j

We have 11 days between a family event in Portland and our plane home from Seattle. We want to see the scenery, see the cities briefy, do some hiking, and get a sense of the Pacific NW. The current plan is: Portland, Cannon Beach to Port Angeles (is the western route more scenic than the eastern route?), daytrip from Victoria to Sooke/Port Renfrew, Nanaimo ferry to Vancouver, and finally to Seattle. There's so much to see, such a huge area, and so little time! Is this reasonable? Comments and suggestions would be really appreciated.

April

I don't find Port Renfrew particularly exciting, but maybe you have some reason for going there. Personally I would not go beyond Sandcut Creek, but I hardly ever get even that far. You could stop at the Country Cupboard Cafe or Point No Point for lunch. Both are past Sooke going out. Hatley castle is well before Sooke (in Colwood, left side of the road going out). It's free to visit but you'd need a loonie to park.

We drove down the east side of the Olympic peninsula a couple of years ago and didn't find it very scenic. If you go that way, take your own food! Restaurant choices were abysmal.

j

Thanks April. Are you familiar with the ferries from Vancouver Island to Vancouver? We'll be in Victoria (with a car) and are trying to decide between going to Vancouver via Nanaimo, or going directly from Victoria. Is it a pretty drive? Is the ferry ride more scenic? All ideas/comment appreciated.

April

I don't think it's a pretty drive between Victoria and Nanaimo. I prefer the sections north of Nanaimo. The exception is the Malahat, south of Duncan. However, I live here so what seems blah to me, might be fascinating to a visitor. I think the most scenic ferry trip would be from Victoria (Swartz Bay).

April

Also, since you want to get a sense of the area, I would rate West Vancouver and Howe Sound high on the list. It's much more scenic that the drive between Victoria and Nanaimo. (However, if you wanted to spend time at Parksville, Englishman River Falls, etc., or kitschy (sp?) spots like Chemainus and Coombs, then you might want to include the trip to Nanaimo.)

For me, the Tofino/Long Beach area on the island and Howe Sound on the mainland are about as good as it gets for spectacular scenery.

Sam_Salmon

*The* reason for visiting Port Renfrew is nearby Botanical Beach-which at low tide is a wonder.
The *back road* through to Honeymoon Bay and the Cowichan Valley means you have easy access to unique attractions like Lake Cowichan, Engeler's Farm and numerous wineries in the Valley.