Hi, socialtraveler. Although this won't be too helpful, I didn't want your post to get lost here.

We have been in a similar situation, looking for a place to eat between Seattle and Vancouver. Sadly, I really cannot recommend anything. We have stopped at one or two forgettable places, and gone hungry most often.

If you find yourself past Vancouver without any luck at all, see if you can pull off at Horseshoe Bay in North Vancouver (look sharp so you don't accidentally get in line for the ferry, and look for a left exit). There are a couple of places worthwhile there.

If that doesn't work, Squamish is about the next place we've stopped. There is a sports bar pizza type place we've eaten at - not horrible, not great, and perhaps a little too loud for my preference. But if you get that far, you will be starving.

Now perhaps somebody with better advice will see this and comment. Have a good trip.

Hwy 99 isn't set up for quick off-the-highway dining in the same way that the I-5 is, but there are options. I can point you to the right direction and hopefully you won't have the same experience as above.

Personally, I'd recommend eating somewhere as soon as you get across the border, particularly White Rock or Surrey, as there are a lot of family-friendly offerings.

One popular family-friendly chain in BC is White Spot. They have a location off the highway just 12 minutes north of the Peace Arch border crossing in a shopping complex called "Morgan's Crossing":

Here's the map showing directions:
http://goo.gl/maps/9WJp

Here's the White Spot website:
http://www.whitespot.com/

White Spot has a popular kids menu with the "Pirate Pak" - a cardboard pirate ship with a burger/fries inside, a drink with a straw as the mast, and gold chocolate coin.

Another idea, if you want to grab a bite and stretch your legs, is to head into the seaside village of White Rock. There are about 20-30 different restaurants to choose from, most of which are casual, from fish & chips shops to burger joints, to chain restaurants - and there's a beach/dock across the street if you want to go for a short stroll before/after lunch before getting back in the car.

The Boathouse might be a good place to go. (Their website makes it look fancier than it is, but it's completely family-friendly)

Here's a map with directions:
http://goo.gl/maps/aKQg

Here's their website:
http://www.boathouserestaurants.ca/

Here's a website with a listing of other White Rock restaurants (most of which are along Marine Drive):

http://www.inwhiterock.com/Directory.tsp?category=EAT

Another idea, if you're okay with the Old Spaghetti Factory (which I find ho-hum, but kids love it) is to take the Steveston Highway exit - the first exit in Richmond after you come out from the tunnel... and then head EAST down Steveston Highway until you get to the eyesore of a complex known as "RiverPort" - there's a major movie theater there, but on the other side of the movie theater is the Old Spaghetti Factor:

Directions: http://goo.gl/maps/gJ9h
Website: http://www.oldspaghettifactory.ca


Or, if you were to head west down Steveston Highway, there's a huge stripmall called Ironwood which has everything from McDonalds, Taco Del Mar, Subway, Starbucks, Tim Horton's, Burger King:

http://goo.gl/maps/LxGB

Hope this helps!

One more idea, on a whim, if you decide to go to White Rock - check out Tracycakes Bakery Cafe: http://www.tracycakesonline.com/meettheeats/

Again, White Rock is the first exit after the border and it's just a 10 minute drive to the village.

Hey there, BC_Robyn. I apologize for the negative tone in my post, did not mean to imply there was nothing worthwhile - just that we had not found them. As you say, restaurants just aren't so visible from 99.

We've eaten on the ferries, which is White Spot catered. Assume it's not a good representation of the "real thing," any more than airport Chili's spots are. Socaltraveler (sorry for the earlier typo), that is indeed a "Canadian name." http://www.whitespot.com/lunch/starters.htm

Have you ever eaten at a Tim Hortons? http://www.timhortons.com/ca/locator/locations.html?q_loc=Rt.+99+Surrey+BC&x=40&y=1
They are even popping up in the US now.

I knew Tim Hortons was coming.

Tom, it's outside my threshold, to be honest. Wendy's bought them, is that correct?

Tim Hortons merged with Wendy's in 1995 but was spun off in 2006 and is now an independent publicly owned company. You can get a decent lunch there, but in BC for fast food you are far better off stopping at a White Spot. The food on the ferries is not representative in my opinion.

Avoid Tim Horton's - it's a fast food donut shop. It's cheap, and that's about all it has going for it.

Sludick - no need apologize. I completely understand where you're coming from.

It should also be mentioned that Hwy 99 bisects the city of Richmond - an Asian dining hotspot, and it also has enough diversity for families. The issue is that you need to exit Hwy 99 onto Westminster Hwy (not a real highway but a main road) and then head west - the continent's best dim sum, Hong Kong cafes, Taiwanese restaurants, Shanghainese restaurants, etc. are just a 10 minute drive west. The only issue is that if you're on your way to Whistler, you may not necessarily want to navigate Richmond if you've never explored it. However, it is on the way... You can depart Richmond heading northbound on No 2 Rd, heading north past the airport and then thru Vancouver via Granville Street (which takes you downtown and on your way to Whistler).

Thanks vey much, your suggestions are greatly appreciated.

socal - are you coming directly from a flight, or from an airport hotel? If not from a (long and tiring) flight, then it might be reasonable to stop at Horseshoe Bay, as I mentioned earlier.

It's a small place and you wouldn't have to drive a distance, but you wouldn't see the restaurants from the road in time to get off, you have to intend to exit.

Just in case, here are a couple of suggestions there:

Bay Moorings http://baymooringsrestaurant.com/how_to_find_us/index.html

The Troller Pub
http://www.trollerpub.com/

Troll's
http://trollsrestaurant.com/lunch_dinner

Boathouse - BC_Robyn already mentioned this, but there is one at Horseshoe Bay also

I mention these as Horseshoe Bay has gorgeous water/mountain views.

Hi Sludick -I agree with you on this. Socal if you spend too much time at lunch or take a late lunch the bridges across to the North Shore will be extremely busy. If you can last I would get through the city and then stop. Horeseshoe Bay is a lovely spot to stop and you can relax knowing you don't to deal with rush hour traffic. If you didn't want to go quite that far stop in West Vancouver because you are over the bridge then and there are plenty of nice restaurants there. There is a White Spot very soon after the bridge as a matter of fact on the left hand side of the street and it is the first light once you are on Marine Drive going west. You can then take the lower road along the water in West Van and it will eventually run into the Hwy to Whistler.

Update, and thanks for all the help: we went into White Rock and had a nice fish and chips lunch there with the family. Walked a bit along the promenade and then headed up to Whistler. Good place to stop, great scenery.