I would make a reservation prior to arrival because although there was no shortage of hotels here, there were a lot of tourists too. Walking the Village Stroll is always pleasant to do. Instead, I suggest visiting the sky view observatory. Depending on exactly how you travel will determine the amount of time the trip takes, but its likely to take 4-6 hours. Some Michigan residents faced a fourth straight day without power as crews worked to restore electricity . Its only an hour out of town, so not exactly sure what your plans are here. I booked my trip for day one, and unfortunately, it was canceled due to high winds. The museum feels badly done, with few exhibits appealing to a general audience. I strongly recommend booking a hotel in the downtown area in Vancouver, Victoria and Seattle if you are doing your trip without a car. Besides driving, buses offer the most flexibility for travel between Seattle and Vancouver, especially if youre on a budget. Looking for vacation ideas or travel tips? 8-Day Pacific Cruise to Vancouver 5-Day Mexican Rivera Cruise from Los Angles Explore Santa Barbara, California. The second is the loupe I recommend it the longer way around to Lake Diablo and Ross Lake National Recreation Area. at Pier 69 in downtown Seattle, for a trip across the sparkling Puget Sound to the B.C. Having fulfilled your mission of a successful whale watching experience its time to start heading back to Seattle. The Victoria Clipper ferry which is a foot ferry that whisks you from Victoria to downtown Seattle goes right from the Inner Harbor. Should we cut down anything? About 5 hours and you will have scenery to enjoy. Day 1: How to spend a day in Seattle . Dont miss out just because there are lots of other people enjoying it too. If you are so inclined feel free to attach your own but be careful, gum is everywhere and can turn into a rather gross experience. For my whale watching excursion, I picked Seabreeze adventures, a company that has several smaller boats going out each day. This famous suspension bridge (one of the longest in the world) is very safe and constantly tested. This high-end shop provides all the free chocolate samples you can eat and free coffee. There is much to do in this town, but on the first day, I suggest exploring the area. It will enrich your visit. Youll be crossing the border between Canada and the United States, so make sure to have your passport. It involves lots of dumplings and other shareable plates and lots of tea. After that, another line inside will take 45 minutes to get to the elevator to actually go up. Now, walk a bit over to the Lenin sculpture. Theres no question that if youre going to one thing in Vancouver, make it Stanley Park. For fresh oysters, stop by Pike Place Market or Taylor Shellfish Farms in Seattle or take a ferry ride to Vancouver Island for the Fanny Bay Oyster Bar. Besides the cool industrial abandoned gas plant, a famous Seattle site, here you will be able to see the Seattle skyline in all its glory. You can find restaurants in every price range at Pike Place Market ranging from cheapest sandwich joint to a high-end seafood restaurant. The train is timed to the sunset, so youll watch the light change from day to night over the many lakes and waterways youll pass. Its a 14 hr day and exhausting. Located a few miles from Bellingham the town of Lynden is the second-largest city in Whatcom Countythe last county before your hit Canada. If its summer, make sure to check out the International Fountain, which is set up for splashing and has music and lights. Day 5 pick up a Coho ferry to Port Angeles and back to Seattle. Check out my favorite travel packing accessory life-changing Shakle Paks. Victoria has a good bus system, though as a visitor you can pretty much walk everywhere, the Inner Harbour is extremely walkable. It includes the visit to Space Needle, Seattle Art Museum and nearby attractions with an approximate trip budget of USD 654. I love to share the places I love with visitors, newcomers and my fellow locals. When you dock in Swartz Bay, youll board the bus again to get into downtown Victoria, which takes about an hour in typical traffic. Vancouver, Victoria and Seattle all have terrible traffic and expensive and complicated parking. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. For the Peak 2 Peak gondola vs Sea to Sky gondola, have a look at the reviews. Vancouver, British Columbia. Squamish is a great spot for adventure tourism, and its very scenic, but it just doesn't look like a worthwhile stop for your group. Youve come to the right place! Vancouver City Sightseeing Tour: Capilano Suspension Bridge & Vancouver Lookout. In Victoria, you can walk or take the bus around town and out to Butchart Gardens. <>. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-93151112', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Vancouver on the 5th day. If youre up for a car free adventure, a week in Vancouver, Victoria and Seattlle is a great place to start. If youve got a schedule to keep, stay up-to-date on wait times on the Washington State Department of Traffics website. About 5 hours and you will have scenery to enjoy. With free wifi, power outlets at each seat, and far more legroom than your average airline, the journey is not just comfortable but convenient. Alternatively, go even further off the beaten path by taking a ferry from Mukilteo to Whidbey Island then driving north on Highway 525 and Highway 20 to rejoin I-5 near Burlington. Mount Baker Highwayalso known as State Route 542runs from East Bellingham to Mount Baker, while the North Cascades Scenic Highway stretches over 140 miles from Burlington and Sedro-Woolley in the west to Twisp in the east. Rain jacket and/or umbrella you do not want to be without rain protection any time of year in the Pacific Northwest. I hope you have enjoyed your first day in Seattle, we will get to explore this city much more at the tail end of your trip. The ferry trip is lovely and worth doing. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. After . One of the great joys of traveling to the pacific north-west is the incredible variety of wildlife you will spot here. If youre driving for your Vancouver, Victoria and Seattle trip, give yourself plenty of extra time for traffic, border crossings and ferry waits. Some great dining options at each of these locations, so this would be a good option to find some dinner. There are no lines here and only a few dozen other people share the windows with you. Temperatures can be anywhere between the 50s and the 80s so youll need to be ready for anything! Get our travel tips Delivered to your inbox. Although this national forest is not quite the thick rainforest of the north, the trees here are much larger than you would have noticed on your drive south. I really enjoyed this trip and so if you follow my itinerary I highly recommend Seabreeze Adventures. Answer 11 of 11: Hello Two adults who like good food, fun bars and good music. If you are arriving in the morning as I was, drop your bags off in your hotel and make your way down to the Market, a great place for lunch. Settle in on the trains left side to get the best views of the wild coastline. All of my trips are on Vero first please be sure to follow me @ traveltipster. And so, I settled on a seven-day trip that combined some of the best urban and natural highlights. You can take the city bus out to Butchart Gardens, or you can book a tour with a direct transfer there which costs a bit more but its faster. Skagit Valley Casino Resort in the town of Bow is another place where you can enjoy gambling, lodging, and live entertainment at one destination. Additionally, local oyster and shellfish farms provide their wonderful products to markets and restaurants in the area, and oyster lovers will want to stop at one or more of the eateries located along Chuckanut Drive. Located just a few hours apart and accessible by plane, train, bus, car, or even ferry services, these two major cities provide plenty to do on their own, but there are several fun things to do when traveling between them as well. The 110-mile journey takes four hours and heads north three to four times a day. So you are planning to use Squamish as your base for Whistler? If you like to travel car free, then this itinerary is perfect for you. What time do you plan to leave Seattle? If you want to have a reservation prior to arrival, take a look at the large and beautiful Colonial Creek campground which rests right on lake Diablo. GAdventures tours the National Parks of the Pacific Northwest. Prior to her work at TripSavvy, she did financial research for the American Express Departures Magazine as well as the Wall Street Journal. Day 1: SeattleDay 2: Seattle to Vancouver Via Amtrak, VancouverDay 3: VancouverDay 4: Vancouver, Seattle to Vancouver via AmtrakDay 5: Seattle, Start Cascade Mountain LoopDay 6: Cascade Mountain LoopDay 7: Finish Cascade Mountain Loop, Seattle, Please Note: This post may contain some affiliate links. But all four companies take you from downtown to downtown in 3.25-4 hours several times a day for less than $50. However, if you want to have tea at the Empress, make sure to get a reservation. I mentioned that many people who visit here dont consider this a great stop. This park is a fantastic place to visit for a day. 5 minutes walk to the Downtown Fort Langley. If youre driving, youll need to take the BC ferry back to Vancouver OR the Coho ferry to Port Angeles. The first is to stay at the waterfront and get a beer with some views and the second is to walk or get a taxi to the Chihuly Glass museums and gardens. A DTE contractor crew works on a power line, Monday, Feb. 27, 2023, in northwest Detroit. The ride, which leaves several times a day, only takes about 90-minutes, but once you dock a t the ferry terminal, its another hour on public transit to downtown Vancouver. All but Amtrak offer free onboard wifi and power outlets. We already have this email. Winthrop makes the perfect stop for your return to civilization. Regardless of the route you take from Seattle to Vancouver, you're in for a beautiful trip through the PNW. Granville Island is another absolute must do in Vancouver. Our policy is here: https://www.ordinary-adventures.com/privacy-policy/. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-93139216', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Seattle to Victoria to Vancouver. Situated in one of America's most beautiful . Dim Sum is a traditional Chinese meal that is very popular on in Vancouver. Hi! - Hello all, Happy holidays! Other casinos located along the route between Vancouver and Seattle include the Silver Reef Casino in Ferndale and Angel of the Winds in Arlington. After you return your car, its time to check out one more great Seattle neighborhood you haven visited yet. Outside of rush hours, the trip typically takes 3-3.5 hours but although customs and Border Control is efficiently run, back-ups can slow your journey down. Last updated: [wpautoterms last_updated_date]If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us. Start your day with a crumpet from the Crumpet Shop and spend a bit of time exploring Pike Place Market. Settle in on the trains left side to get the best views of the wild coastline. Despite this, rain is possible any time of year in the coastal Pacific Northwest. In a car, its a quick shot up I-5 from Seattle to the Canadian border and on to Vancouver. Grab coffee and a donut for breakfast like Vancouverites do and head to Stanley Park. <>. This hole in the wall is always packed with diners, and their classic sandwiches are a must try while in Seattle. Vancouver has the best public transit of any of these three cities. <