisco area (Oakland).</p>
<p>Thanks for that suggestion, ga. I had thought that it would take a couple of different legs to get to Spokane from the midwest, but to my surprise there are actually direct flights. OK, not many, but at least one!</p>
<p>D has an appt for an interview tomorrow, & is quite excited.</p>
<p>How did your D like it? My son has friends who went there and is thinking of applying himself. I have to say, it is probably easier getting to Walla Walla from most places other than where we are in North Central WA. It is a long drive. But from the midwest, I think the best flight is to Spokane</p>
<p>Are you asking me? If so, D <em>loved</em> it when we visited. However, we visited over spring break when none of the kids were there - except our tour guide. Someone told her that "all the kids are granola types", which makes her a bit leery about the fit factor. Is your son granola? :) That twitch of doubt aside, she is very enthusiastic about the school - as am I!</p>